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By Paul Sinclair (One World One People) 11/9/06

This week, starting on the 11 September, marks more then a centenary of the birth of Mohandas Gandhi’s South Africa long struggle to prove non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of humankind. The movement he was instrumental in forming was named ‘Satyagraha.’ 

Throughout his lifetime Gandhi successfully applied the practice of non-violence to defeat and overturn unjust laws that oppressed Indians in South Africa; liberate India from British Rule; and peacefully end numerous violent uprisings during the partition of India. He claimed, ‘I have been practicing with scientific precision non-violence and its possibilities for an unbroken period of over fifty years. I have applied it in every walk of life - domestic, institutional, economic and political. I know of no single case in which it has failed.’His statements would seem vindicated as ‘the science of non-violence’ as Gandhi often called it, was later used by Martin Luther King to win civil rights for African Americans in the United States and by Nelson Mandela to end apartheid in South Africa, without bloodshed. 

So let’s revisit the past to look at the science of non-violence and using the great man’s own words as much as possible, let’s try to see what makes it tick, so to speak. Let us also attempt to ascertain why non-violence has been so successful in the past and why Gandhi claimed it to be the vital rule of conduct for the world’s people, if we are to live consistently with human dignity and attain world peace. 

At the very core of Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement was the belief that the Universe has been created, is ordered and under the control of a supreme intelligence. That governing intelligence he saw as benevolent and has as one of its manifest attributes, equal love for all humanity. Gandhi was constantly striving throughout his life to meet his maker by realising his true nature; that of a soul: imperishable, changeless and eternal with infinite life. ‘He who seeks refuge in God ought to have a glimpse of the Atma (soul) that transcends the body; and the moment one has a glimpse of the imperishable Atma one sheds the love of the perishable body… Violence is needed for the protection of things external; non-violence is needed for the protection of the Atma…”

This quest to realise the ‘truth’ of his own soul became his guiding light and was responsible for the birth of Satyagraha. Satyagraha is, ‘Truth (Satya) implies love, and firmness (graha) engenders and therefore serves as a synonym for force; the force which is born of truth and love or non-violence.’

The real power of Satyagraha is what he called soul-force as opposed to body-force. Soul-force was produced when people adhered to certain natural laws and ways of living. The practice of non-violence was for Gandhi a core condition: ‘Man as animal is violent, but as Spirit is non-violent. The moment he awakes to the Spirit within, he cannot remain violent.’

‘In the application of Satyagraha, I discovered in the earliest stages that pursuit of truth did not admit of violence being inflicted on one’s opponent but he must be weaned from error by patience and sympathy. For, what appears to be truth to the one may appear to be error to another. And patience means self-suffering. So the doctrine came to mean vindication of truth, not by infliction of suffering on the opponent, but on one’s self.’

In the following he gives a practical example: ‘For instance, the government of the day has passed a law which is applicable to me. I do not like it. If by using violence I force the government to repeal the law, I am employing what might be termed body-force. If I do not obey the law and accept the penalty for its breach, I use soul-force. It involves sacrifice of self.’ 

‘Everybody admits that sacrifice of self is infinitely superior to sacrifice of others. Moreover, if this kind of force is used in a cause that is unjust, only the person using it suffers. He does not make others suffer for his mistakes.’ 

‘Non-violence in its dynamic condition means conscious suffering. It does not mean meek submission to the will of the evil-doer, but it means putting of one’s whole soul against the will of the tyrant. Working under this law of our being, it is possible for a single individual to defy the whole might of an unjust empire to save his honour, his religion, his soul, and lay the foundation for that empire’s fall or its regeneration.’ 

‘The hardest heart and the grossest ignorance must disappear before the rising sun of suffering without anger and without malice.’

‘And history is replete with instances of men who by dying with courage and compassion on their lips, converted the hearts of their violent opponents.’ 

‘It (non-violence) is meant for the common people as well. Non-violence is the law of our species as violence is the law of the brute. The spirit lies dormant in the brute, and he knows no law but that of physical might. The dignity of man requires obedience to a higher law, to the strength of the spirit.'

‘I have ventured to place before India the ancient law of self-sacrifice. For Satyagraha and its offshoots, non-cooperation and civil resistance, are nothing but new names for the law of suffering.’ 

‘Suffering is the law of human beings; war is the law of the jungle. But suffering is infinitely more powerful than the law of the jungle for converting the opponent and opening his ears, which are otherwise shut, to the voice of reason.’

‘…if you want something really important to be done you must not merely satisfy the reason, you must move the heart also. The appeal of reason is more to the head but the penetration of the heart comes from suffering. It opens up the inner understanding in man.’ 

‘I seek entirely to blunt the edge of the tyrant’s sword, not by putting up against it a sharper-edged weapon, but by disappointing his expectation that I would be offering physical resistance. The resistance of the soul that I should offer would elude him. It would at first dazzle him and at last compel recognition from him, which recognition would not humiliate but would uplift him.’
‘It is the acid test of non-violence that in a non-violent conflict there is no rancour left behind, and in the end the enemies are converted into friends.’

According to Gandhi, non-violence in its purest form is a soul-force and has behind it the power of the Universe’s Creator. Next in part two we must ask what principles and laws need to be adhered to in order to produce soul-force and who is qualified to use it?

The Gandhi Tour at International Day of Peace at the United Nations New York







The Gandhi Tour provided the Indiginous Artists for the International Day of Peace 2008
The United Nations International Day of Peace first time ever to reach a Billion people, Secretary-General Ban will ring the Japanese Peace Bell at UN Headquarters along with Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall and Midori Goto

(New York, New York): On Sept 19th, The annual International Day of Peace Youth Observance will commence with Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon ringing the Japanese Peace Bell at 9:30 am at the United Nation's headquarters. The theme of this year's Peace Day is Peace and Human Rights and is co- produced by the NGOs Pathways to Peace, United Religions & World Peace Prayer Society in association with The Untitled Nations Department of Public Information.
This year's event for the younger generation is set to be inspiring, energetic and educational while traversing cultural barriers with messages of peace. The program is filled with groundbreaking performances, such as the opening ceremony performed by members of two of the oldest living cultures, the North American Mohegan Indians and the Australian Aboriginal, to welcome the Youth Observance event. This will be performed by Australian Aboriginal Didgeridoo player, Wayne Warwick-Williams, traditional Aboriginal dancer Warren Hopkins and traditional singer, Aaron Athey representing the Mohegan Native American Tribe. The keynote welcome address will be given by Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, quoted on the 29 of August saying "On 21 September, the International Day of Peace, I call on world leaders and peoples around the world to join forces against conflict, poverty and hunger, and for all human rights for all. Together, let us send a powerful signal for peace that will be read, heard and felt around the world." Additional keynote speakers will be His Excellency Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, President of the 63rd session of the General Assembly, Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall and Midori Goto.

Arun Gandhi comment, "We still have a long way to go to combat violence in our societies and every effort by every individual goes a long way towards planting the seeds of nonviolence and peace. I would like to congratulate the organizers of this event for their dedication and commitment to peace."

International Day of Peace
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations as an annual observance of global non-violence and ceasefire. Every year, people in all parts of the world honor peace in various ways. Sept 21, 2008, the global community is on the verge of the world's largest collective expression of peace in history. UN NGO Pathways To Peace is on the forefront helping to make the clarion call for humanity to unite on this year's International Day of Peace. "Inspiriting millions of people in every nation to discover their own pathway to peace." The United Nations International Day of Peace is observed worldwide on Sept. 21st. Now in its 27th year, the observance of International Day of Peace has grown exponentially over the years, and there are thousands of opportunities for people and organizations everywhere to participate in this event. www.internationaldayofpeace.org

Michael Johnson, UN Rep for Pathways To Peace comments, "Pathways to Peace is honored to support the International Day of Peace Youth Observance. For many years, we have been developing The Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI) as a co-operative Peace building Initiative whose long-term purpose is to unite the strengths of existing organizations and peoples in building a Culture of Peace for succeeding generations."

The Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI)
CPI, originated in 1983 by Pathways to Peace, has served as a vehicle for bringing to light the previously unseen and unheard Peace builders working towards peace along diverse pathways. An annual highlight of this Initiative is the International Day of Peace, (Peace Day) celebrated worldwide on 21st September by over 3,000 local/global organizations in over 200 nations. CPI continues to serve as a community of forerunners in the emerging field of peacebuilding. The momentum generated by the International Day of Peace observed by millions around the world will help to launch a yearlong series of international peace concerts. Pathways To Peace is forging an alliance with international organizations including Global Harmony Concerts, the Gandhi Tour and the Culture of Peace Initiative that will collaborate in producing the concerts. The first concert planned in 2009 will help to amplify Mahatma Gandhi's life and teachings that will inspire and fund peace projects."Our youth as well as world leaders need to be reminded about Gandhi's profound message of peace and these concerts will touch the heart of millions." Michael Johnson
www.cultureofpeace.org

Pathways To Peace
For over 25 years Pathways to Peace has contributed to building a culture of peace worldwide. We do this through consulting, public speaking, film making, producing events, mentoring youth in leadership, developing educational programs and actively supporting the mission of the United Nations. In cooperation with the United Nations, we helped to initiate the International Day of Peace in 1981 and continue to support its global expansion. This day has inspired millions of people in every nation to discover their own pathway to peace. We weave a web that connects individuals and organizations from the local to the global to serve humanity and are prepared to broaden our contribution in the world.www.pathwaystopeace.org

The Gandhi Tour
The Gandhi Tour is a global music festival created with the intent to arise social change by uniting people through the Universal language of music. ?This global music event creates a platform for cultural dialogue relating to all cultures and religions inspired by the life of Mahatma Gandhi with the support of Dr. Arun Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's grandson. The Gandhi tour will spread his Grandfathers prolific message of non-violence and multicultural understanding around the world threading the message of Gandhi through out each event. In addition to providing humanitarian support by forming partnerships with charitable organizations. The Gandhi tours combines the power of music, art and media to call for Peace with featured local artists and well known International stars around the globe.
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more infos at: www.gandhitour.com/International-Day-of-Peace.html

Gandhi speaks again in London's East End


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