nonviolence, satyagraha

[Stephanie Van Hook]

Dear Metta Hope Tank, 

Last week in Petaluma, we read chapter 4 of the book Nonviolence (Satyagraha), a collection of writings by Gandhi. As we passed the book around, we stopped after each person finished reading a paragraph or so in order to comment. I'm interested in hearing what others took out of the conversation (chapter was on 'means and ends.'). One topic that stuck with me until today is our discussion on identity, how in nonviolence, we are never against the person. This becomes complicated when individuals identify themselves (consciously or preconsciously) with their actions, in other words, take it personally when an act they have committed is found wanting. One way I find this practice of not identifying others with their deeds, is by practicing it myself. Not getting worked up when others speak out against something I have said or done. In that way, by separating myself from my actions, I can more fully believe that others are not theirs, either. 

Please do send in your thoughts about chapter 4 if you have read it (and are not in the Petaluma area). For those who where at Hope Tank, please do send your thoughts about the conversation. 

Best wishes, 

Stephanie

--

Stephanie N. Van Hook

Executive Director, Metta Center for Nonviolence

Current opinion pieces

Nonviolence is the greatest power at the disposal of humankind. (Gandhi) 

Contact information: 

The Metta Center for Nonviolence 

Box 98 Petaluma, CA, 94953 

(707) 774 6299 

stephanie...@gmail.com

step...@mettacenter.org 

[Linda Sartor]

Thanks for this idea, Stephanie.  I certainly do identify myself with my deeds.  This is a new idea to stop doing that and I imagine I'll have to hear the idea many times before I am really able to start practicing it.  But it definitely rings true to me.
Linda

--
www.mettacenter.org
 
To post to this group, send email to mettah...@googlegroups.com

[Ranjana Chug]

Hi Stephanie      

 Great liberating idea! Although it takes a lot of courage and patience to put it to practice. I am trying to work on it and have already started to feel mentally at ease, in situations which  unruffled me earlier.

Thanks for sharing this one.

Cheers

Ranjana 

[Prashant Nema]

I discussed this with a friend(who has some EFT background) yesterday and here is another thought on this

 

This is a great idea because it at least stops the actor from becoming a road-block in corrective actions.  But a critic can argue that if one disconnects from their deed they might feel less responsible about fixing what was broken.  So the approach could be constructed as an excuse(as all great ideas have been historically). 

 

So we need to give a complete picture of this idea by mentioning the other qualities that we may be taking for granted but others wont.  It would be somewhat like this(sorry if that sounds like an algorithm :))

 

(Consider circle inside circle, 1 being innermost )

1) Always look for opportunity to make things better.

2) Learn from observing wrong actions and do not repeat them.

3) Disconnect from your deed.

 

The idea here is that if I grow outwards and if one of my actions are found to be wanting quality 1) will make me look for an opportunity to make things better.  Most of the time I might be the best person to fix what I broke. Quality 2 will make me not repeat it.  Also the cool part is that I am not fixing the broken thing out of guilt/shame but out of habit.

 

Also I would like to stress something that Sri Eknath mentioned in one of his books.  We need to practise disconnect not only with action that are found wanting but also with actions that are praiseworthy.  Often I find myself using this approach more in the negative situation(to calm myself) and letting myself forget about this in situation where I am praised.  We can never reach the finish line if we practise this only 50% of the time.

 

Thanks

Prashant