Satyagraha?
What is satyagraha? It is a philosophy from India which means to do anything, give anything, sacrifice anything, to pursue what is right without harming another and to do this without regard for self.
Do you have the strength of character for satyagraha? I often wonder that about myself. I definitely have my values and principles and my list of things that start with,
"Well, I would never......."
But, would I? Do I?
I am a woman who has lived a blessed and gifted life. Many of the things I say I would never do, I say them because I have never been challenged by those circumstances. When you look at challenges from a distance they always seem to be constructed of black and white blocks but the closer you get to those challenges the blacks and whites fade to shades of grey.
Gandhi, a man who really introduced Satyagraha to
the world at-large, a proponent of "passive resistance" and
non-violence and was actually awarded a Nobel Peace prize was a great
poser and coward it seems to me. He talked big in the world of men and
politics but beat the women in his life. How does one live with those
conflicts?
In the light of day, with the world watching, he taught one thing but behind closed doors he was a different person....
Nelson
Mandela, I believe, was a man who's name and face is more iconic of
passive resistance and nonviolence. A man of honor. I would hope that I
am more like Mr. Mandela.
He was a man with strength of character. He lived what he taught; he was an example of his beliefs. He was a man of honor.
Many people speak of the influence that Gandhi had on Mandela. To me, it seems that it was not the man Gandhi that influenced as much as the basic creed of passive resistance that Gandhi preached and demonstrated in the public arena.
Mandela was quoted regarding Gandhi, "India sent a man to South Africa and we sent back a Mahatma."
Perhaps it was the struggle of South Africans and the contemptuousness of Apartheid that influenced Gandhi and, maybe, if he had been allowed to live longer, his beliefs would have evolved to include women.
I pray for the strength of authentic satyagraha, authentic grace, and that I am never tested.
What is satyagraha? It is a philosophy from India which means to do anything, give anything, sacrifice anything, to pursue what is right without harming another and to do this without regard for self.
Do you have the strength of character for satyagraha? I often wonder that about myself. I definitely have my values and principles and my list of things that start with,
"Well, I would never......."
But, would I? Do I?
I am a woman who has lived a blessed and gifted life. Many of the things I say I would never do, I say them because I have never been challenged by those circumstances. When you look at challenges from a distance they always seem to be constructed of black and white blocks but the closer you get to those challenges the blacks and whites fade to shades of grey.
 |
| Photo courtesy of zeenews.india.com |
In the light of day, with the world watching, he taught one thing but behind closed doors he was a different person....
He was a man with strength of character. He lived what he taught; he was an example of his beliefs. He was a man of honor.
 |
| Father of a Nation ~ Tata Mandela ~ 1918 - 2013 |
Mandela was quoted regarding Gandhi, "India sent a man to South Africa and we sent back a Mahatma."
Perhaps it was the struggle of South Africans and the contemptuousness of Apartheid that influenced Gandhi and, maybe, if he had been allowed to live longer, his beliefs would have evolved to include women.
I pray for the strength of authentic satyagraha, authentic grace, and that I am never tested.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Play Nice!