Mahatma Gandhi's Non-violence

July 8, 2012
Have you checked out www.mkgandhi.org. This is a wonderful resource for all things related to Mahatma Gandhi. I received this beautiful quote in an email from them a couple of days ago:

Pujya Swamini Vimalanandaji very kindly pointed out the verse that is possibly the closest match to Mahatma Gandhi's quote pictured above. It is Geeta 12-15:

यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः |
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः ||१२-१५||
yasmaannodvijate loko lokaannodvijate cha yaH .
harshhaamarshhabhayodvegairmukto yaH sa cha me priyaH .. 12-15..
He by whom the world is not agitated (affected) , and who cannot be agitated by the world, who is freed from joy, envy, fear, and anxiety --- he is dear to me.

Mahatma Gandhi is clearly linking the quality of the devotee who is serene, is neither disturbed nor does he cause disturbance in others to the attitude of non-violence. Going by this shloka, one could make the argument that a non-violent person must seek to be free of envy, fear and anxiety since these emotions are frequently the trigger to violence in thought, even if not in action.

Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji has this to say:

In and through the battling circumstances, he perceives the changeless ground --- he hears the harmony that runs through the various discordant notes in life around.

Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

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Everyday Geeta

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