Gandhi and Nonviolence free essay sample

Goal of reaching Nonviolence Gandhi maintained certain practices that were considered essential Satyagraha practices, which he believed would bring nonviolence to the world. He named this power Satyagraha which means â€Å"reality force or holding onto truth. † Gandhi had said, â€Å" The Truth is far more powerful than any weapon of mass destruction. † In the clear view of violence, Gandhi had come the realization that nonviolence was greater to violence itself. Gandhi believed in eleven practices that would help maintain the world in the aspect of having nonviolence throughout it. For Gandhi, ahimsa (nonviolence) was a fundamental part of his teachings, and he believed nonviolence gave a pronounced moral power to its followers. Gandhi became a guiding force behind a strong nationalist movement that encouraged independence from Great Britain, but without using force or any acts of violence. One of Gandhi’s practices was to fast, and he did this because he believed it would put an end to conflict and neglect that him and his people were enduring. We will write a custom essay sample on Gandhi and Nonviolence or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page During his campaigns he would fast in the hopes of making a statement and to put an end to the mistreatment of his people. Gandhi would simply stop eating until someone gave in at the point of the issue. Gandhi believe with his fasting it would encourage his followers to put more pressure on the British, and the outcome will show his triumph of him and his followers. Another practice that Gandhi introduced was the use of the spinning wheel in his village in India. He believed that spinning his own clothes would bring him self-sufficiency and prepare for forthcoming self-government. Gandhi and his people would own their own cotton and begin to weave it themselves so the British cloth would become not needed in their lives. Gandhi also believed in no harm to humans, but also no harm in animals. As a child Gandhi did eat meat, but later on in his life he preformed one of his practices of vegetarianism. Gandhi knew that vegetarianism could not solve the world’s problems in violence, but he knew it had some type of affect on the world in a positive way. The nature of acting out self-purification is being pure in all walks of life. If one is pure, Gandhi believed that they would not be acting out in violent forms. If purification is happening to a person it can easily affect the persons surroundings in being purified. The vow of brahmacharya is a vow to take control of ones senses and become sexually abstinent. Gandhi believed this would stop the mind in its evil wanderings. Religious tolerance became a big thing for Gandhi, because he simply believed that there was no one religion that should dominate the world. He did not want people to convert to other faiths because he said so, but he wanted them to practice out their own faith and value it. An important practice for nonviolence is the practice of abstention from exploitation, which includes economic exploitation. Gandhi alleged that if society acted out a mutual cooperation it would show that society and the people in it are equal. In reality he believes that the unity of life will prosper and equality and freedom will bring nonviolence. Gandhi believed in guidance from God, and by receiving that he would participate in daily prayer. Gandhi knew that prayer was necessary for his soul. Meditation and daily prayer relieves suffering, and without suffering there is no violence. In todays society many will tell you or try to convince you in saying that all of Gandhi’s beliefs and practices were not reliable, and still aren’t in todays world. Many believe that his eleven practices are not worthy of taking away nonviolence or changing the world for the better. When it comes to great people like Gandhi there will come a consequence of people coming towards him with doubt and a little bit of anguish. I believe Gandhi’s eleven practices are reliable in the sense that if people follow through, they may change the world for the better. In 1935 Gandhi told an interviewer that â€Å"Nonviolence means avoiding injury to anything on earth, in thought, word, or deed. † If more people practiced out nonviolence there would be more peace in the world we are living in today. People who act how violence are usually unhappy, angry, or just confused within themselves. Gandhi shows that finding inner peace will help bring nonviolence to the universe, which makes the world a better place for everyone. Most people who are acting out in violence are angry or sad and just want to bring out the aggression on someone or something. If violence wasn’t shown on television, movies, and even in our daily lives there would be a less outcome of violence. Gandhi shows that these eleven practices cannot be preached but they have to be practiced. If people were more opened to the idea of being nonviolent, nonviolence may actual begin to exist. Gandhi took big strides into his beliefs and made sure that violence would be abolished from our world. Gandhi showed that the world in not about things, but is more about the virtue of life itself. Gandhi made it clear that is becomes a never-ending cycle with greed, and how greed leads to unhappiness. There is a better possibility of a person to commit sins and acts of violence to have the things he or she wants but doesn’t need. It becomes a process and the process usually ends with unhappiness. The ripple affect begins when one person doesn’t act out in violence, it proves to another person violence is not always the answer. Gandhi said, â€Å"If one person can practice nonviolence, surely a nation can. No person or group of people can hold another person or group of people slaves against their will. † Gandhi is right when he says if one person can do it, a whole nation can. The eleven practices are guidelines for people to have nonviolence in their life, and most importantly in the world. At this point, Gandhi realized that the level on nonviolence he wanted to reach was very high and knew people could not do this without courage and faith. Gandhi has said, â€Å"God has never forsaken me even in my darkest hour. â€Å" Gandhi believed God in present in everyone and I believe just that. Without faith there is no hope, and without hope there is suffering. Gandhi shows that he is not against other religions, but he wants to make sure everyone values their own faith. â€Å"God does not reveal himself in the same form in all of us, or rather the heart of all of us not being alike, we do not see God in the same form,† Gandhi had said that to prove God exist in every shape and form for anyone. Gandhi’s fundamental philosophical and spiritual assumptions are to see the universe as a whole, and that philosophy exists in many forms: the religious, moral, political, economical, and social. He believes that God is truth and truth is God, and God is the religious element, or better yet it is the core of his philosophy. Gandhi suggested that through love and charity, nonviolence might revolve itself around the world. â€Å"This in essence is the principle of nonviolent noncooperation. It follows, therefore, that it must have its roots in love,† said by Gandhi. Gandhi had this view of loving your enemy, if you love your enemy you enemy may turn into a friend. Gandhi’s philosophical views are actually simple. If everyone just focused on bettering themselves, and loving one another nonviolence may appear. People have become too wrapped up in angry and in revenge, that seeking nonviolence almost seems impossible. Gandhi has said, â€Å"An eye for an eye makes the world go blind. † The world is always trying to get revenge on someone instead of accepting issues and moving on. Gandhi’s eleven practices not only help with the outside world, but also help you find inner peace within yourself. From daily prayer to vegetarianism, Gandhi shows that his practices are forms of peace and are essential into finally receiving nonviolence. The ideals of Gandhi on truth and nonviolence are universal and considered to be timeless philosophy in today’s world. Gandhi sees his followers who are practicing his eleven practices as gradually going through moral evolution. Gandhi believes in the idea that human beings can solve conflict without violence or any acts of violence. Gandhi shows that through his philosophy of individual tasks each person can reach truth and nonviolence. Gandhi’s philosophy reveals ideas from Western influence, but also from Indian culture. Gandhi’s blend of traditional and modern teachings has left of with the hope that we may finally see the outcome of truth and nonviolence. As Gandhi said, â€Å"My nonviolence is neither maimed nor weak. It is all-powerful. Where there is nonviolence, there is Truth, and Truth is God. † In conclusion, Gandhi was a man of wisdom and truth, and his goal was to bring truth and nonviolence to our world. Our world we live in his full of corruption and hate, Gandhi’s goal was to get rid of all that. Gandhi’s eleven practices were set forth for our benefit, to see the outcome of not hatred but love, happiness instead of sadness, and joy instead of anger. Gandhi was not only trying to better himself, but was ultimately bettering the world we live in today. Gandhi’s practices, his teachings, and his philosophical views will continue on for a lifetime changing the world, at less violence at a time. As Gandhi said, â€Å"Without true understanding of the ideal, we can never hope to reach it. It is necessary for us, therefore, to apply our reason to understand the power of nonviolence. †