Day #11 – Non-Violence: 100 Days Gratitude Challenge 2017

Day #11 – Non Violence:
100 Days Gratitude Challenge 2017

Gandhi Jayanthi on October 2nd is a day dedicated to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi the man who single-handedly brought Great Britain to its knees and made them quit India. The more important thing that he brought to the world was the methodology adopted to do this - non-violence.   
We in India have a national holiday on that day. Politicians and bureaucrats show their patriotism by making speeches and eulogizing the little man who got us our independence. And after that, they go about their business of ruling the billion and odd little people in India with not a thought spent on non-violence.
Our world is filled with violent people. We use violence in our thoughts, in our words and many a time in our actions. Non-violence is considered a loser’s attitude. If you don’t kick butt and go after what you want then you are a wuss. We jostle, push, and kick our way to where we want to go and if a few passersby got hurt so be it. It’s collateral damage. That is the world we live in.
But we need not have to resign yourself to that life. We can turn it inside out and adopt ‘Ahimsa’. Ahimsa means “respect for all living things and avoidance of violence towards others”. And it starts from within.
How do you treat yourself in your head? Are you kind? Are you forgiving? Are you loving? If yes Ahimsa will come easily to you.
If you treat yourself with criticism, remorse, guilt or anger in your head, then the journey to Ahimsa starts with learning to forgive yourself first. Everyone makes mistakes including me and you. Learn from it but let the self-flagellation go. Once you start doing it for yourself, then it will be easier to do it for others. Remorse and guilt will disappear once you have forgiven yourself. Soon after that Self-Love would show her shy face to you and anger will disappear from the scene.
I’m grateful for my ability to choose between the two. And I’m glad to say that I’m largely on the side of Ahimsa. I’m no Gandhi since I can’t claim 100% compliance, however, I shall get there.

You too can choose between the two. The healthier and happier choice is Ahimsa. Go for it. Apply it on yourself and then take it out on others.


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