Lacking Any Desire To Kill

Gandhi for today: The following is an excerpt from "The Words of Gandhi" by Richard Attenborough.

The Sanskrit word ahimsa is at the foundation of satyagraha. It literally means"lacking any desire to kill." This is considered to be the natural state of the human spirit, which can be realized or uncovered by practicing true love toward all living things. To love those who are considered to be your enemies is the natural progression of ahimsa. Unlike the word "nonviolence," with which it is often paired, ahimsa implies a state in which no violence-of thought or action-exists. In such a state, there is only love. To practice ahimsa requires strength; a person must be willing to maintain a condition of ahimsa even in the face of tremendous adversity.
Gandhi invented the word satyagraha. It is built upon the words satya [truth] and agraha [firmness] . Gandhi viewed truth as an expression of love and firmness as an expression of strength. Gandhi recognized the subjective nature of "truth" for mankind: "truth" was often influenced by a persons own self-interests. "Firmness," the denial of self-interest, was Gandhi's solution to this subjectivity.This was not a passive solution. To deny one's material wants as well as any emotions that run counter to a spirit of ahimsa required strength. By following this path, the practitioner of satyagrahi is able to release a force stronger than any weapon. It is a force of intense love borne out of an absence of self-interest. It is an active seeking of the truth, devoid of hostility, anger, and violence, which allows the victim to view himself as one with his attacker.
Gandhi defined satyagraha as "soul-force," which emerges through the uncovering of the true human spirit.

Have a sunny day. Fine Art and Gems.