Logic of Truth and Nonviolence
RECAP:
Truth : That which exists; All-encompassing-Reality, Absolute;
The Universe exists and its all-encompassing-reality. Hence the Universe is the manifest form of the Truth.
This truth is not static, sedate; but dynamic and vibrant.
There is an order in the manifestation; If there is order, there must be a law that governs the orderly
function of the universe.
The law is not external to the Universe , the Law and the Law provider and Law practitioner are one and the same.
Order in the Universe is -Self-governed; for, the universe is its own law.
The universe follows its laws non-violatively.
Nonviolence: nonviolative conduct of life is called nonviolence.
For humans, life is to live. We are born to live. Nonviolence means conducting life in a pro-life manner.
Every action or conduct that is pro-life, pro-living , is considered nonviolent action or conduct.
Any action, any conduct that is towards protecting life, promoting life and preserving life is called
nonviolence.
To live is our mandate; Pro-life action is called as Nonviolence:
As we are all born with the mandate ‘to live’ , causing death or killing is a negation of that mandate / that purpose. Therefore killing, hurting, injuring, and jeopardizing life is considered as violence. Abstaining from such violence is called as non-violence
Nonviolence in personal conduct: not to kill, not to hurt, not to injure any is nonviolence.
Systemic nonviolence:
As social being, life of humans is governed by the many systems and structures we have created. Social culture, economy, politics are part of those systems. An economy that does not ensure life to every human living in it, is called as ‘violent economy’.
An economy that ensures life to every human living in it, is called as ‘nonviolent economy’. In the same manner a political arrangement (administration, bureaucracy, governance) that discriminates / exploits any of its people is a violent political order. In this manner nonviolence seen as a ubiquitous principle. Pro-existence, pro-life principle.
Discussion:
Mythili: Nonviolence is so difficult to practice as much as it appears logically so easy to understand.
Nonviolence is not so difficult to practice. We all practice nonviolence, we do practice nonviolence precisely, in our known circles, circles in which we hold people dear to us.
When we recognize the primacy of individual, when the next person is my own person (sister, brother, parents, spouse, children, friend...) then our conduct becomes one of inclusive, pro-life by nature. With them we upkeep highest level of tolerance, patience, understanding, forgiveness, trust, sharing, sacrifice...
That only shows that we are not strangers to nonviolence. We only choose to apply them selectively. We are now in a global village; we have chosen to lead a life that requires global cooperation. Every individuals every part of life is collectively determined by the rest of the world.
In such a life, behaving individualistically amounts to total callousness. It is violent disregard, violent
negligence.
The present life calls for greater awareness and consciousness, for we are no more ‘local guys’ we are ‘global citizens’
Is UN a failure:
The very idea that we can have a global forum to address human concern is a phenomenal development.
Historically speaking till the beginning 20th century, it was beyond human imagination that such a body would be feasible.
Gandhi said, ‘human civilization is one continuous experience of us progressing on the path of nonviolence.’
From small clan we progressed to include fellow clans and became communities, societies, nations, international federations and now global citizens. It only shows that our ability to recognize the otherness , include people of all diverse orientation, has steadily progressed to global maturity.
UN by and large is a success because, it has not lost its hope, yet. We as people are yet to grow at individual level in our global perspective in order that our UN will be successful to that extent.
We get the leader we deserve: in a democratic world we are ll stake holders to our national governmentsand the UNO thereby.
If we nurture at our individual level, negative emotions such as anger, hatred, enmity, suspicion, and are functionally exclusive, then our governments too behave that way.
Micro touch to macro problem:
In order for the world to stop weaponization, and warfare, we at the local level have to nurture human perspectives, inclusive values, ability to recognize the otherness however diverse that may be.
Optimization:
Optimization is one of the key principles of Mother Nature. We see in the Creation, in the Universe, theprinciple of ‘Optimization’ governing the very existence, very life.
Optimization employing appropriate level of energy to achieve the best possible result. Optimum is understood as a ‘no-more-no-less’ formula.
Life and all its actions are experienced only at their optimum level.
For example, we need to eat in order to live. Food gives us energy. However there is limit to it. Over eating does not give us excessive energy.
The law of diminishing return comes into effect when we cross the upper limit in any of our action.
The earth lives by being optimum in its speed, velocity, mass and distance from the sun. more speed, or less speed of earth revolution would lead to spin off the orbit. That will be the end of earth.
Our bike speed is to be maintained no more no less. Either way it is a loss. More speed is fatal, less speed is waste of time, waste of petrol. Only at an optimum speed, we gain best possible result.
If we cross the limit it is violation, it hurts our life or other’s life. Breaking optimum level is violence.
Gandhiji’s nonviolence is all about taming ourselves to stay within our optimum level. We need an economy, an earning, however excessive earning (wealth creation) is violence because, in a limited economy, if we take more, somebody else would be getting less. Our wealth becomes the cause of poverty in the neighborhood.
Absolute self-denial too is violence, for it leads to death. Optimum pursuit of material needs is the right way to ensure best possible life.
Compiled by D John Chelladurai, Prof. and Head, Dept. of Gandhian Studies, Mahatma Gandhi Mission University,Aurangabad, MS, India – 431003
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