Gandhi started my path toward the East. Here is how to fight and win! -michael


Principles for Satyagrahis

Gandhi envisioned satyagraha as not only a tactic to be used in acute political struggle, but as a universal solvent for injustice and harm. He felt that it was equally applicable to large-scale political struggle and to one-on-one interpersonal conflicts and that it should be taught to everyone.[13]

He founded the Sabarmati Ashram to teach satyagraha. He asked satyagrahis to follow the following principles (Yamas described in Yoga Sutra):[14]

1.Nonviolence (ahimsa)
2.Truth — this includes honesty, but goes beyond it to mean living fully in accord with and in devotion to that which is true
3.Non-stealing
4.Chastity (brahmacharya) — this includes sexual chastity, but also the subordination of other sensual desires to the primary devotion to truth
5.Non-possession (not the same as poverty)
6.Body-labor or bread-labor
7.Control of the palate
8.Fearlessness
9.Equal respect for all religions
10.Economic strategy such as boycotts (swadeshi)
11.Freedom from untouchability
On another occasion, he listed seven rules as “essential for every Satyagrahi in India”:[15]

1.must have a living faith in God
2.must believe in truth and non-violence and have faith in the inherent goodness of human nature which he expects to evoke by suffering in the satyagraha effort
3.must be leading a chaste life, and be willing to die or lose all his possessions
4.must be a habitual khadi wearer and spinner
5.must abstain from alcohol and other intoxicants
6.must willingly carry out all the rules of discipline that are issued
7.must obey the jail rules unless they are specially devised to hurt his self respect
[edit] Rules for Satyagraha Campaigns
Gandhi proposed a series of rules for satyagrahis to follow in a resistance campaign:[8]

1.harbour no anger
2.suffer the anger of the opponent
3.never retaliate to assaults or punishment; but do not submit, out of fear of punishment or assault, to an order given in anger
4.voluntarily submit to arrest or confiscation of your own property
5.if you are a trustee of property, defend that property (non-violently) from confiscation with your life
6.do not curse or swear
7.do not insult the opponent
8.neither salute nor insult the flag of your opponent or your opponent’s leaders
9.if anyone attempts to insult or assault your opponent, defend your opponent (non-violently) with your life
10.as a prisoner, behave courteously and obey prison regulations (except any that are contrary to self-respect)
11.as a prisoner, do not ask for special favourable treatment
12.as a prisoner, do not fast in an attempt to gain conveniences whose deprivation does not involve any injury to your self-respect
13.joyfully obey the orders of the leaders of the civil disobedience action
14.do not pick and choose amongst the orders you obey; if you find the action as a whole improper or immoral, sever your connection with the action entirely
15.do not make your participation conditional on your comrades taking care of your dependents while you are engaging in the campaign or are in prison; do not expect them to provide such support
16.do not become a cause of communal quarrels
17.do not take sides in such quarrels, but assist only that party which is demonstrably in the right; in the case of inter-religious conflict, give your life to protect (non-violently) those in danger on either side
18.avoid occasions that may give rise to communal quarrels
19.do not take part in processions that would wound the religious sensibilities of any community

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Why was Albert Einstein crazy about Gandhi?

"I believe that Gandhi's views were the most enlightened of all the political men in our time.

We should strive to do things in his spirit: not to use violence in fighting for our cause, but by non-participation in anything you believe is evil."


Respected Mr. Gandhi !
I use the presence of your friend in our home to send you these lines. You have shown through your works, that it is possible to succeed without violence even with those who have not discarded the method of violence. We may hope that your example will spread beyond the borders of your country, and will help to establish an international authority, respected by all, that will take decisions and replace war conflicts.
With sincere admiration,
Yours A. Einstein.
I hope that I will be able to meet you face to face some day.

How did Gandhi respond?

DEAR FRIEND,
I was delighted to have your beautiful letter sent through Sundaram. It is a great consolation to me that the work I am doing finds favour in your sight. I do indeed wish that we could meet face to face and that too in India at my Ashram.

Yours sincerely,
M. K. GANDHI

Mahatma Gandhi's life achievement stands unique in political history. He has invented a completely new and humane means for the liberation war of an oppressed country, and practised it with greatest energy and devotion. The moral influence he had on the conciously thinking human being of the entire civilized world will probably be much more lasting than it seems in our time with its overestimation of brutal violent forces. Because lasting will only be the work of such statesmen who wake up and strengthen the moral power of their people through their example and educational works.
We may all be happy and grateful that destiny gifted us with such an enlightened contemporary, a role model for the generations to come.
~Albert Einstein