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The Age of Miracles 118. It is open to anyone to say that human nature has not been known to rise to such height. But if we have made unexpected progress in physical sciences, why may we do less in the science of the soul? –H, 14-5-38, 114.
119. In this age of wonders no one will say that a thing or idea is worthless because it is new. To way it is impossible because it is difficult, is again not in consonance with the spirit of the age. Things undreamt of are daily being seen, the impossible is ever becoming possible. We are constantly being astonished these days at the amazing discoveries in the field of violence. But I maintain that far more undreamt of and seemingly impossible discoveries will be made in the field of nonviolence. –H, 25-8-40, 260.
Hatred can never yield Good 120. Brute force has been the ruling factor din the world for thousands of years, and mankind has been reaping its bitter harvest all along, as he who runs may read. There is little hope of anything good coming out of it in the future. If light can come out of darkness, then alone can love emerge from hatred.
– SA, 289.
 21. It is my firm conviction that nothing enduring can be built upon violence. –YI, 15-11-28, 381.
| Nonviolence 122. (1) Nonviolence implies as complete self-purification as is humanly possible. (2) Man for man the strength of nonviolence is in exact proportion to the ability, not the will, of the nonviolent person to inflict violence. (3) Non-violence is without exception superior to violence, i. e., the power at the disposal of a nonviolent person is always greater than he would have if he was violent. (4) There is no such thing as defeat in non-violence. The end of violence is surest defeat. (5) The ultimate end of nonviolence is surest victory if such a term may be used of nonviolence. In reality where there is no sense of defeat, there is no sense of victory. –H, 12-10-35, 276.
123. The only condition of a successful use of this force is a recognition of the existence of the soul as apart from the body and its permanent nature. And this recognition must amount to a living faith and not mere intellectual grasp. –Nat, I66. | Consequences of Nonviolence 124. Q. Is love or nonviolence compatible with possession or exploitation in any shape or from? A. Love and exclusive possession can never go together. –MR, I935, 4I2.
125. Military force is inconsistent with soul-force. Frightfulness, exploitation of the weak, immoral gains, insatiable pursuit after enjoyments of the flesh are utterly inconsistent with soul-force.–YI, 6-5-26, 164.
126. The principle of non-violence necessitates complete abstention from exploitation in any form. –(27I)
127. Rural economy as I have conceived it eschews exploitation altogether, and exploitation is the essence of violence. –H, 4-11-39, 331.
128. No man could be actively nonviolent and not rise against social injustice no matter where it occurred. –H, 20-4-40, 97. | Nonviolence always Applicable and in all Spheres of Life 129. Non-violence is a universal principle and its operation is not limited by a hostile environment. Indeed, its efficacy can be tested only when it acts in the midst of and in spite of opposition. Our non-violence would be a hollow thing and nothing worth, if it depended for its success on the goodwill of the authorities. (Here, reference is made to the British Government in India). H, 12-11-38, 326.
130. Truth and non-violence are no cloistered virtues but applicable as much in the forum and the legislatures and the market place. –H 8-37,98.
131. Some friends have told me that truth and nonviolence have no place in politics and worldly affairs. I do not agree. I have no use for them as a means of individual salvation. Their introduction and application in everyday life has been my experiment all along. –ABP, 30-6-44.
132. We have to make truth and nonviolence, not matters for mere individual practice but for practice by groups and communities and nations. That at any rate is my dream. I shall live and die in trying to realize it. My faith helps me to discover new truths every day. Ahimsa is the attribute of the soul, and therefore, to be practiced by everybody in all the affairs of life. If it cannot be practical in all departments, it has nopractical value. H, 2-3-40,23 |
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Philosophy 