A Happy 138th Birthday To Mahatma Gandhi

by Robert Wilkinson

Though many think of him as a caricature of a kindly old man, or a hopelessly naive advocate for a non-violence believed impossible to achieve, Mohandas Gandhi, a.k.a. "the Mahatma" (Great Spirit) gave us all the only sane technique for restoring peace in our ridiculously divided and aggressive world. Today we take a new look at some of his great quotes, among them: "Gandhi was once asked what he thought about western civilization. His response was: 'I think it would be a good idea.'" Keep reading for more about and from this astonishingly humble force majure.

From my yearly celebration of the sign Libra, a quote from Einstein on Gandhi:

Albert Einstein, one of the greatest minds humanity has produced, once said of Gandhi that "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood." One of the most effective politicians in history, he demonstrated the practical truth that the way of applied Soul force using non-violent techniques is the most powerful political tool we have.

So today we celebrate one of the greatest to ever walk among us, a human who claimed his "god self" and became one of the best of all time. There are several great links to other quotes in the following two articles. Last year's birthday celebration of the Mahatma was picked up by another site and when they posted it, provoked a retort from the famous windbag Dr. Laura. You can find my response below, but by all means peruse the Gandhi quotes first, and then if you want to pick up the contratemps, check out my response, which I would offer to all who believe Gandhi's non-violence would not work in our world.

Aum and blessings to you, Mahatma. May your Soul's message to us all grow stronger with each day that passes.

Happy Birthday To One of the Greatest Beings Ever to Walk the Earth - Mahatma Gandhi

A Response to Laura Schlessinger Regarding Gandhi and Nonviolence

© Copyright 2007 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Lori]

Peace begins within. Outer appearance doesn't mean anything - only the spirit within & we have so much to learn from each other; to be enriched by each other locally, nationally and globally.

[Kat]

I find it always difficult to try and put my "Higher Self's" shoes on when dealing with what I perceive to be inequity, but it always, always pays off. This is a lesson that took decades, and I still don't always succeed. But, I would have to say that most of the time I do.

Dr. Laura is interesting in the fact that her Ph.D is in physiology, not psychology. She is rather typical of the mindset of those who are still "asleep," intellectual prowess and nearly zero emotional development and maturity. She is a symptom of this age, and she too, shall pass.

[Felipe Gonzales]

It is appropriate that the United Nations observes today as International Day of Non-Violence, thus commemorating Gandhi, who developed सत्याग्रह (satyāgraha), the philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance. Gracias Mahatma for bringing this practice to light. May all strive to practice these principles espoused below.

Sixty-first session

Agenda item 44

Culture of peace

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameron, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d’ Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe:
draft resolution International Day of Non-Violence

The General Assembly,Reaffirming the Charter of the United Nations, including the principles and purposes contained therein, Recalling its resolutions 53/243 A and B of 13 September 1999, containing the Declaration on a Culture of Peace and the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, 55/282 of 7 September 2001 on the International Day of Peace and 61/45 of 4 December 2006 on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, as well as other relevant resolutions,
Bearing in mind that non-violence, tolerance, full respect, full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, democracy, development, mutual understanding and respect of diversity, are interlinked and mutually reinforcing.

Reaffirming the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence and desiring to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence,

1. Decides, with effect from the sixty-second session of the General Assembly and guided by the Charter of the United Nations, to observe the International Day of Non-Violence on 2 October each year, with the International Day being brought to the attention of all people for its celebration and observance on this date;

2. Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, regional and non-governmental organizations and individuals to commemorate the International Day of Non-Violence in an appropriate manner and to disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to recommend ways and means by which the United Nations system and the Secretariat of the United Nations could, within existing resources, assist Member States, upon request, in organizing activities to commemorate the International Day of Non-Violence;

4. Also requests the Secretary-General to take, within existing resources, necessary measures for the observance by the United Nations of the International Day of Non-Violence;

5. Further requests the Secretary-General to keep the General Assembly informed at its sixty-third session on the implementation within the United Nations system of present resolution as regards the observance of the International Day of Non-Violence.

Paz, Felipe

[Robert]

Hi all - I second all that's been expressed here. "All we are saying, is give peace a chance...." May Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.