Mahatma Gandhi's Death Day

by Robert Wilkinson

On this day in 1948, a violent fundamentalist assassinated one of the greatest in history, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a.k.a. "The Mahatma," or "Great Spirit." As I once sang, "Why oh why can't the violent learn to stop making good people cry? Of all the questions I've asked myself, the one that stays with me is Why?"

If you've never had the privilege of "meeting" the Mahatma, here's a tiny taste of this remarkable man about whom Albert Einstein said "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood."

For your consideration, Gandhi's "Seven Deadly Social Sins:"

A little more:

Mahatma Gandhi and our Quantum Reality

Gandhi Speaks - Why even limited nuclear war and weapons are immoral

A Happy 138th Birthday To Mahatma Gandhi which besides offering a little about the Mahatma, links to some really great quotes in the 2006 Gandhi birthday celebration post (including the first time I offered readers Gandhi's 7 Deadly Social Sins.)

More great quotes here.

This man was and is the gold standard for non-violent non-cooperation with beings and systems that oppress any part of humanity. While all of the tactics may not work all the time with fascists and other authoritarians, it's still the hope of the world. As the Mahatma famously once said, "An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind." Something to consider as we walk the walk of striving to bring forth the best within and without.

© Copyright 2010 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Ros]

I ask "why" a lot too. I think this quote is good.

"It is only out of ignorance that people are cruel, because they really don’t think it will come back."
Maya Angelou
Ros

[Jorge Torres]

What he left Us will be Always be a Light !!!!

[caliban]

Why? Cuz truth and light are hard to look at. It gets in the way of other plans. Sometimes I think that conscience is really the only thing that cannot be taken away from me.

I'm done being angry about it and standing up and fighting. My anger was just attracting more of same. My friend tells me my life will be easier this way. The thing is, I felt like I was spinning my wheels, wasting my energy.

I still stand my own ground and had to do that this week. While 9 ran off with the easy prize, six stayed with me. I don't belong fighting the 9 anymore, I belong with the 6. Very timely write for me, Robert.