by Beth Orchard, IPS Student, Social Justice
Ahimsa, or an expression of deep love and abstinence from causing pain or harm to others or self, was a large part of Gandhi’s practice. In his view, we must not punish those who do harm, but help them understand the injustice and transform them through love. Satyagraha was a large part of his movement for non-violence and simply means truth power, or the way of truth which brings us closer to what Martin Luther King, Jr. called the ‘beloved community.’
I think of this when I reflect back on a discussion we had in our Social Justice Leadership class about ‘living a non-violent life.’ I think ahimsa can be self-reflective of our love and tendency to cause ourselves harm or pain through our actions. When we are not mindful of what we say or how we act, the repercussions can be great not only for those around us, but ourselves as well.
Something that is difficult about living a life of non-violence is to commit with all one’s heart. It is not something that a person can only commit to half-heartedly, nor is it something which another person, say a partner, can just join alongside. It is a full commitment from both partners, or from a community as a whole, in order to be fully effective. Gandhi would never have achieved the success he did with his movement if nobody else believed in what he preached. Because he lived it, and it was a part of who he was, others also started to see how that could positively impact themselves and the world around them. This was his most powerful legacy.
Henry Nouwen wrote a book called ‘the Wounded Healer’ and spoke about how we must crucify ourselves in order to be like Christ. This sacrificial love is lived out in the life we lead of taking care of ourselves, and letting God be present within us. To live a life as fully and as loving as Christ was requires more than compassion, it requires releasing ourselves of all obligations to heal our own wounds and allow others to come alongside us in community to help each other repair the wounds the world bestows on us so we can thus go on to help heal others.
My life is about more than simply being present in the moment with those I’m in service to, it is about a lived experience of being a part of their existential crisis of faith, of despair, of lost hope and opportunity. It’s realizing the blessings we’ve been given in the midst of someone else’s loss. It is about carrying the cross and burden of sheltering the weak and shepherding the lost when nobody else will go near them. It is also about demonstrating a love that is so radical and life changing that it transforms hearts to a higher being of truly caring about what happens to others, and through that becoming cared for ourselves. (more…)