Season of Nonviolence
Gandhi-King Season of Nonviolence - 2009
“Be the change you wish to see in the world”. - Gandhi
Join us for 64 Days (Jan. 30-April 4) of Practice -
Applying Principles of Love and Wisdom to Daily Life
~Events~
Calendar of Scheduled Events - SFSU
2009 Theme: The Evolution of Activism
Healing Violence: Self, Society & the Earth
Weekly Events (Mondays), 5:30 – 7pm, HSS 306 – Public Invited (free).
Feb. 2 SNV Overview: Principles & Practices for NV Living & A Better World
Feb. 9 Gandhi (Film & Discussion) + Human Virtues & Development: Self & Society
Feb. 16 Teaching Peace & Conflict Studies, Jill Johnson, Liberty High School
Feb. 23 A Force More Powerful (Documentary: Nonviolent Social Action Training)
March 2 The Corporation + Century of the Self (Film & Discussion: Economics,
PR & Politics of Violence) & Voices in Wartime (Film: War, trauma & recovery)
Permaculture & Urban Earth Activism (creating vibrant cities & economies)
March 9 Nonviolent Communication Skills, Part 1, Newt Bailey, www.cnvc.org
March 16 Army of God (Film: Religious fundamentalism & terror/violence toward others)
Nonviolent Communication Skills, Part 2, Sigal Shoham, www.baynvc.org
March 30 Compassionate Listening, Relationship & World Work, with Leah Green,
Co-Founder, The Compassionate Listening Project. www.compassionatelistening.org
April 6 Conclusion & Celebration: Collaboration Skills, Intergenerational Leadership
& Steps Toward a Culture of Peace, Alissa Gentile & Nick Challed, On the Move
- youth leaders for vibrant communities. www.onthemovebayarea.org/node/553
Other Special Events:
March 19 Day of Reflection: Sixth Anniversary of the War in Iraq
March 22-29 National Conversation Week (Host a Conversation) www.conversationcafe.org
April 20 Earth Day: The Story of Stuff (Film & Discussion, 5:30-7pm, HSS 306)
April 25 Facing Global Crises & Re-Inventing the World, (Sat., 9:30am-4pm)
Jack Adams Hall, Cesar Chavez Student Center, SF State University
An 'Open Space’ Conference with Bay Area 'Thought Leaders’:
Using this time of crisis as a window of opportunity… Awaking to a new world.
Exploring Core Values & Issues, Trans-partisan Thinking & Action Steps
Sponsors: The HH Learning Center, a self-care library and community action Center, HSS 329.
(415) 338-6416, www.sfsu.edu/~holistic part of The Institute for Holistic Health Studies, a SF State Univ. academic program: www.sfsu.edu/~ihhs and home to The HH Network & OrangeBand (student orgs)
~Overview~
Gandhi-King Season for Non-Violence
(64 Days to Practice Weaving Love & Wise Action Into Life)
The Season for Nonviolence, January 30 - April 4, is a national 64-day educational and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our personal lives, our communities and our global society. Inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, this cross-cultural event creates a focused time to learn and practice the powerful teachings of these two great humanitarians.
In this time of darkness in the world, we turn to the wisdom of these two world teachers – in search of the shared values and common goodness that support people of all faiths and political parties moving toward a better future. Join us in the annual Gandhi-King Season of Non-violence and explore the meaning of these timeless principles for your life and key relationships.
The 64 days (nine weeks+) are divided into three arenas of practice: I. Self, (Mind-Body-Spirit);
II. Others (Communication-Relationship); III. World (Eco-Social). Together these three practice arenas comprise an integrated focus of humanity’s movements toward greater health: personal, social and environmental. For a compilation of Daily Practices or further details visit the Holistic Health Learning Center, HSS 329, or try us online at: www.sfsu.edu/~holistic/activism/f_networ.html
What is Nonviolence?
Nonviolence is a powerful method to harmonize relationships among people (and all living things) for the establishment of justice and the ultimate well-being of all parties. It draws power from awareness of the profound truth to which the wisdom traditions of all cultures, science and common experience bear witness: that all life is one.
Nonviolence is a relatively new word in the English language, having been introduced in the 1920’s. Many dictionaries still do not list it. In current usage the hyphen is not usually used; and when it is, it often signifies the mere absence of physical violence, in contrast to “principled nonviolence” - the presence of concern for the opponent as a person. “Nonviolence” is a rough translation of the Sanskrit term ahimsa, which means something like: “the power that comes into effect when the desire to harm is eliminated”. Today, people use the term “nonviolence” in three different ways:
(1) The mere absence of violence. In this usage, allowing oneself to be abused can be called “nonviolence”, while Gandhi and others have considered this a form of violence. This definition leads to a lot of confusion and is not what is meant by Gandhi and those practicing principled NV.
(2) The avoidance of recourse to physical violence as a strategy, without reference to a philosophical or spiritual foundation for that avoidance. Often this form of NV is conditional. (“If it doesn’t work we can go back to violence.”) This passive approach defines “nonviolent” as “not using violence”.
(3) Principled nonviolence (PNV) - a positive desire for the well-being of others even when opposing their actions or policies. Just as peace is more than the absence of war, it is more than the refusal to use physical violence. PNV is peaceful action that can awaken public conscience about an ongoing injustice and steps toward creative change. Gandhi, King, Chavez and others used PNV to highlight injustice for all to see - without blaming anyone. In PNV all violence (not just physical) is held to violate the essential interconnectedness of all beings, and that connectedness also guarantees the eventual success of principled nonviolent action: “pursuit of peace by peaceful means” (J. Galtung).
Mohandas K Gandhi (1869 -1948)
“You must be the change you want to see in the world”. – Mahatma Gandhi
Known to hundreds of millions of Indians and westerners as the "Mahatma" or "Great Soul", his skillful strategy of nonviolence (practice of the law of love) combined with a humanitarian vision, brought about the emancipation of India in the 1940's. Gandhi's strategy of clarifying and expressing "truth and moral power" emphasized love and integrity as a relational path to real social reform.
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 -1968)
The aftermath of violence is tragic bitterness, while the aftermath
of nonviolence is the beloved community. - ML King
One of Gandhi's greatest disciples was the acclaimed leader of the U.S. civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King inspired and organized an EXPLICITLY nonviolent mass movement to awaken social conscience - challenging racial discrimination, violence, injustice and militarism in America. King’s Principles of Nonviolence:
1. Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people.
2. Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.
3. Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding.
4. Nonviolence holds that suffering for a cause can educate and transform.
5. Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.
6. Nonviolence holds that the universe is on the side of justice and that right will eventually prevail.
Gandhian Principles of Non-Violence
“The only devils in the world are those running around in our own hearts;
that is where the battle should be fought.” “My life is my message” – M. K. Gandhi
1. Oneness
All life is one/interconnected. Our oneness calls us to work for the well-being of all.
2. Satyagraha (force of truth/Soul Force)
NV is the pursuit of truth - living with integrity and willingness to confront untruth.
3. Ahimsa (non-injury)
Nonviolence as practice of ahimsa is the development of love and selfless service
- helping others, especially adversaries to avoid suffering - essence of all religions.
4. Absorbing Suffering
NV takes on without complaint any suffering that results from my confrontation
with untruth and accepts that all forms of violence cannot be totally eliminated.
5. Trust/Release of Fear
NV living is a trust in life and the journey of becoming increasingly free from fear.
Seven Social Evils – M. Gandhi
- Wealth Without Work - Pleasure Without Conscience
- Knowledge Without Character - Commerce Without Morality
- Science Without Humanity - Worship Without Sacrifice
- Politics Without Principles
