"AHIMSA"

The DOCTRINE of
NON-VIOLENCE

Mahatma Gandhi

Literally speaking, Ahimsa means non-killing. But to me it has a world of meaning and takes me into realms much higher, infinitely higher. It really means that you may not offend anybody; you may not harbor an uncharitable thought, even in connection with one who may consider himself to be your enemy. To one who follows the doctrine there is no room for an enemy. But there may be people who consider themselves to be his enemies. So it is held that we may not harbor an evil thought even in connection with such persons. If we return blow for blow, we depart from the doctrine of Ahisma. But I go father. If we resent a friend’s action, or the so-called enemy’s action, we still fall short of this doctrine.

But when I say we should not resent, I do not mean that we should acquiesce: by the word "resenting", I mean wishing that some harm should be done to the enemy; or that he should be put out of the way, not even by any action of ours, but by the action of somebody else, or, say, by divine agency. If we harbor even this thought we depart from the doctrine of Non-Violence. Those who join the Ashram have literally to accept that meaning.

That does not mean that we practice that doctrine in its entirety. Far from it. It is an ideal to be reached even at this very moment, if we are capable of doing so. But ... it is not like solving difficult problems in higher mathematics - it is infinetly more difficult. Many of us have burnt the midnight oil in solving these problems. But if you want to follow out this doctrine you will have to pass many a sleepless night, and go through many a mental torture, before you can even be within measurable distance of this goal.

It is this goal, and nothing less than that, which you and I have to reach, if we want to understand what a religious life means. A man who believes in the efficacy of this doctrine finds in the ultimate stage, when he is about to reach the goal, the whole world at his feet. If you express your love - Ahimsa - in such a manner that it impresses itself indelibly upon your so-called enemy, he must return that love.

Under this rule there is no room for organized assassinations, or for murders openly committed, or for violence for the sake of your country, and even for guarding the honor of precious ones that may be under your charge. After all, that would be a poor defense of their honor. This doctrine tells us that we may guard the honor of those under our charge by delivering our own lives into the hands of the man who would commit the sacrilege. And that requires far greater courage than delivering of blows. If you do not retaliate, but stand your ground between your charge and the opponent, simply receiving the blows without retaliating, what happens? I give you my promise that the whole of his violence will be expended on you, and your friend will be left unscathed. Under this plan of life there is no conception of patriotism which justifies such wars as you witness today in Europe.

Mohandas K. Gandhi