AFVOA Newletters of Year 2004

Page 114 of 153 Messages Gandhiji conveyed through his life By Ela Gandhi 81. Gandhiji realised that to be able to endure difficult situations one needed to be trained and he began training Satyagrahis at the Settlements - Phoenix and Tolstoy Farm. There are five principles of Satyagraha: a) It is the weapon of the brave and never that of the coward or the fearful. b) Never retaliate no matter how much suffering one has to endure. c) Always love the opponent but direct the hatred to the evil deed. d) Firmness of resolve without insult, injury, humiliation or defeat of the opponent, rather intent to win him over through love. e) Accept suffering as part of the action as Satyagraha requires self-suffering not infliction of suffering. 82. These principles make this movement not only a daring and brave physical confrontation but also a spiritual confrontation with evil. It is this spiritual element which distinguishes Gandhiji’s approach and, therefore, it also has greater acceptance from people of faith. Sarvodaya: 83. Gandhiji had seen that at that time the West was greatly influenced by the utilitarian ideals of philosophers such as Bentham. They believed that all actions must be such as to benefit the majority of the people. The minority were just an appendage and may be appeased with crumbs. Gandhiji was totally opposed to this view and he developed a philosophy which looked at the good of all, not just the majority, but all. 84. With that in mind, therefore, Gandhiji started the idea of a Sarvodaya movement which was actually started by Vinoba Bhave a strong follower of Gandhiji. From the ashrams that Gandhiji established teams of volunteers were daily sent out into the villages to embark on programmes of education on cleanliness and hygiene and encouragement to spin and farm to become self sufficient. Also to get landlords to become more sensitive to the needs of tenants. 85. He said: “The heart’s earnest and pure desire is always fulfilled. Service of the poor has been my heart’s desire, and it has always thrown me amongst the poor and enabled me to identify myself with them.” 86. His ideal was to get people to accept voluntary poverty. His nature was one of compassion and love. He said: “I hate privilege and monopoly. Whatever cannot be shared with the masses is taboo to me. I do not fight shy of capital, I fight capitalism. If we could erase the ‘I’s’ and ‘Mine’s’ from religion, politics, economics etc, we shall soon be free and bring heaven upon earth.”