Attenborough’s Film ‘Gandhi’ Reminds Us of the Power of Nonviolence

I have just noticed there is a free film on-line of Gandhi’s movie.  It is highly recommended for those who are seeking another way, another alternative to violence. It takes great courage to be defenceless yet observing a deep faith of truth and love.  I visited Gandhi’s ashram in Armedabad, Gujurat.  I felt the overwhelming sense of a place where I felt understood. Even though Gandhi had passed over, I still felt the reality of him there.  I had a go at spinning, not so easy.  I really loved the courage of this man who chose not to hurt another and find a way to unity. He called it soul force.  It is not unlike the christlike awareness o unconditional love eg. Love thy Neighbour.  For hate, greed, anger and jealousy are all aspects of fear. This becomes the invisible energy that divides.  His philosophy was the opposite to the military or control paradigm which uses violence to control and exploit people.

I have practiced Satyagraha (holding onto truth) and ahimsa (nonviolence)  and found that it is all about self purification.  In truth it is not about the other it is about staying true to yourself, this is not as a belief but mindful of always loving the other but standing firm in truth. Truth is god and god is truth he said.  There is truth in this.  I have found that in my own experience.  Universal truth is not about a belief it is about virtues that are innate to humanity and are in alignment with life. This is the energy of unity. Truth is an energy not a thought.

I studied Gandhi at La Trobe University.  I was very lucky to discover the foremost expert on Gandhi was a lecturer teaching there. He had a deep academic knowledge.  The course didn’t last long, when he retired the course stopped.  So I had the pleasure of learning about principled nonviolence, learning about the importance of community expression as a safety valve, to realise mediation is a way of helping people to hear each other, respect differences and meet in the middle.  We do not have to divide we can live with differences with respect honouring differences.  I do not believe everyone should be like me but I believe they should be who they are.  It is simply for me to speak as I feel it to be true. That truth can change overtime as new information becomes visible through experience. So admitting you are wrong is very important in seeking truth, being prepared to ‘not know’ allows wisdom and possibilities to arise as you open your mind to possibility.  It is a way of living in the world and accepting it is what it is but choosing your own path to freedom which life challenges you.  Gandhi practiced truth and he tested himself constantly and overtime nonviolence transformed him. He was a magnet to millions as something was evoked within people that they knew on some level.  I recall reading he believed self sufficiency and empowerment was the true success of his movement.

I dreamed Gandhi came to me and it was a short dream, it felt like a visit to me.  I saw him with his round glasses but with no eyes.  He was on the long march.  I felt myself beneath my feet (humble) and I felt seen.  Then I woke up.  Nonviolence is a theme that inspires me. I understand contrast in life expands who we are.  Had Gandhi not had opposition in the shape of repression he would not have found his true self, his true power and his voice. So the darker aspect of humanity became the catalyst for the light of humanity to shine as a beacon on the hill.  He faced fear and lead a movement that has impacted the world. Perhaps we are all actors in this film called life.

I met a man in Melbourne who told me he met Gandhi here is a blog I wrote of our interview https://wpas.worldpeacefull.com/2013/04/interview-with-dr-kunwar-singh-on-meeting-gandhi-and-politics-in-australia/  You can listen to the audio of the interview http://www.worldpeacefull.com/peace-journalism/ refer ‘I met Gandhi’.

When you suffer injustice without hitting back it becomes a mirror to the protagonist. If you can love the other then you can surrender to life as it unfolds but never seek revenge.  You will learn about yourself as you continue to follow your own inner prompting.  It is a form of deep listening. Revenge keeps people in cycles of great pain and tit for tat (reaction), it only expands the pain, it never can bring honour.  Truth is the honour that enables you to stand tall but without imposing it on others.  Simply as a reflection.

Here is the movie that has so inspired my life.  I send love to the spirit of Gandhi and feel inspired tonight. He showed the world a way out of insanity.  Enjoy.

This is another film as the other is copyright it seems.