Acharya Mahaprajna
In my view both himsa (violence) and ahimsa (nonviolence) are not actions, but are results. We will never succeed if we think of stopping or annihilating the result by shutting our eyes to our actions. It is necessary to discuss the way to change the circumstances that cause raag (attachment) and dvesa (hatred). The annual NGO conference is organized by UN/DPI (United Nations Department of Public Information and usually attended by the representatives of the UN accredited NGOs based in 192 countries. Since Anuvibha is associated with UN/ DPI its representative was also invited to attend. When Sohan Lal Gandhi read his paper on this occasion at a workshop on nonviolence training, those who attended wondered if there is any training in ahimsa at all. It was something new for the people. When they were enlightened about it, the delegates from Germany and many other countries extended their support to the cause of nonviolence training.
Let us seriously think about practical exercises and training. We have seen how human consciousness is changed through practice and training. A big change can ensue if we deliberate on scientific and spiritual causes. I hope the Gandhians will not misunderstand me. The talk of training and practice disappeared with Gandhi’s death. Since the talk of exemplifying or putting to practice what Gandhi said was pushed to the background, his words became progressively irrelevant. If the Gandhian principles had been practised and training in their use had been imparted, Gandhi would have remained present in our midst even today in the form of ideology.
He did all kinds of experiments on nonviolence, truth and peace throughout his life. He performed these experiments on himself and he trained other people too. Gandhi was a truly nonviolent person who successfully passed through the ordeal of training and experiments on satyagraha. Therefore, what is needed today is to pay attention to the fact that nonviolence will not grow and develop merely on the basis of statements and lectures until they are practised in daily life.
Acharya Mahapragya expounds the strategies for the inner transformation of an individual on the second day of the Nonviolence Leadership Training Camp
