I had the opportunity to listen to Gandhi's grandson yesterday, on our local NPR radio station.
It was a eye-opening discussion with many insightful life lessons -- told by someone who had to learn them the hard way -- by learning to 'be the change, he wanted to see.' ... Day after struggling day. In the shadow of Gandhi.
Here are a few of the "lessons" that jumped out at me, from among several:
[...]
In relaying the lesson of the breadth and depth of a nonviolent perspective, [Arun] Gandhi relayed the story of a three-inch pencil he once discarded, believing that his grandfather [Mahatma Gandhi] would buy him another one. When Gandhi asked for a new pencil, his grandfather posed numerous questions about the pencil and why Gandhi tossed it aside on his way home. His grandfather then handed him a flashlight and instructed him to go and find the pencil. Two hours later, Gandhi returned with the short pencil and asked why it was so important that he find it.
“Because even in the making of a pencil, the world’s natural resources are used,” said Gandhi’s grandfather. “And to waste such resources is to commit violence against nature. Humanity over-consumes the world’s resources. And when we waste, throw away, or discard these resources and deprive others of the chance to use them, we commit violence against humanity.”
I've never heard "waste" put in those terms before -- in the the terms of "violence."
Violence against Nature. Violence against Humanity. It fits.
Here are a few more "lessons" from Arun Gandhi, who's dedicated to carrying on with his grandfather legacy. One he trusts will ultimately lead to a better world.
[...]
Amid numerous stories about his memories and experiences with his grandfather, Gandhi conveyed two key lessons instilled in him by Mahatma Gandhi. First, the energy emitted by anger must be properly channeled. Second, the breadth and depth of a truly nonviolent perspective are vast.
“Anger is like electricity,” Gandhi said. “It serves a useful and powerful purpose if it is used properly. But it is dangerous if abused and not directed safely.”
-- Arun Gandhi, peace activist and co-founder of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, explaining the lessons he learned from his grandfather, legendary spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi’s Grandson Brings Message Of Peace To Fort Worth
by Jim Kiser, Special to CBSDFW.COM -- April 5, 2011
Here is that interview with Gandhi's grandson, that I heard on my local NPR radio station yesterday, where he tells those insightful stories, plus a whole lot more:
Arun Gandhi Discusses Nonviolence In A Violent World
AIR DATE: Monday, February 25th 2013
POSTED BY: Allison Frost
Listen Here -- OPB.org
Arun has a very engaging manner of speaking. The audio clip in that link goes by quite quickly, if you have the time to gain a new perspective on our common monotonous journeys ...
Cheers!