Are ahimsa (nonviolence) and anarchy (self-governed) mutually exclusive?
Ahimsa. Nonviolence or Ahimsa, is a powerful method to harmonize relationships among people (and all living things) for the establishment of justice and the ultimate well-being of all parties. It draws its power from awareness of the profound truth to which the wisdom traditions of all cultures, science, and common experience bear witness: that all life is one.
Ahimsa is not only the absence of violence, it is not simply the negation to cause harm, but it is something infinitely more: it is when one’s heart is so full of love, so full of courage, forgiveness, generosity, kindness and compassion, that there is no room for hatred, resentment and violence. It is not a double negative but a SUPERLATIVE POSITIVE!
Nonviolence it is a call to disobey inhumane laws and treaties; it is a call to obey the law of love; it is a call to not control anger (if it arises) but to express it under discipline for maximum effects; it is a positive force; it is love in action; it is the thoughts we have, the words we use, the things we do, the cloths we wear, the food we eat… it is a way of life!
Anarchy. In a world where the system is broken we need new forms to relate with the Planet, with animals, with plants, with each other, with our choices. That’s why we are not anarchists as defined in the encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc. written by the hierarchies and their corporate media. We go beyond labels, we are human beings who are engaged and in love with the voluptuous authority of collective wisdom; with her hugs of education, respect and peace; and with her kisses of justice, true democracy and freedom.
Journalist: Do you prefer English people as governing race to other races?
Gandhi: I have no choice to make. I do not want to be governed except by myself.
Gandhi’s “nationalism” stood to disband the Congress Party upon independence:
“Its task is done. The next task is to move into villages and revitalize life there to build a new socio-economic structure from the bottom upwards.”
He also understood patriotism differently than his contemporaries, “by patriotism, I mean the welfare of the whole people.” –Was Gandhi an Anarchist? in Peace Power Magazine Vol2, Issue 1, Winter 2006
“Political power, in my opinion, cannot be our ultimate aim. It is one of the means used by men for their all-around advancement. The power to control national life through national representatives is called political power. Representatives will become unnecessary if the national life becomes so perfect as to be self-controlled. It will then be a state of enlightened anarchy in which each person will become his own ruler. He will conduct himself in such a way that his behavior will not hamper the well being of his neighbors. In an ideal State there will be no political institution and therefore no political power.”–M.K. Gandhi
“The very right to live is only afforded to us if we fulfill our duty as citizens of the world. Nationalism is not the highest concept. The highest concept is a world community.”–M.K. Gandhi
Earthling Opinion 