This is Something I Passionately Believe

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From: Thoughts2-bounces@nilgiri.org [mailto:Thoughts2-bounces@nilgiri.org] On Behalf Of Thought for the Day (Europe, text)
Sent: mardi 6 septembre 2005 22:10
To: thoughts2@nilgiri.org
Subject: [Thoughts2] Thought for the Day

 

 

A Thought for the Day From Sri Eknath Easwaran

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September 7

 

 

Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects

revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such

a method is love.  - Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

 

All of us can play an important part in the conquest of

violence. We can do this by throwing our full weight behind

peaceful, effective programs for eliminating the situations

from which violence arises. But just as importantly, we need

to do everything we can to remove every trace of hostility in

ourselves. The violence that is flaring up on our streets and

in many corners of the world is the inevitable expression of

the hostility in our hearts. Hostility is like an infectious

disease. Whenever we indulge in a violent act or even in hostile

words, we are passing this disease on to those around us. When

we quarrel at home, it is not just a domestic problem, we are

contributing to turmoil everywhere.

 

A teacher of meditation in ancient India, Patanjali, wrote that

in the presence of a man or woman in whom all hostility has

died, others cannot be hostile. In the presence of a man or

woman in whom all fear has died, no one can be afraid. This is

the power released in true nonviolence, as we can see in the

life of Mahatma Gandhi. Because all hostility had died in his

heart, he was a profound force for peace.

 

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Eknath Easwaran, "Words to Live By" (Nilgiri Press, 1997)

http://www.nilgiri.org/Html/Thoughts/today.html

 

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