Gandhi’s lessons of nonviolence led his life and marked the world in magnificent ways. He was a man of great courage—a true advocate for truth and peace. 74 years after his death we still hear his invitation to be the change we desire to see reflected around us.
"We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Not only did he speak these words, but he lived them. Gandhi completed 17 fasts as a means to protest violence and the caste system, and advocate for Muslim-Hindu unity, political reform, and nonviolence. His life is proof that we can reach solutions to complex problems without resorting to violence, and perhaps most notably, his life taught us that transformation begins with the self. How did Gandhi create more peace? By first becoming peace himself.
As humans we resist change and Gandhi’s words invite us to truly embody all of the change we desire to see reflected in the world. It is nice to say, post on social media, and idealize, however it is much easier to talk about than actually implement. Not to mention, in the digital era it has become easy to portray ourselves as whoever we want to be, without actually living in accordance. Rest assured, this is not the pot calling the kettle black—I too struggle to make this my consistent reality. It is no secret that it is easier to blame others for the world around us than it is to be brutally honest about our own lives and who we are.
But what if we all take a pause and begin to take these words seriously, allowing them to take root and touch every corner of our lives? In these words lay our invitation to get quiet and intimate with the self—What changes do I desire to see in the world? And how can I embody and be those very things?
This invitation is our gateway to transcendence. It is not an easy journey to embark on but the most important part is having the courage to begin somewhere. So let me ask you…
If you would like to see more love in society, how can you become a more loving person?
If you would like to live in a kinder world, how can you help spread kindness?
If you crave a more empathetic world, how can you be more empathetic with yourself and everyone you encounter?
These are just a few questions to inspire reflection…
Gandhi was on to something, and that is how he changed the trajectory of an entire country and left behind a legacy of peace and nonviolence. We, too, can embody this legacy. All of the change the world so desperately needs begins within you and me. Are we brave enough to embody and become the transformative change we desire to see in the world? That is where the magic is. Join me on this sobering journey of change—perhaps by the end we will have traveled the world entire.
Comments