Thoughts on Gandhi

I've been reading some of the collected writings of M. Gandhi. I've wanted to for quite some time, as I know his teachings on nonviolence have influenced a lot of people (those that I know and some in history, such as MLK Jr.) that I respect. It's both interesting and challenging to read many of his ideas. For example, Gandhi believed quite strongly that nonviolence is more powerful than violence, but in order for it to work, people must be entirely committed to nonviolence.

Sometimes it's tempting as one brought up as a pacifist to want to try to make everyone see things our way - obviously war and violence is evil! Gandhi wrote that while he believed nonviolence to be the best way, it was pointless to try to force people into it. The only way for it to work is for people to decide that they are truly commited to it. Also, Gandhi didn't like pacifism as an excuse for cowardice; he believed people should be willing to face death, somewhat like what Ron Sider challenged the Mennonites to in the 80's, leading to the creating of Christian Peacemaker Teams.

Some quotes I found interesting, since I'm too tired to try to write more expositorially:

"Man does not live by bread alone. Many prefer self-respect to food."

"The more efficient a force is, the more silent and the more subtle it is. Love is the subtlest force in the world.

"A love based on the goodness of those you love is a mercenary affair...."

"Love is the strongest force in theworld and yet it is the humblest imaginable."