PERSPECTIVE OF NON-VIOLENCE. PERSPECTIVE OF NON-VIOLENCE.
By Waldemar Verdugo.
Non-violence is a force charged with positive energy. Revalued force in the twentieth century the hand of people like Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Martin Luther King expressed in a concrete way to act out the way across positions that appeared insurmountable, initiating a common way to address the acute problem of violence in our society really installed. We have inherited a world of violence. The natural condition appears to require this legacy, as anything is possible at any level of life without stress and struggle. Our survival instinct usually leads us to peace, but history is a chain of violence that contradicts the vital spirit, which has been threaded through the economic, social and political marked by violence. For a Christian mentality, the incongruity is obvious. However, the thesis of violence are seductive, especially for the youth, who then warns that the achievements products have been valuable in times of peace negotiations, because the weapons are held by the most powerful, they are not, precisely, workers and our men every day. Transforming violent methods of struggle is nonviolent transformation of man in, because it means destroying the primitive model of conduct based on answering violence with violence, which is an instinctive model should become a logical model with its roots in history evolution of man, from which sprout more and more. The nonviolent struggle requires a metaphysical foundation, because it requires a provision of complete conviction that the results will be better if we do not answer evil with evil, position oriented as personal expression of belief in a transcendent truth.
The roots of non-violence are installed far back in history. From Athenian society to medieval society structured according to Christian principles, one can recognize a singing career to non-violence, and the law of universal love the rationale of the classical world around the world, according to the books sacred knowledge of the various religions, which, for example, Hinduism based full force search for truth through non-violence claimed more and more now as we begin a new millennium and maturity that we see with us disasters caused shudders the immediate past, for example, considering the results of two world wars whose echoes still dragging. Now when we are witnessing a transformation in by the great mix that brings the network to weave Internet statement virtually everyone in the crowd while it was human sometimes precipitated by violence repugnant ways, in itself unnecessary and therefore, illegitimate, naturally appears headed toward their own spiritual resources to rescue the living above all things, which is more attractive according to what we see after we open window on the virtual screen.
So far, human societies were closed, fighting each for their livelihood and extend its domination over others. Now, the increasingly widespread downing of borders and free trade treaties pioneers among regions, we are getting closer to find common solutions that will one day be universal. In this sense, for example, the violence of war will cease to be "natural" by the need to protect territory or possession of property of others. The great human miscegenation we will become more civilized, to create the conditions for ending violence in our society. For many scholars, the war has been a normal phenomenon in the relations between peoples, but the truth is that were the result of the desire of the rulers (kings, dictators, democratic governments of the left or right) to increase their political power and wealth, inspired by the call temptation of power, often subject to bad politicians, and that practice has caused disasters and deaths of entire peoples. Precipitate violence that has been used not only between nations, because the same bad politicians, sometimes unlawful, they used their weapons against his own people, by the same desire for power or because it corresponded to the customs, which smooths the current communication increasingly Moreover, when we know exactly where in the planet can produce a massacre intervene when connected human society today. What seemed naturally in certain parts of the world in the early twentieth century now seem a lot, in a hundred years things changed dramatically. This is the case of the death penalty, for example, for those considered criminal punishment was considered a natural and necessary, and is now repudiated as unworthy of a civilized society. Of course, the achievements of civilization change, evolve, and that the fight against violence is always and every time. Modern totalitarian regimes have introduced new methods of cruelty more refined than those of the past and at least as inhumane and unjust enrichment at the expense of the needs of the people, evil will persist until we have not grown in such a way that we can achieve a more radical transformation, announcing the virtual network.
far "domination" has meant exploitation and violence, resulting cruelty of the strongest against the weakest on a scale ranging from slavery to feudalism and the traditional bourgeoisie and economic regimes perhaps inevitable in the history of social evolution , which also were masters, kings and patterns his subjects were treated humanely, so we can quote him now. But vestiges of institutionalized violence are still alive. Admittedly there are still states or social structures that do not correspond to the changing needs of social forces and act only perpetuating oligarchic minority privileges, that exploit the dominated groups, which, seen from certain points of view, is still the dominant global tonic, it is unthinkable that the expression independent political religion, because if a politician is portrayed as an atheist is appealing to the religious aspect of society. All the great religious thinkers have also had a clear political idea. If we think of such enormous figures of humanity as Jesus Christ, seems inseparable from politics to religion. His political philosophy was: "Love your neighbor as yourself" sublime inspiration: why say more now? Close to our time, another great revolutionary as was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (the Mahatma in India appointed, meaning Great Soul, as was in world history) led his life in the Hindu religion and politically expressed non-violence as a destination his work, magnificent fusion. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) in his book "Story of my experiments with truth" which is also expressed love ("ahimsa") its a political weapon, and appears to us totally dominated by the feeling of loving kindness and gentleness which is the keynote of his thought. Gandhi's father was an official state high-grade and his mother kept a passionate and active religious faith dating back to ancient and sacred Brahmanical and Hindu traditions. After following in his homeland a regular course of studies and when I was about twenty years, he moved to London for three years where he perfected legal studies. Moved in 1893 to southern Africa, was dedicated to the work of redemption and moral and social elevation of many thousands of Indians living there. Many and varied were his works, established agricultural colonies and hospitals, and especially since, tried to eliminate the caste and religion that divided his people. In their relationships and their inevitable clashes with the government authorities of South Africa opened a method of struggle, resistance or better maintaining respect for the human person and avoided the armed revolt, and now in Africa, in 1906, implemented the "satyagraha" ("obstinacy the truth "), known by the name of" passive resistance "and part of the political ideas of the current nonviolent movements today. Returned in late 1914 to India, and from that year, Gandhi was practically the head of the nationalist movement, peaking at first mere "autonomy", which takes its basis of "economic autonomy" to which comes through "non-cooperation" and then with "civil disobedience", which finally becomes the symbol of "national independence" ("svaraj"). Acted politically following media that was in sharp contrast with the prevailing practice, considered negligible the principle that the end justifies the means, a principle that many centuries earlier exalted and put into common practice. In an attempt to achieve religious peace in India throughout the life of Gandhi in your country displays an uninterrupted series of episodes during which he continued his political activity, with longer or shorter breaks passed in harsh prisons. His repeated and painful fasting (made sixteen, the last of them a few days before its end) were proof of a complete dedication to his cause, and eventually the devotion of the workers, their word passionate enthusiasm, prayers and invocations recited in public, moved and snatched the audience. Mahatma Gandhi was
religiously close to Christianity, because he felt it was natural to the supernatural order, and considers it necessary based on fundamental beliefs even to the man who acts formally correct. As suggested by Dr. Jesus Ginés Ortega: "Have God is the great concern of Gandhi, who understands that" possession "as something individual but also social. If Gandhi prays, it does not just thinking of contemplative intimacy that limits on personal enjoyment. On the contrary, his prayer is communication with the world through God. It is, as he himself acknowledges, his own breathing. Not conceive that someone truly wise and balanced willing to live by their own risk without regard to God. That one is like a ship adrift without rudder, is a man who lives without principle. When Gandhi referred to religion, in general terms, it refers to a particular religion. For him religion transcends any particular dispute. Well, religion does not mean sectarianism, but belief in a moral order that governs the universe, which transcends Hinduism, Islam, the Christianity, which has no possible substitute. She harmonizes and gives them real life, concluding that a religion that is in conflict with the fundamental laws of the economy is bad. A religion that takes no account of practical reasons and does not help solve them, not a religion. " This fundamental sense of Mahatma Gandhi takes to build a foundation of peaceful coexistence among all those men of good will, without forcing them to participate in the same religion. Principle of tolerance that Gandhi was born to the same religion: "If you obey the law of love, I will hate or irreligious brother ... If I were asked to define the dogma of Hinduism, I would say simply that it is seeking the truth through non-violent, a faith open to all metaphysical and ethical possibilities of man. " Realizing this principle the words of Jesus to the Samaritan woman, when he says the time comes that God is worshiped in a temple, but in "spirit and truth." Say it was great the admiration of Gandhi through Jesus Christ, who comes to regard as a supreme model, the prince of politicians, the greatest economist of his time, a non-collaborator, the most active non-violent resistance of mankind.
"What is truth?" Asks Gandhi to answer to himself: "It's a question difficult. I've decided to say that is what the inner voice tells us. " For him, every man is himself and his inner life, which reveals an aspect of the overall mystery of the truth. So nobody should be the total performer, because we are all stakeholders, protagonists and antagonists at the same time. So announces golden rule of "mutual tolerance" because the ultimate truth is shared by all, as in all religions is a sincere search for and awareness of true revelation, that only in the convergent union springs the whole being, human real substance, it is not an abstract thought, uprooted from the reality, however, is the reincarnation where the concrete man acquires its importance and value of behavior and action made of flesh and spirit. The cornerstone of Gandhi, of course, comes from ancient Hinduism, one of whose main principles is called "Ahimsa", which is deprived of doing wrong, not harm any life, not using violence, particularly principle is also stated Buddha. For Gandhi: "Nonviolence is my first article of faith is also the last article of my creed. That freedom of the world, is certainly part of the search for truth. " In that faith is a bedrock which are rooted all the thoughts and actions of non-violent man. For what is impossible or unreasonably difficult for man, faith in God makes it possible, and to maintain a close relationship with God, prayer is necessary, it is not a simple request: "It is an aspiration of the soul", so it is to practice this faith of heart, even without words. Because silence is not empty but full pure revolutionary strategic hints when words speak only as sweet as silence, urging its partners to seek for itself the right response at its own reflection. The work of social, political and economical and Gandhi also presented as a work of spiritual relationship with God through a respectful relationship with the similar.
many years ago in Buenos Aires accompanied the master Jorge Luis Borges to charge a royalty owed in an editorial. They paid with a check that went to change the bank and then returned to his apartment in the Calle Maipu, he had a habit of leaving money in the pages of his books carefully placed in the library, it was not a special room in your home, but shelves on the walls, where a simple table in a corner daily in the dining room served, because he lived very soberly. Then his mother was still alive, Leonor Acevedo de Borges, whom I met two years before they return to the distance and was a very sweet old woman, both were served by Mrs. Epiphany Uveda Robledo, whom Borges called "Fanny" of affection, then if any served more than thirty years, was also relatives who attended the lunch, when he visited Norah Borges, sister of the writer and his family, and was the one who cared for those, like this writer, came to see him. I must say that often took breakfast or lunch with the teacher Borges served with the excellent provision that Mrs. Fanny always had: go in thanking this memory. Borges The teacher made me better, I was twenty years old and a foreign student with whom he was essentially protective, gave me a pair of shoes and an electric shaver that was the most luxurious I had, too, when she realized that I was broke, sending me to open a specific book his library and told me to take something that I had left there and take it as an exchange of value for value, by reading that made him the things I needed to read or take some notes that I dictated. Sometimes packages gave me books that he sent and had not liked, they were wrapped with great care by Mrs. Fanny, telling him that selling the used bookstore and let me what you give, so I did and never kept one of those books. When we went, sometimes whole morning we were talking in the cafe Florida or the East Gallery in front of his apartment, or in Coffee Street Swan Ponds: whenever he was worried that with my coffee to eat a sandwich , although he rarely ate out of his house. At home the teacher Borges, was most severe, had no television, no jukebox, no radio, only very specific books, just living with what he and his mother and no longer needed. Ever heard him say it was a despicable living with the luxury some do, there are people without what to eat.
In my opinion, Jorge Luis Borges was an ascetic, and a reading of his work from this point of view give unexpected concepts. In the manner that characterizes the work of Mahatma Gandhi rightly, that exalts the idea and practice of non-possession. For non-violent have more than what is needed is an affront to humanity, contrary to the true revolution in possession more than necessary for everyone distracted from the core activity that is spiritual. In all great men and women who have advocated non-violence is an example of austerity. When Gandhi wrote to his followers from prison, he notes emphatically, "It is a theft to take something belongs to others, even with the permission of the owner, when not really needed. Do not always know our real needs, and most of us multiply our needs without justification, in this way we become unconsciously thieves ... The rich have a lot of superfluous things do not need and, therefore, neglected and wasted, while millions of people starve from lack of food. If everyone keeps what you need, no one will want for nothing, content to each their own. If we are true followers of non-violence, we should not desire anything of this earth that can not be the most miserable of human beings. " For Gandhi, while property beyond what is necessary is a theft, no job is too, because the work justifies the responsibility of man in society. In this regard, it is recognized Gandhi debtor from Christian sources, recognizing that in his reading of Tolstoy Leon discovered the universal validity of the work, as a means of communication with God and men. Earn their bread by the sweat of the brow as a revelation understood as a basic principle of human consciousness. That is outside the stop work if necessary, because the "satyagraha" gives a right recognized since time immemorial, every individual can deny cooperation to the master who governs badly. Because nobody is must be sullied. The non-cooperation as proposed by Gandhi is more than a political movement is a purification behavior of the order of religious realities, is a spiritual weapon, it delete itself in the order of relationship with God through work, a way to express the passion for truth and trust in that man must understand it is prepared to be better.
(Fragment)
(c) Waldemar Verdugo Fuentes, 2009. Chilean writer
