Defenseless Yet Undefeated: The Spiritual Path of Non-violent Resistance

Finding Unity in Gandhi's Satyagraha and “A Course in Miracles”

Photo by Andrew Valdivia on Unsplash

Recently, I wrote about the value of being non-reactive and emotional self-control, both when dealing with the stresses and upsets of our present times and in one’s personal life (click here for that post).

Perhaps it was serendipity that led me to find a copy of “Non-violent Resistance” by Mahatma Gandhi. Reflecting on Gandhi’s experiences in leading the Indian independence movement, I couldn’t help but notice some parallels between his concept of “satyagraha” and A Course in Miracles.

Meaning “holding on to Truth,” satyagraha is the fierce adherence to soul or spirit. As such, it rejects any and all forms of violence. Violence is a distraction from the truth (i.e., spirit) and, thus, the denigration of self and others.

This reminded me of the Course’s lesson, "In my defenselessness, my safety lies.” This lesson is a call to remember the truth of oneself, and one's immutable nature in the face of the world's illusions. In essence, I do not need to defend myself because who I am in ultimate reality can never be altered, destroyed, or diminished.

Satyagraha leans into such an orientation. It is a reminder of the divinity and dignity that resides in all forms of life. Responding to violence with violence will only foment future violence. It is a reduction of self and a forgetting of the spiritual truth and values one holds.

Non-violence is, therefore, neither weak nor cowardly. It is a showcasing of one’s convictions, one’s passion and drive to affirm the truth and goodness, and one’s faith in the arguments, perspectives, and values possessed.

Non-violence means I will not demonize you, I will not engage in dehumanizing practices or perspectives even though another may be enacting these. It calls us and our perceived enemies to abandon the illusions of division, hate, oppression, and violence.

By no means is this easy. The anchoring of self in the tenets of satyagraha and the conviction of rising above the illusions of the world so others can see past them as well is the challenge we all face, perhaps more so today than at any time in the recent past.

The correction of others and the call to move beyond error is also taken up in the Course.

Chapter 9 of the text states,

He [your brother] may be making no sense at the time, and it is certain that, if he is speaking from the ego, he will not be making sense. But your task is still to tell him he is right. You do not tell him this verbally, if he is speaking foolishly. He needs correction at another level, because his error is at another level. He is still right, because he is a Son of God. His ego is always wrong, no matter what it says or does.

Satyagraha suggests telling one’s brother that he is right even though what he does is not. It is correction at the other level suggested by the Course. It is the affirmation of spirit in oneself and one’s brother. It affirms our joint truth as the Son of God. It aims to unite with our brother even though we may disagree with him vehemently. It leads to inclusion, unification, and reunification.

Our job is not to dehumanize or demonize another. Our job is to love as God loves us and to see one another as God sees us.

We cannot change the violent and volatile nature of the world with more violence and hate. We can only do so through a persuasive argument that appeals to the hearts and minds of others.

Photo by Pratik Chauhan on Unsplash

Gandhi proposed the radical tools of non-cooperation and civil disobedience as means of correction and engines for social change. Not for the weak, these modes of engagement call us to anchor ourselves fully in what we believe, in the truth we aim to affirm, and in the convictions of our spirits.

There is so much happening worldwide, including here in the United States. The swelling discontent among so many of us, the proliferation of extremism, and the shockingly rapid-fire actions and events that constitute our daily news necessitate a spirit of steel and firmly situating ourselves in the spiritual principles that guide our lives.

The model articulated by Gandhi, used for liberation in India and similarly employed by the African-American civil rights movement, gives me hope. It is an integrative approach that calls us to rise above the chaos of this world and lean into a space of illumination, or what the Course would call the Holy Instant (click here to read more about the Holy Instant).

For all concerned with everything happening not just in our lives but also in the world around us, Gandhi's writing may resonate. I encourage you to add it to your list of books to read.

Let me know your thoughts on non-violent resistance. If you’ve read Gandhi’s work, please share and let us know by commenting below.

Thanks, everyone, and have a great week.

Peace and love to all.