1. Mohandas Karamchand GANDHI The Father of India

2. “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” And, “An eye for an eye only makes the world blind.”

3. Biography: 1869-1948 Born and raised in India. Born and raised in India. As a lawyer (who was educated in London), Gandhi began a civil rights movement in South Africa from 1893- 1914. As a lawyer (who was educated in London), Gandhi began a civil rights movement in South Africa from 1893- 1914. Led India in the fight for Home Rule (1915-1947) also known as swarag. Led India in the fight for Home Rule (1915-1947) also known as swarag. “Christ gave us the goals; Gandhi gave us the tactics.”Martin Luther King, Jr. “Christ gave us the goals; Gandhi gave us the tactics.”Martin Luther King, Jr.

4. What started it all As a lawyer in South Africa, Gandhi bought a first class train ticket. When the conductor saw that he was not white, he kicked him off the train. As a lawyer in South Africa, Gandhi bought a first class train ticket. When the conductor saw that he was not white, he kicked him off the train. This enraged Gandhi, and completely changed his life forever. He devoted himself to causes of social injustice until the day that he died. This enraged Gandhi, and completely changed his life forever. He devoted himself to causes of social injustice until the day that he died.

5. His Principles Tagore, the great poet, coined the term “Mahatma” (great soul). Tagore, the great poet, coined the term “Mahatma” (great soul). “If God exists, God must be truth,” said Gandhi. He prized truth over everything. “If God exists, God must be truth,” said Gandhi. He prized truth over everything. Gandhi’s approach to conflict resolution taps into his search for God, for truth and justice. Gandhi’s approach to conflict resolution taps into his search for God, for truth and justice. Preach through personal example Preach through personal example Gandhi cleaned toilets, fasted, owned nothing, and criticized himself ruthlessly. Gandhi cleaned toilets, fasted, owned nothing, and criticized himself ruthlessly. This will win over enemies, he thought. Rather than attack them, we should first do in depth self-inquiry to rid ourselves of illusions, greed, and hatred. This will win over enemies, he thought. Rather than attack them, we should first do in depth self-inquiry to rid ourselves of illusions, greed, and hatred.

6. Tools for conflict resolution Follow the right means and the right ends will follow. Follow the right means and the right ends will follow. Satyagraha (truth force): typically we see the truth in our own arguments and develop a high regard for them; additionally, we develop resistance and disregard for our opponents’ views. This is to make our ego more comfortable. Satyagraha (truth force): typically we see the truth in our own arguments and develop a high regard for them; additionally, we develop resistance and disregard for our opponents’ views. This is to make our ego more comfortable. If we want truth, we should do the opposite: we should find the truth in our opponents’ position, and the inaccuracies in our own views. This will bring us much closer to truth. If we want truth, we should do the opposite: we should find the truth in our opponents’ position, and the inaccuracies in our own views. This will bring us much closer to truth. Are we more about our egos or the truth? Are we more about our egos or the truth? Speaking honest truth will elicit honesty from one’s opponent. Hiding will breed mistrust. Speaking honest truth will elicit honesty from one’s opponent. Hiding will breed mistrust.

7. Fasting First, self-purification. One must be courageously honest and transparent. This wins confidence and respect from one’s adversary. Needed trust for a substantive conversation/relationship. First, self-purification. One must be courageously honest and transparent. This wins confidence and respect from one’s adversary. Needed trust for a substantive conversation/relationship. Second, social protest. He challenged his opponents without harming them. Instead, he believed that their hearts would be moved. Fasting banks on the opponent caring about you, or minimally receiving social pressure to avoid a death from hunger. [Death usually occurs between 40-45 days without food.] Second, social protest. He challenged his opponents without harming them. Instead, he believed that their hearts would be moved. Fasting banks on the opponent caring about you, or minimally receiving social pressure to avoid a death from hunger. [Death usually occurs between 40-45 days without food.]

8. Political methods Experience has taught me that civility is the most difficult part of Satyagraha… an inborn gentleness and desire to do the opponent good. Experience has taught me that civility is the most difficult part of Satyagraha… an inborn gentleness and desire to do the opponent good. Boycott: a nonviolent way to withdraw economic support of a regime/group. Boycott: a nonviolent way to withdraw economic support of a regime/group. Self-reliance creates independence and positive self-esteem. Self-reliance creates independence and positive self-esteem.

9. Two types of Laws: St. Augustine wrote that there are just laws and unjust laws. St. Augustine wrote that there are just laws and unjust laws. As we have a moral obligation to abide by just laws, so too do we have a moral obligation to break unjust laws. As we have a moral obligation to abide by just laws, so too do we have a moral obligation to break unjust laws. When breaking an unjust law, one must do it openly and lovingly. Additionally, one must be willing to serve the punishment. When breaking an unjust law, one must do it openly and lovingly. Additionally, one must be willing to serve the punishment. The more one suffers due to an unjust cause, the more political and social momentum is created. Gandhi used to ask for the maximum punishment when at trial in order to create as much public pressure and exposure as possible to the unjust law. The more one suffers due to an unjust cause, the more political and social momentum is created. Gandhi used to ask for the maximum punishment when at trial in order to create as much public pressure and exposure as possible to the unjust law.

10. Ahimsa (non-harming) Love does belong in politics. It must be at the core of all our actions. Love does belong in politics. It must be at the core of all our actions. Fasting as a political tool. It disarms our opponents. Rather than attack one’s opponent, fasting purifies one’s intentions and demonstrates goodwill. I wont attack you; I will first make sure I am motivated by justice and truth. Fasting as a political tool. It disarms our opponents. Rather than attack one’s opponent, fasting purifies one’s intentions and demonstrates goodwill. I wont attack you; I will first make sure I am motivated by justice and truth. This was all harshly contrasted by the massacre at Amritsar in which 1500 innocent, unarmed Indians were shot (1000 died) were gunned down for peacefully protesting. This was all harshly contrasted by the massacre at Amritsar in which 1500 innocent, unarmed Indians were shot (1000 died) were gunned down for peacefully protesting.

11. Violence versus Nonviolence: Those who support the usage of military force often see that their action is the only one left, that the opponent is so intractable and unable to negotiate that force is unfortunately the last option. Those who support the usage of military force often see that their action is the only one left, that the opponent is so intractable and unable to negotiate that force is unfortunately the last option. Those who support the usage of nonviolence have a higher moral estimation of their opponents. They see a moral diversity (by avoiding blanket moral judgments) within their opponents: for instance, not all in ISIS are in favor of beheadings. Those who support the usage of nonviolence have a higher moral estimation of their opponents. They see a moral diversity (by avoiding blanket moral judgments) within their opponents: for instance, not all in ISIS are in favor of beheadings.

12. The short and long term uses of violence You can bomb a people but their will might become even more emboldened. You can bomb a people but their will might become even more emboldened. We are bombing ISIS but unless we address the issues that they are responding to we will never win the war. Bombs have practical short term results, but sow seeds of long term resentment. Look at the overthrow of Prime Minister Mossadegh in 1953 in Iran.

13. Non-cooperation The “powerless” can shut a system down by simply not cooperating with it. You risk suffering, however. The “powerless” can shut a system down by simply not cooperating with it. You risk suffering, however. Jail time: Gandhi spent 11 years in total behind bars. Jail time: Gandhi spent 11 years in total behind bars. Economic boycotts are another method. This approach was incredibly crippling to the British system, particularly their clothing industry. Economic boycotts are another method. This approach was incredibly crippling to the British system, particularly their clothing industry. Gandhi promoted weaving one’s own homespun cloth (kadhi) rather than patron western style clothes made in England. Gandhi promoted weaving one’s own homespun cloth (kadhi) rather than patron western style clothes made in England. He also was non-cooperative with the caste system, calling untouchables “the children of God.” He also was non-cooperative with the caste system, calling untouchables “the children of God.”

14. Related thoughts Aparigraha: non-possession Aparigraha: non-possession “I possess nothing and yet I feel like the richest man in the world.” “I possess nothing and yet I feel like the richest man in the world.” Richness stems from gratitude and freedom, not from possessions. Richness stems from gratitude and freedom, not from possessions. Do you possess your possessions or do they possess you? If they possess you, your “riches” bring you poverty. It is only in giving that we discover pure happiness. Do you possess your possessions or do they possess you? If they possess you, your “riches” bring you poverty. It is only in giving that we discover pure happiness. Simplicity brings freedom; greed, complications. Simplicity brings freedom; greed, complications.

15. Real wealth..is measured by how much you can go without, how much you can give away to others who are in dire need...is measured by how much you can go without, how much you can give away to others who are in dire need. Poverty, incidentally, is measured by how much you “need”, not how much you don’t have. Poverty, incidentally, is measured by how much you “need”, not how much you don’t have. Gandhi, as many spiritual leaders, flip this all around: poverty is how much you “need”; rich is how much you give away. Gandhi, as many spiritual leaders, flip this all around: poverty is how much you “need”; rich is how much you give away. The principle here is how one’s mind is amid all these possessions. The principle here is how one’s mind is amid all these possessions.

16. Einstein remarked “Generations to come will scarcely believe that such a man walked the earth.” Einstein remarked “Generations to come will scarcely believe that such a man walked the earth.” Gandhi lived with such moral strength that he disarmed people. Gandhi lived with such moral strength that he disarmed people. “First they will laugh at you, then they will fight you, and then you will win.” “First they will laugh at you, then they will fight you, and then you will win.” Personal life exemplified the ideals of selflessness and dispassion which were, for him, the cornerstones of the Hindu faith. Personal life exemplified the ideals of selflessness and dispassion which were, for him, the cornerstones of the Hindu faith.

17. Hierarchy of courage Last is a coward, higher than that is a soldier who uses violence, and the highest is one who uses ahimsa: one who has the courage to face fear yet one who does not strike back. Last is a coward, higher than that is a soldier who uses violence, and the highest is one who uses ahimsa: one who has the courage to face fear yet one who does not strike back.