Harmony Quote

“Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love”

– Martin Luther King

All of us can play an important part in the conquest of violence. We can do this by throwing our full weight behind peaceful, effective programs for eliminating the situations from which violence arises. But just as importantly we need to do everything we can to remove every trace of hostility in ourselves.

The violence that is flaring up on our streets and in many corners of the world is the inevitable expression of the hostility in our hearts. Hostility is like an infectious disease. Whenever we indulge in a violent act or even in hostile words, we are passing this disease to those around us. When we quarrel at home, it is not just a domestic problem, we are contributing to turmoil everywhere. 

A teacher of meditation in ancient India, Patanjali, wrote that in the presence of a man or woman in whom all hostility has died, others cannot be hostile. In the presence of a man or woman in whom all fear has died, no one can be afraid. This is the power released in true non-violence, as we can see in the life of Mahatma Gandhi. Because all hostility had died in his heart, he was a profound force for peace. 

From ‘Words To Live By’ by Eknath Easwaran, founder of the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation, 

copyright 2005; reprinted by permission of Nilgiri Press, P.O. Box 256, Tomales, Ca 94971, www.bmcm.org.