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non-violent man. Non-violence and suffering. A non-violent man cannot cowardice cannot go side by side. A non- submit meekly to the will of the evil-doer, violent man fears none, therefore, he rather he will put his whole might against needs no arms to defend himself while a the will of the tyrant. If one submits violent man keeps arms as he fears of meekly in a cowardice way and in a helpothers. True non-violence is an impossi- less condition, it is no non-violence, rather bility without the possession of unadul- it is better to take arms and defend one's trated fearlessness. Therefore non-vio- honour and prestige. Thus non-violence lence is of the strong, not of cowards; is infinitely superior to violence in all Gandhiji once said, "He who has not cases evercome all fear cannot practise But certain people are afraid that the Ahimsa to perfection. The votary of method of non-violence is a slow long Ahimsa has only one fear, that is of drawn out process. But this is not so. god. He who seeks refuge in God It is the swiftest the world has ever seen, ought to have a glimpse of the Atman for it is the surest. It works subtly and that transcends the body; and the moment invisibly. Besides being a swifter way, one has a glimpse of the imperishable Arma non-violence is also the nobler way. It one sheds the love of perishable body. raises people themselves and the whole of Training in non-violence is thus diame- humanity who voluntarily suffer from trically opposed to training in violence." others. It breaks down the morale of the A non-violent man cannot take to his opponents or the exploiters for they who heels the moment he sees others in danger loses their lives in the true cause of rather he will even put his life in risk to bumanity through non-violence ennoble protect him. He knows how to face
themselves and morally enriches the danger and death fearlessly and courageo- world, for their sacrifices. Gandhiji called usly. He possesses capacity to endure
it, an all-sided sword' for it can be used all types of hardships. Thus a non- any way, it blesses him who uses it and violent man fears nothing external but him against whom it is used. the internal foes as passion and anger, he
After discussing the theory of nonalways must fear. The only remedy to
violence, the question arises whether nonshed off fear is to have the idea that
violence is always applicable. Several nothing whatever in the world is ours, he
objections have been raised as to its should shake off attachment for wealth,
practicability in modern times. It is
being held that truth and non-violence for family and for the body and the
are individual morals and have no place in moment this idea creeps into the mind of
politics and worldly affairs. We do not a man and makes his place there, fear rolls
agree to it. Countries and nations consist there like mists.
of individuals and if the character of Ahimsa not a negative force
individuals is based on highest morals, It is, therefore, wrong to call Ahimsa on such virtues as truth, love and nonnegative passive force, for non-violence violence, there is nothing which can in its dynamic conditions means conscious oppose it in any way.
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