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Religion, Practice and Science of Non-Violence
deep conviction. To be willing to suffer and die for a cause is an incontestable proof of sincere belief, and perhaps in most cases the only incontestable proof. Non-violence coupled with voluntary suffering is just such an incontestable proof of sincerity. Voluntary suffering is probably also a sure sign that the whole being of the sufferer-body, mind, will and spirit is integrated and at work with singleness of purpose.
“... Sooner or later, his conduct wins public sympathy, admiration and support, and also the respect of the violent opponent himself.”
Practice
To wage satyagraha successfully needs organisation and training of the participants. Leaders must firmly believe that non-violence is superior to violence, not only on moral grounds but also as a practical proposition. When the leaders have such an attitude, the rank and file may, at the start, be ordinary human material, yet training and discipline will bring out the best in them.
Such leaders ean inculcate the requisite characteristics among the volunteers, through their own examples. In no case should the volunteers resort to violence. They should not take revenge for any act of inhumanity of the opponent. They must be prepared to show generosity themselves, and must expect the directing body to do so always. They must not expect any unjust advantages to accrue to them in case of success. Those who are in happy circumstances must share their wealth with the unfortunate ones. They will joyfully obey all the orders issued by the leader of the corps, and will carry out orders in the first instance even though they appear to them insulting, inimical or foolish, and only appeal, if they like, to the higher authority, later. They are free before joining to determine whether the organization satisfies them, but after they have joined it, it becomes a duty to submit to its discipline.
The objective of training the masses is not that every single person in a nation seeking resolution of conflicts by non-violent resistance must be fully disciplined to non-violence, any more than every single citizen in a nation at war must be fully disciplined for active battle and wholly fearless under attack. Yet it is possible for a whole nation to understand the idea and
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