satyagraha

pocketnaomi  in another post contrasted satyagraha (the wilingness to endure suffering to achieve social change) to terrorism (the willingness to impose suffering on others to achieve social change)

What a cool word, I thought, so I Googled it. 

Ghandi coined the term from two Sanskrit words: satya is the Sanskrit word for “truth”; agraha means "firmness".  Ghandi made note that in his mind and teachings, there is also the meaning of “love” and “nonviolence”, with the note that if there must be suffering, the practicer of satyagraha (or satyagrahi) voluntarily endures suffering him- or herself rather than inflict it on others. 

I also found it connected to ahimsa, the refusal to inflict injury on others, and tapasya, the willingness for self sacrifice.

And a quote that seems pertinent, from a nonviolence handbook:  “The goal is to discover a wider vista of truth and justice, not to achieve victory over the opponent.”

I am SO not surprised that this term was coined by Ghandi.

satyagraha

pocketnaomi  in another post contrasted satyagraha (the wilingness to endure suffering to achieve social change) to terrorism (the willingness to impose suffering on others to achieve social change)

What a cool word, I thought, so I Googled it. 

Ghandi coined the term from two Sanskrit words: satya is the Sanskrit word for “truth”; agraha means "firmness".  Ghandi made note that in his mind and teachings, there is also the meaning of “love” and “nonviolence”, with the note that if there must be suffering, the practicer of satyagraha (or satyagrahi) voluntarily endures suffering him- or herself rather than inflict it on others. 

I also found it connected to ahimsa, the refusal to inflict injury on others, and tapasya, the willingness for self sacrifice.

And a quote that seems pertinent, from a nonviolence handbook:  “The goal is to discover a wider vista of truth and justice, not to achieve victory over the opponent.”

I am SO not surprised that this term was coined by Ghandi.