Arun Gandhi speaks at Bay College, Escanaba

I had the honor and privilege to hear Arun Gandhi, the fifth grandson of the late Indian spiritual and political leader Mahatma Gandhi, at Bay College in Escanaba on May 7, 2003. There were over 300 people in attendance. In the midst of war came a voice in the wilderness calling us to hear another voice. I would like to share some insights and stories from Arun Gandhi's talk and also his book, Legacy of Love: My Education in the Path of Nonviolence.

I will never forget when I was in my first year college I received my first pair of glasses to correct my vision. It was an amazing moment for me. I sat in the back of my math class and realized that I could see the blackboard clearly for the first time in many years. I think we each have moments when we realize that something has happened to make things clearer and sharper for us. We realize that what may appear to be isn't the case. We are awakening to another perspective. For instance, the old saying, "An

Eye for an Eye,” Arun Gandhi spoke to this old saying as well as he does in his book. "In western society justice has come to mean revenge, "an eye for an eye." It is so ingrained in us that we do not have a sense of closure unless someone is made to pay for their wrongdoing. For centuries, humans have controlled one another by fear. The greater the fear, the greater the control. Yet, "An eye for an eye," Grandfather said, "only makes the whole world blind."

Arun Gandhi also spoke about the need for community and that nobody is dispensable. Every creature has a part in the God's creation. Every creature is an integral part of the whole. We must respect and accept every creature in order that nonviolence can become meaningful and effective in our society today. Gandhi spoke to this when he told a story which is also found in his book, "One day during my lesson hour with Grandfather, he asked me to dismantle his spinning wheel. When I did, he said, "Now, spin this cotton sliver into yarn." "How can I do that," I asked, "when the machine is dismantled?" "Very well, then, put it together again," he said. While I was busy doing this he took away a very small wheel. I could not complete the assembly without this wheel, so I asked him for it. "Why do you need it? It is so small. Can you not make the machine work without it?' "No, I cannot," I said. "Exactly," Grandfather said. "Just as the machine cannot function when it is divided into separate parts, life cannot function meaningfully when each person acts independently. Also, just as the smallest wheel is necessary to make the spinning wheel work properly, every individual that God has created is an integral part of the whole, and must work in unison with others so that life can be smooth and in harmony. Nobody is dispensable." How true!

Arun Gandhi referred back to his childhood and his growing up years. He gained much wisdom being with his grandfather. He spoke on the principals that his own parents wanted him to learn and live by, principals of nonviolence that provided a foundation for his life. Arun Gandhi believes that nonviolence is based on five essential elements. They are love, respect, understanding, acceptance, and appreciation. They are to be shared with others in this world. He shared another story as he spoke about the need for peace in this world. "Grandfather once told me the story of a king in ancient India who became curious about peace. The king called upon many teachers and philosophers within his kingdom to explain its nature. None could hive him a satisfactory answer. Then one day a wandering sage stopped at the king's palace to pay him homage. In reply to the king's vexing questions, the philosopher answered, "There is a wise man who lives just outside our kingdom. He alone can show you the nature of peace." The next morning the king called upon the old recluse who, when he heard the king's question, went into his kitchen and returned with a grain of wheat. Placing the grain of wheat on the king's outstretched palm he said, "Look here for your answer." Too proud to admit that he was baffled, the king clutched the grain in this fist and hastily returned to the palace. There he found a little gold box and placed the grain of wheat in it. Each morning he would ritualistically open the box and look at the grain, but he found no answers there to his question. Weeks passed, and the king became increasingly disheartened. At last the wandering sage came again to visit the king, who promptly brought out the gold box and asked him to explain. "It is quite simple, sire. As long as you keep this grain of wheat in a gold box locked up in your safe, nothing will happen. Eventually it will rot and perish. However, if you let the grain interact with all of the elements-air, water, sunlight-it will grow and multiply, and soon you will have a field of wheat. "It is the same with peace," the philosopher continued. "If we keep the peace we have discovered in life locked up in our hearts, it will perish. But if it interacts with all the elements and all people, it will spread. And someday there will be peace throughout the world."

We need to be mindful to carry the elements of peace into our daily lives. The elements of love, respect, understanding, acceptance and appreciation need to be part of who and what we are and shared with the rest of the world. We need to carry what we have into our workplace, into our homes, into our neighborhoods. It will make a difference in this world we live in. Change is possible but each of us must make it a desire and a commitment. We each must decide to let our grain of wheat interact with the elements of this world. This interaction can only bring about transformation and peace to this broken world. Our lives can make a difference and as Arun Gandhi said "I have decided to let my grain of wheat interact with the world." This is exactly what he did as he spoke to the crowd. It is exactly what he does in his book.

You may obtain his book by contacting North Bay Books at 510-758-4276.

Rayford