Aim:
To realise that appreciation of others, and living in unity are as much a part of the non-violence as not causing harm to others.
Introduction:
Practice of non-violence is not restricted to the physical aspect alone but includes unity of thought, word and deed. Non-Violence
is the ethical principle of respect for all of creation. Truth in action is right action (right conduct). behind each is a thought.
If this thought derives is sustenance from the human will as opposed to human desire, the resultant action will be beneficial to the
person as well as to society.
It is important for us to appreciate other cultures and religions, and to realise that divinity is in all of us. Non-Violence means not having
a pre-concieved idea about others, as this only leads to ill-feeling within us, and causing damage to ourselves. There is unity in diversity.
Quotations:
"Feeling of oneness, unity, love and respect for the diversity of the human family. True knowledge is that which establishes
harmony and synthesis between science on one hand and spirituality and ethics on the other."
- Sri Sathya Sai Baba
"Between rich and poor discriminate and surely sow the seed of hate.
In lifes journey whoever you meet all human beings as equal treat."
- Chundraban Singh
"God is in every creature, so how can you give harm to any creature?"
- Sri Sathya Sai Baba
"There are two duties to be performed by man; one is to work for good of the world; the other is to work for
the liberation of the consciousness. The former will drop away once you have become spiritually ripe."
- Sri Sathya Sai Baba
"Language is the medium to cement friendships, to promote cordiality and bring people nearer to each
other by loving conversations and sympathetic talk."
- Sri Sathya Sai Baba, discourse on 4th Febuary 1970
"Unity is mist essential in all fields of activities, moral, scientific and spiritual. Purity vanishes in
the absence of unity. Divinity will be absent when there is no purity and unity."
- Sri Sathya Sai Baba, discourse on 27th January 1994
"God is omnipresent; He is immanent in every being equal measure. So, man must visualise Him in himself and
others. That is to say, he sees only God in all. So, how can he injure others or fear that he will come to harm through
others? This is the basis of non-violence."
- Sathya Sai Speaks 5, page 288
"Each one should cultivate the qualities of compassion, patience and oneness. These qualities will promote unity of mankind.
These are based These qualities will promote unity of mankind. These are based on love principle. Without love, there is no life. Love
gives rise to truth, love begets peace. When you have love, you practice non-violence. Love is under-current in all these."
- Sri Sathya Sai Baba, discourse on the 23rd of November 1993
"Today unity is being undermined in the country. There are difference in every home, Institutions without unity ultimately collapse.
a divided nation faces destruction. Hence, for the welfare of the nation, all must live in unity. Distinctions of high and low should be given up.
The nations welfare alone must be kept in mind."
- Sri Sathya Sai Baba, discourse on the 23rd of November 1992
Activities:
1. Brainstorm on how to reduce violence in thought, word and deed.
2. Bullying happens everywhere; in schools, at work, at home. Why does it happen? How can we prevent it? Produce an advertising campaign to show bullies
that it is better to love than hurt others, and violence (whether verbal or physical) is not the answer.
3. Sri Sathya Sai Baba says: 'There is only one caste, the caste of Humanity' Caste and class distinctions may not appear to exist, but they do. Discuss these points within your group.
4. Look at the social aspect of non-violence (the associated values), how can these be promoted in our day-to-day lives?
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