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Nonviolence: A Way of Life
Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.s philosophy and methods of nonviolence is the most
powerful tool we have for creating social change in America and
around the world. But nonviolence is not only a method for social
change, but a positive way of life that becomes a part of all of our
personal relationships and everything we do in our homes,
communities and political and business life. It is a permanent
attitude that is reflected even in the choice and tone of words, in
body language and way of thinking.
Dr. King defined
six principles of nonviolence which were the heart of his
philosophy of nonviolence. A commitment to these six principles is
the key to making nonviolence a way of life in our personal
relationships and in resolving conflicts, reconciling adversaries
and creating social change at the community, national and
international levels. He also identified the
six steps of
nonviolence as a methodology for applying the six principles in
solving problems and resolving conflicts peacefully.
Dr. King said,
just a few weeks before he was assassinated, I plan to stand by
nonviolence because I have found it to be a philosophy of life that
regulates not only my dealings in the struggle for racial justice,
but also my dealings with people, with my own self.
Dr. King taught us
that nonviolence first transforms the person who embraces it.
Nonviolence is radical in the deepest sense of the word because it
changes the spirit behind attitudes. Once the spirit of nonviolence
is internalized, goals like domination, conquest or retaliation no
longer drive behavior. When this happens the stage is set for a
dramatic transformation of the relationship
We are challenged
to experiment with applying his principles in our daily lives,
especially in resolving the conflicts that we encounter. Dr. King
taught that nonviolence is a powerful tool for revolutionary
personal transformation. As we begin to internalize these
teachings, we develop a greater sense of wholeness and meaning in
our lives. We cultivate virtues like love, truth, commitment,
respect and courtesy, courage, self-discipline, hard work, honesty
and social responsibility. These are the some of the core values
involved in making nonviolence a way of life.
Nonviolence as a
way of life challenges us to rise above the debilitating emotions of
hatred and to purge our contempt and animosity toward adversaries.
Instead of returning anger with anger, we set an example of
emotional maturity. We educate the public and we win the respect and
support of the community. We acquire a moral and spiritual power
that can not be denied. To internalize the spirit of nonviolence, we
refuse to be bated into petty arguments. We challenge negative
energy and violence with a loving, positive attitude. This is how
nonviolence disarms adversaries. As Dr. King said, Along the way of
life, someone must have enough sense and morality to cut off the
chain of hate by projecting the ethics of love into the center of
our lives.
A commitment to
study and practice nonviolence in our personal lives gives us an
edge in resolving conflicts and in achieving your goals without
making enemies. These teachings can help improve our family
relationships and our dealings with friends and our peers.
Nonviolence can help us more effectively communicate with our
adversaries and resolve disputes in a way that benefits everyone
The way most
people deal with a conflict is by first asking themselves the
question, "How can I get my way?" This is the normal way of dealing
with a problem. When we think this way, as we all do so often, we
let our egos manage the conflict.
But there is a
better way. When we make nonviolence a way of life, the first
question we ask at a time of conflict is, "What is the most
loving thing to do?" When we think this way, we tap the power of
the soul. We overcome the narrow, selfish concerns of the ego.
We don't want to
destroy our opponent. We want to win their friendship and
understanding. We try to find a "win-win" solution, which benefits
everyone. This is how we create lasting peace. We
resolve the conflict, not with the attitude of a conqueror, but with
the motivation of a peace-maker.
In practicing
Kingian nonviolence, we make a commitment to unconditional love for
all people without exceptions. We reject all forms of hatred, even
for our opponents. We respect the humanity of everyone, especially
our enemies. In fact, we don't even like the word "enemies." We
prefer the word "adversaries" because it has less animosity and
makes us think about the conflict on a higher level.
Nonviolence as a
way of life requires that we learn self-discipline and confidence,
which is the key to self-esteem. We also learn how to control anger
and channel it into constructive and creative action to achieve our
goals. We practice the art of nonviolent communication, so we can
persuade adversaries instead of fighting with them.
The
key to making nonviolence a way of life is to accept love as the
guiding principle of all our relationships.
Pain and suffering comes into all of our lives; but only
love can heal the wounds of the past. Only love can lift us up
and make us whole and free. If you let love rule your heart, there
is no obstacle, no barrier, no problem you can't overcome. This is
God's promise to every human being and it is the key to liberation
for us all. Love is the most powerful force in the universe and it
is also the most available force, because everyone can tap into it.
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