11 principles
The final chapter from the book I have been reading, No Destination by Satish Kumar offers some wonderful wisdom which I thought was worth sharing. Kumar outlined 11 principles on which the late Mahatma Ghandi proposed a social order should be built. Ghandi built many ashrams to test these principles. Which are:
Non-violence, Truth, Non-stealing, Sacred sex, Non-consumerism, Physical work, Avoidance of bad taste, Fearlessness, Respect for all religions, Local economy, Respect for all beings.
At a glance, one might wonder at some of these principles but upon reading the chapter in his book, they all make perfect sense. I will summarise each of the headings from Kumar’s writing and where I have used his words will italicize.
Non-violence: This should underlie all relationships among humans and between humans and the non-human world, incorporating nature and even the thoughts within one’s own mind.
Truth: The pursuit of truth is unconditional and open-minded inquiry and exploration, up to the last moment of our lives.
Non-stealing: As well as not taking what does not belong to one, it also encompasses not taking anything that cannot be replenished.
Sacred sex: Means appropriate sexuality within a healthy human relationship.
Non-consumerism: The non-acquisition, non-consumption and non-accumulation of goods and services that are inessential, wasteful, harmful or unnatural.
Physical work: The practice of daily manual labour. When craftsmen or women make things by hand, they unselfconsciously combine heart, head and hands. As a result, whatever they make is beautiful, useful and durable.
Avoidence of bad taste. Kumar describes three categories used in India for food – satvik, rajsik and tamsik. Satvik food is the natural food, simple, seasonal and local. Rajsik food is spicy, stimulating, exciting, lavish and elaborate. Tamsik food is associated with malevolent forces that cause lethargy, depression, anger, cruelty and intoxication. Kumar says these three qualities can be applied to all spheres of life and one should strive for the satvik example wherever possible.
Fearlessness: Meaning freedom from fear.
Respect for all religions: Deep down, all religions are pointing toward the same wisdom. The wisdom of love and compassion, peace and generosity, service and serenity, egolessness and self-realisation.
Local economy: Suggests being self-sufficient in one’s own locality, rather than bringing food and products in from other places or countries.
Respect for all beings: Means that caste, colour, class, creed, sex, age, race, and other similar distinctions are no reason for putting people up or down.
Kumar states there is a common thread through these 11 principles, that there can be no such thing as freedom without limit, restraint and responsibility.
I enjoyed reading this last chapter of Kumar’s book. I know our world cannot continue sustaining itself in the direction we are heading. I loved the simplicity of Ghandi’s principles and I think that it is this way that will become our future. It might not be until more countries are ruined by war and destruction and most likely not in my lifetime but I am sure that it will be the way that will lead us to have a future. Everyone is consumed with making more money in today’s world, but we have already gone past the healthy point. Unfortunately, it is probably through destruction that the new way will unfold but sometimes we need that ‘’earthquake’’ in our lives to start afresh and the world is no exception.