Spirituality Triumphs! Applied Theosophy at Work
A Hurricane, far more powerful than Irene is sweeping across India bringing hope to millions.
A frail looking, short statured 74 year old man called Anna Hazare is about to end his nearly 300 hours of fast. The governement which detained him and put him into prison on 16th August 2011, agreed to his demand of bringing a powerful Anti-Corruption legislation to constitutionally establish an office of Ombudsman to investigae the cases of corruption covering all government servants, all parliamentarians including the Prime Minister. Since the lawmakers are generally perceived by the public to be corrupt, it was like asking them to put a noose around their neck. That they agreed, signifies a great victory of moral force over material considerations.
Anna Hazare has no possesions except a few clothes and a few other articles of personal use. That he could move millions of Indians to come on the streets, fast with him or express support and remain totally non-violent is amazing. Even small children in nursery began composing rhymes like "Sonia Gandhi (referring to the Chairperson of the ruling coalition) is mummy of corruption."
There could be few better example of power of Non-Violence at work. The concept of Non-Violence emnates from the central theosophical concept of UNITY of all beings, condensed into old Sanskrit verse of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" meaning the entire world is one family. A few days before beginning his fast Anna spoke to his supporters, "Only if you have the capacity to take physical beatings, abuses, insults without generating a thought of retribution in your mind, can you practice Non-Violence". What unites people cannot fail. Theosophy since its inception, has been an attempt to unite.
Anna's campaign is a living example of how deep philosophical truths could be applied to transform lives of millions. Our own Martin Euser would be proud of Anna. So would be Gandhi. Are we?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Capt. Anand Kumar on
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Good Idea. Avaaz.org has been supporting this campaign from the background. Their main contact is Mr. Ricken Patel and main e-mail id being avaaz@avaaz.org. The organization in the foreground has been India Against Corruption. Their contact in Delhi is Sansar Grover with e-mail id sansaargrover@gmail.com. They also have a facebook page. One can go through the website indiaagainstcorruption.org to feel how well the campaign was planned and executed, mostly by young professionals. More than hundred different NGO's participated and each was assigned a unique yask which they fulfilled. It is a tremendous study in management.
Martin Euser is member of Avaaz.org. He may throw more suggestions as well as help in drafting. A faxed letter to consulate general of India at LA and NY will be valuable too and the information could be passed to Avaaz.org as well as India against Corruption.
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Permalink Reply by Martin Euser on
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Anna Hazare reminds me of Mahatma Gandhi. Both used the method of non-violence as a means to an end. Capt. Anand, it is very easy to become a member of Avaaz.org. Just register at their website. Joe is a member too, as he wrote in a reaction to my global recipe thread.
We can easily post a congratulation on the relevant facebook pages (or on Twitter).
Maybe you, Anand, or Joe can come up with a simple text. Something like "Congratulations on your achievements on anti-corruption law. The Theosophical Network." I always like the simple approach.
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Permalink Reply by Michael A. Williams on
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Yes, congrats to Anna Hazare and let's hope there is a follow through with the anti-corruption groups being set up and something concrete is accomplished.
This "Sonia Gandhi," Chairperson of the ruling coalition, is she any relationship to the great Mathatma Gandhi? His great granddaughter or distant niece or something? If so, it would seem she has hardly followed in his general principles.
Although, it has often been pointed out that great men on the public world stage who accomplish positive things are very often less than perfect in their family life. I believe Mahatma Gandhi did acknowledge at some point that he himself had not been the best of a Father and husband that he could have been. Rarely do the offspring of a great man or woman equal or surpass that of the parent.
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Thanks Michael.
No, Sonia Gandhi is not related to Mahatma Gandhi in any way. The first prime minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru had a daughter named Indira who married a person called Feroze Gandhi and her surname was changed from Nehru to Gandhi. She had a son named Rajiv who married an Italian girl Sonia while studying in England. After the assasination of Rajiv Gandhi, for many years Sonia reisted the temptation to enter politics, but eventually gave in and the party rose to spectacular victory in elections in 2004 and 2009.
After the election victory in 2004, the members of parliament of her party elected her to be the Prime Minister. But she declined and nominated Manmohan Singh saying he was far more competent and the best person for the post. This act of sacrifice made her extremely popular amongst the masses. Today she enjoys and exercises great power over the government and the party without accountability.
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Thanks Martin & Joe. Below is the first attempt at drafting the message:
The Theosophical Network with membership in 66 countries has watched with keen interest the campaign by Anna Hazare to fight corruption in India. His use of non-violence and fasting has a moral lesson for the entire humanity. It is only by following the path of non-violence that the problems facing the planet can be tackled in a lasting manner. Anna’s life has been a lesson in ethical living and a source of inspiration for us. We pledge to undertake awareness campaign against corruption in all countries through our members.
On behalf of our members we wish Anna a very long and healthy life. May he continue to enlighten us.
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Thanks, Captain, for the clarification. It looks like this Gandhi family has been quite involved in India politics for some generations.
Capt. Anand Kumar said:
Thanks Michael.
No, Sonia Gandhi is not related to Mahatma Gandhi in any way. The first prime minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru had a daughter named Indira who married a person called Feroze Gandhi and her surname was changed from Nehru to Gandhi. She had a son named Rajiv who married an Italian girl Sonia while studying in England. After the assasination of Rajiv Gandhi, for many years Sonia reisted the temptation to enter politics, but eventually gave in and the party rose to spectacular victory in elections in 2004 and 2009.
After the election victory in 2004, the members of parliament of her party elected her to be the Prime Minister. But she declined and nominated Manmohan Singh saying he was far more competent and the best person for the post. This act of sacrifice made her extremely popular amongst the masses. Today she enjoys and exercises great power over the government and the party without accountability.
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Capt. Anand Kumar said:
"Thanks Martin & Joe"
Anand: here is a slightly revised edition:
The Theosophical Network with membership in 66 countries has watched with keen interest the campaign by Anna Hazare to fight corruption in India. His use of non-violence and fasting has a moral lesson for the entire humanity. It is only by following the path of non-violence that the problems facing the planet can be tackled in a lasting manner. Anna’s life has been a lesson in ethical living and a source of inspiration for us. We support such awareness campaigns against corruption in all countries through our members.
On behalf of our members we wish Anna a very long and healthy life. May he continue to enlighten us.
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Thanks Everyone and Martin particularly for making the corrections.
Joe, would you kindly send the message to the e-mails mentioned above from Theosnet account.
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United States of America Embassy of India, Washington DC 2107, Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC 20008, USA. Telephone : 00-1-202-9397000 Fax : 00-1-202-2654351 E-Mail : indemwash@indiagov.org Website : www.indianembassy.org Ambassador - desig Smt. Nirupama Rao Deputy Chief of Mission Arun K. Singh
United States of America Consulate General of India, Chicago 455 North City Front Plaza Drive, [NBC Tower], Suite No 850, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. Telephone : 00-1-312-5950405 to 0410; 5950554 Fax : 00-1-312-5950416 (CG s office); 5950417 (Chancery) E-Mail : cci@indianconsulate.com (Pol & Com); hoc@indianconsulate.com (H... Website : www.indianconsulate.com Consul General Mukta Dutta Tomar Consul R.K. Kapil
United States of America Consulate General of India, New York 3 East, 64th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA. Telephone : 00-1-212-7740600, 7740699 Fax : 00-1-212-8613788 (General); 5709581 (Consular) E-Mail : cg@indiacgny.org (CG); dcg@indiacgny.org (Dy. CG); hoc@indiacgny.or... Website : www.indiacgny.org Consul General Prabhu Dayal Deputy Consul General A.M. Gondane
United States of America Consulate General of India, San Francisco 540, Arguello Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA. Telephone : 00-1-415-6680683, 6680662; 6327562 (After office hours) Fax : 00-1-415-6682073 (Chancery); 6689764 (Consular) E-Mail : info@cgisf.org (General); cg@cgisf.org (CG); dcg@cgisf.org (Dy. Con... Website : www.cgisf.org Consul General Mrs. Susmita G. Thomas Deputy Consul General Kumar Tuhin
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Wow, Peter, that is quite a life story!
Most of the time, things like that are hardly noticed by others. The silent hero.
Acts of courage are done for the sheer necessity of them. No recognition necessary.
Some kind words of encouragement, from time to time, are of course a nice gesture.
Humans thrive on being recognized, respected and loved by others.
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Conquering anger, greed etc. is a sign of a true yogi, which you have evolved into, Peter.
The question was directed towrds myself and people like me. Although Anna gave this message two days before he began his fast, when on the morning of 16th August, I heard the news of his arrest by Delhi Police, I felt a tremendous sense of anger and immediately wanted to take steps to organize protests, which in a way was a form of retribution I was seeking. From that point of view I had failed to take in his message.
Pursuing a path of Non-Violence is indeed the most difficult one.
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