Speaker: Arun Gandhi
Place: McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, United States
Time: 6:30 PM; Oct 28, 2008
Introduction
Arun Gandhi is grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. From the great speech of Arun Gandhi, I have learned many things, such as brief biography of Mahatma Gandhi, the pattern of anger management, non-violence, acceptance and labels of human societies. It was great to have opportunity to be in that event. In this paper, I will write what I learned from Arun Gahdhi’s speech and adding other ideas and opinions through out my experiences.
What did I learn?
Anger Management
The first thing, which I learned from Arun Gandhi’s speech was – ‘anger
management.’ The way to manage anger, which Mr. Gandhi wanted to tell us, was, not only to control anger, but also to change that anger to become a positive one. When we are able to be reaching that step, it became the ‘power.’ Anger is not an evil, but just an emotion by itself. Anger is like electric; if we use it in the effective way, it is really the power and if we use it in the wrong way, it is really the danger. He said that it is not that difficult when we really practice about it and the way he learned how to change anger to become a power was one of the most valuable heritage that Arun Gandhi received from his grand father, Mahatma Gandhi.
(Mr. Arun Gandhi was signing an autograph on an audiance's book, after his speech)Mind Control
This is really a tough one. Our mind is running around from here to there, there to
here by numerous or uncountable ways. Controlling our mind is very difficult. One of the ways to practice on controlling our mind, which he suggested was, to concentrate intensely on an object that is in our front as a mean of meditation. Since I was a Buddhist monk, I have had some experiences in this matter. The best thing, which I found when I took meditation was, the longer I could concentrate my mind, the more I felt in peace. I had nothing in my mind and feeling; totally in the universe. I had no hate, no love, no hot, no cold, no rich, no poor, no bother, no bothered. It was really in the state of peace.
here by numerous or uncountable ways. Controlling our mind is very difficult. One of the ways to practice on controlling our mind, which he suggested was, to concentrate intensely on an object that is in our front as a mean of meditation. Since I was a Buddhist monk, I have had some experiences in this matter. The best thing, which I found when I took meditation was, the longer I could concentrate my mind, the more I felt in peace. I had nothing in my mind and feeling; totally in the universe. I had no hate, no love, no hot, no cold, no rich, no poor, no bother, no bothered. It was really in the state of peace.
Non-Violence
He said that violence against natural and humanity. True nature of human being is not
violence, but it is non-violence. As human beings, if we learn to change from violent culture to non-violent culture, it will make true peace. The consequence of violence is always violence. You are hitting a lot while you are being a hammer, means – you have to prepare to be hammered when your turn has come as an anvil. Nobody can always be a hammer or an anvil. It is turning. History is just like a wheel. If we act violently on the others, the others will come up with the other kind of violence. Therefore, the process of non-violence only can practice when both sides have high moral standard, courage, kindness, sympathy and empathy for each other. This is kind of – ‘only one hand cannot make a clap.’
violence, but it is non-violence. As human beings, if we learn to change from violent culture to non-violent culture, it will make true peace. The consequence of violence is always violence. You are hitting a lot while you are being a hammer, means – you have to prepare to be hammered when your turn has come as an anvil. Nobody can always be a hammer or an anvil. It is turning. History is just like a wheel. If we act violently on the others, the others will come up with the other kind of violence. Therefore, the process of non-violence only can practice when both sides have high moral standard, courage, kindness, sympathy and empathy for each other. This is kind of – ‘only one hand cannot make a clap.’
(Oo Thein Maung and Arun Gandhi)Depending Each Other
One of the natures of human being is – mutual reliance. Mr. Gandhi said that people
from the third world have to work many long hours to become a shirt, which will be exported into the United States. He probably meant it was an unequal matter, according to his sound and the way he spoke; for clothing of humans from part of the world, other people from the other parts of the world have to work long hour is - unequal. In my opinion, we, human beings depend on each other by any mean, any way in any circumstances; since one thing we have, which the others do not have; one thing we do not have, which the others have; and vice-versa. In order to be able to buy a little Sony radio, which made in Japan within a few minutes, farmers from Burma have to cultivate in the paddy field for the whole year. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said that we depend on half of the world already, even before we have our breakfast in the morning.
from the third world have to work many long hours to become a shirt, which will be exported into the United States. He probably meant it was an unequal matter, according to his sound and the way he spoke; for clothing of humans from part of the world, other people from the other parts of the world have to work long hour is - unequal. In my opinion, we, human beings depend on each other by any mean, any way in any circumstances; since one thing we have, which the others do not have; one thing we do not have, which the others have; and vice-versa. In order to be able to buy a little Sony radio, which made in Japan within a few minutes, farmers from Burma have to cultivate in the paddy field for the whole year. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said that we depend on half of the world already, even before we have our breakfast in the morning.
Conclusion
There are many things I have learned from Arun Gandhi’s great speech. As
conclusion, like Arun Gandhi said, I will try to know by myself first that – who am I; what am I?
conclusion, like Arun Gandhi said, I will try to know by myself first that – who am I; what am I?
