The Ahimsa Opinion

A Place for the Opinions of Ahimsa Fellows

A Response to Gandhi on Celibacy // Christopher Greenslate

Gandhi, who enjoyed sex with his wife Kasturba during his early adult life, found that he needed to detach himself from the activity when he grew older, as a way to continue in his search for truth. His experiment with celibacy, which ultimately became a vow, gave Gandhi the opportunity to overcome what he perceived as his extraordinary appetite for sexual gratification and focus on his work. By this action he yearned to ‘purify his soul’ in an attempt to transcend the physical and become closer to God, or Truth.

This eventual abstention gave Gandhi a feeling of reconciliation between his desire (which he saw as a hindrance to progress, that would multiply upon attainment) and his belief in self-restraint and sacrifice as a means of purification.

However, it was Gandhi’s guilt over his lustful intentions that drove him to renounce sexual expression entirely. It is possible that this sexual guilt developed as a result of missing the death of his father for a quickie with Kasturba; something for which he never forgave himself. This association between sex and the death of his father was likely never overcome.

However, personal associations with sexual activity are as diverse as the number of people on earth.

There is a strong case to be made for the notion that sexual satisfaction is a form of healing that helps people overcome their feeling that the soul is separate from the body. Sex itself allows individuals to access a place within them that is unachievable in any other type of human activity. Likewise, the participation in meditation, dance, sports, creative play, and many other forms of physical activity also allow us to find something that is unavailable in other endeavors, and our participation in them also gives us a chance to overcome the Cartesian perception that our ‘soul’ is separate from our body. These forms of physical activity remind us that we are not disconnected; that our body and soul are one. As long as we are honest, reflective and mindful of how our sexuality impacts other areas of our lives, and the lives of those we share it with, there should be no reason to avoid it.

Looking for Leaders // Chris Mason

I have been struck and moved to speak over the last week by having the honor of participating in the Nonviolence Institute here at Cal Poly Tech University.  The director of the Institute, Dr. Tara Sethia told us on our first night that many people had found their individual participation to be a moving and life altering experience.  I have found this to be among the truest statements I’ve heard.

One aspect of my personal journey has been to ask myself the following four questions.

1. What am I doing?  (within the context of my job, my family, and as a human being)
2. Why am I doing it?
3. What do I expect to receive for doing it?
4. What am I willing to give up to get the job or task in front of me done?

Over the last couple of days several people have asked the question:  “Where is the next King or Gandhi, whom should we be looking at or for, to whom should we pay attention.”  It strikes me that we are perhaps missing something.  As I currently understand Gandhi, he would agree with my response to this question by replying, “look in the mirror for that next person.”  Should we choose to look, we might do well to ask the above questions of ourselves and only of ourselves. Of course asking the questions is easy.

Gandhi made incredibly difficult and serious vows. One of them concerning celibacy. I cannot say that as this time I am ready or willing to make any vows, at least not in the Gandhian sense. One inspiring aspect of this man’s countenance was his seemingly unshakable resolve in maintaining his vows.

It seems to me that is the only true way to effect change in my life, and by extension upon the world in which I live, and with the people with whom I choose to interact. So, I have work to do. This is a first step. I would encourage it to be yours as well.

Enjoy the Silence // Mandy Kwan

Monday, July 20

Knowing that there are deadlines looming before us, it is of utmost importance that I put myself into solitary confinement, i.e. go to my room, shut the door, and crank out the essays. Now the solitary part was interrupted with an unexpected visitor: an innocent (gad)fly that decided to keep me company.

Now–in the spirit of ahimsa — I tried to encourage my uninvited friend to leave. It didn’t help that I had opened the window shade and the fly must’ve thought: ‘if I can just get outside and escape this tyranny!’ It desperately tried to find its way, often misguided and flying into different spots on the window…

My roommate occasionally heard bangs or loud slaps (as you see, the level of ahimsa in me was diminishing). Ironically I picked up Louis Fischer’s ‘Gandhi’ to give the fly a quick and painless end. But to no avail, it escapes, and seems to taunt me ever more.

So after about 30 minutes of a combination of cat & mouse, tug of war, and occasional spurts of deliberate ignoring, I found that strategic moment and cornered him (her? it?) and gave this fly the final verdict. And then silence. The taste of victory was — well, you fill in the blanks.