Imagine with me that in an auspicious twist of grace, Mahatma Gandhi is back with us on the physical plane. He’s in Delhi, breathing the thick, heavily-polluted air with the rest. He has been asked by a progressive U.S. think tank to study the resistance directed at the Trump administration’s policies and offer suggestions for transformational nonviolence. 

Gandhi is ready to present his findings via video conference.

After greeting all those present with Namaste, Gandhi acknowledges the widespread grief and anger. He acknowledges the commitment of so many and the sense of urgency. He is emphatic that this challenging context makes nonviolence all the more necessary. 

Gandhi: My friends, the hidden depths of nonviolence continue to astound me. Now, we are called to explore these depths together.

It must be understood that underlying the way of nonviolence is the unity of all life and our spiritual essence as human beings. The cultivation of the experience of unity and essence I call self-purification. If we want to put truth into action we must first establish truth in our own being—this is the ongoing process of personal growth and transformation. 

Nonviolence is the way of love. Action that is not consciously grounded in love will inevitably manifest as anger, defensiveness, and violence when confronted. This is why, without personal transformation, nonviolence cannot be practiced. Civil disobedience can be practiced without it, noncooperation can be practiced without it, but not nonviolence. 

As the law of  love, nonviolence makes no exceptions for those who are the most deluded and destructive. The light of its truth liberates all—the oppressed and the oppressor!

Since nonviolence requires the total absence of arrogance and ill-will, it is the ultimate challenge. The clarity of heart and mind that self-purification provides is all-important. 

After a sip of tea he continues: 

As you may recall, I believe having a constructive program is second in importance only to self-purification. 

The constructive programs we developed for India touched every sector and all people. Spinning wool and making our own clothes was a way to reclaim our sovereignty in the area of textile manufacture. Promoting Hindu-Muslim unity, ending untouchability, improving education, and uplifting women were other areas of constructive program that supported our ability to function equitably and govern ourselves peacefully. 

Our civil disobedience was always in service to constructive programs that put our vision into practice. It was never merely oppositional.

The United States faces no such external threat. The only outside threat you face is climate change and it is a daunting one to be sure. But it is the clash of world views and the in-fighting that is your real enemy. 

You’re fallen victim to the illusion of separateness and you are tearing yourselves apart from the inside out. Therefore, it seems to me that your constructive programs must be diligently nonviolent and consistently cultivate respect and civility.

Upholding the basic dignity of every human being without exception is essential. No matter what they’ve done or how much you disagree with them, you can still treat people with the utmost respect. When there is no shaming and no blaming, then you can begin to communicate. Then you can build some shared ground upon which to stand. 

The forces of positive change must lead in this. You must live the love and integrity you want to see in the world. You must lead with love. It is not an unnatural act! On the contrary, it’s the most natural thing in all the world. The essence of the human being is love—and we learn this through the practice of nonviolence.

Remember that the ends cannot be separated from the means. Remember that personal transformation cannot be separated from social transformation.

You have the capacity to evolve nonviolence in beautiful ways. You have restorative justice and nonviolent communication. You have a vast array of interpersonal skills that can be taught. Even children are learning the basics of mindfulness and emotional intelligence. These are all necessary additions.

All issues are but symptoms of the belief in separateness. It’s the deepest wound and the root of all insanity. Nonviolence is how we discover the truth that life is rooted in relationship and mutuality. We discover that we are all brothers and sisters and never for a moment separate. As you plan your activities, stay conscious of this most basic truth. 

Everything we do must now serve our self-realization. When political action is built on a foundation of personal transformation it can be nonviolent. When it is infused with love it can be constructive. When it is conscious of healing the illusion of separateness it can be transformational. 

In such a combination there is great hope for coming back into wholeness. 

I wish you well! Namaste.