This is a very popular quote and is often credited to Mahatma Gandhi while in reality it was Louis Fisher who used this expression for the first time while trying to explain Gandhi’s philosophy in his biography.
Nonetheless, the teachings of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, and many other leaders and philosophies throughout history have all pointed towards non-violence as the only way of life but what we see in the world today, is the exact opposite. Well, at least to a certain degree, enough to put millions of lives in turmoil.
We humans are but one species despite our millions of differences. We are all the same flesh and bones and in a way, all of us are working towards the same goal of advancing the human race forward by contributing to society in whatever manner we can.
Therefore, when faced by a reality where ‘an eye for an eye’ seems to be the norm or at least the basic instinct and the chaos that it is descending upon the human race, is heart breaking, to say the least.
An Eye For An Eye
We may not have had any world wars since world war II but that was not the end of war itself. As we have witnessed, there have been countless wars since then which have caused only harm and no good, well except for the weapons manufacturers that is.
The endless mid-eastern crisis is the perfect example of what is wrong with humanity today. Our thirst for money and power and our inflated ego that seeks revenge on anyone daring to wrong us, have ruined us into a barbaric species.
It’s not just countries that are to blame though. Even in our own personal lives, we are ready to retaliate whenever someone wrongs us in any ways. Most of the time, the act is not even wrong in itself but ‘perceived wrong’ where from our point of view it seems to be a wrong doing but is completely justified from the others’.
In any case, violence begets violence and more often than not, many others are caught in the crossfire. How many innocent people have lost their lives due to war? How many loved ones have we hurt in our seeking of revenge?
Does Turning The Other Cheek Work Though?
What most people think when someone suggests that we shouldn’t seek revenge or that two wrongs don’t make a right, is that we should turn the other cheek when someone wrongs us. Personally, I don’t think that would work. At least not in today’s world where the word ‘moral’ is slowly loosing meaning.
Obviously, if you do not speak up, the other person might get even more power on you and they will turn into an oppressor and you, an oppressed. But what do you do if you don’t want an eye for an eye and still want to teach the other person a lesson so that there is one less instance of such behaviour and as such one less catalyst.
Well, if violence begets violence, it is my strong belief that kindness begets kindness and forgiveness begets forgiveness. Forgive people when it is all that is required because not all people who do wrong are bad people. Many a times they do such things out of necessity and there simply being no other way. Forgive them and restore their faith in humanity.
Show kindness in general to people and they will think twice before harming you in any way. This won’t stop them completely but it will at least decreases the number of such probabilities. Stop violence at the source, which stems from some of the darkest human emotions.
Even if you want to teach someone a lesson, there are many other ways to do it then ruining them in any manner. People make mistakes and you do not have to do the exact same one to make them learn. Sometimes even a gentle push works!
My Thoughts
At the end of the day, each one of us is capable of leaning towards the good as well as the bad side of things. We are all capable of doing a multitude of good in the world and also a lot of evil.
Society in modern times has inculcated a sense into all of us that if we do not look out for our own selves, others are going to squash us and move ahead and so, it is easy to lean towards the more negative emotions of our selves.
But for once if we all open our eyes and see that it is by walking together hand in hand, in full harmony, that we will all truly benefit, it could change the world like never before.
I think the key is always choosing to believe that humans are capable of changing. That even when someone looks lost, there is always a way back. It is a beautiful thing about the human mind, that it is subject to change and that its fate is not sealed. So do that little act of kindness, say those words of encouragement, and have in your mindset that it is always better, for everyone, to lift others up.
Secondly, we should always want the coming generation, in whatever country, to succeed. We've seen before that bad ideas can vanish in one generation with Nazi Germany, which of course now is one of the friendliest countries in the world. So show love and demonstrate compassion, and the young will grow up wondering why their parents showed you hatred.
So even if you have perfectly good reasons to say that someone is evil, and be able to rationalize hating them for that, you should nevertheless know that the thing about them you're hating is not bound to last forever. So while I may hate the present version of a person for their greed, selfishness or hatefulness, but does that mean that I need to hate all future versions of the person that they can aspire to become? No.
Wow, your views are always so inspiring and make me want to write more about this kind of stuff. You are absolutely right that humans are capable of change and believing so is a light of positivity that the world needs right now.
In fact, just yesterday I was watching the movie "Wonder Woman" where the god of war asks her to join him to end mankind because of their greed, selfishness and other negative qualities but she refused because despite all these, there is much more to humanity and they are capable of achieving all that. :)
That's very kind of you to say. But I think my comments here are also inspired greatly by having just read your posts. So please accept the same compliment back from me :)
Yes, we all can change. It doesn't mean we will always make the change we need, nor change for the better. But in any case, the only thing that makes sense is to always try to help people, and yourself, move in the right direction.
I haven't seen that movie yet but now I guess I should. ^^ Indeed it is a fascinating thing about humanity, how we are equally capable of causing destruction as we are of building wonders.
If only our level of thinking could be positive and shun evil the world would be a better place,but it is impossible because out of the wrongs we get the right things,your post really touched me keep it up.
Yeah, that's one of the reason why there is still wrong in the world. As you said, out of wrong things many people are getting the right things for them, so they are happy with spreading evil.
Yes. One plus one is equal to eleven;-)
:)
Revenge is an infinite loop
Exactly.
On the off chance that lone our level of deduction could be sure and disregard abhorrent the world would be a superior place,but it is incomprehensible in light of the fact that out of the wrongs we get the privilege things,your post truly touched me keep it up.
Thanks for reading :)
Thanks for sharing. I think you would like the work of my friend @adamkokesh
😊
Adam is the man!! He's got my vote for Not-President in 2020. We're long overdue for a major change, and it doesn't happen by electing the same type criminals, over and over again.
Thanks for reading :) Will check his blog out.
Great post i found it quite interesting and helpful as well, your journey blogging has only just begun. Keep up the good work and I wish you all the best for your future endeavors. Thank you very much for the post!
Thank you so much for the kind words :)
There is always two side of the coin and there is never a definite answer of right and wrong. What the peace we see, may not be peace in the future. Things will change and change itself is the constant. That is why lifelong learning is the ultimate weapon for the milleneals to survive in this competitive era.
True that there are two sides of the coin and that's why the revenge that one seeks for the wrong that the other committed may not even be justified in the light of the fact that it might not have been wrong in the first place.
So taking a revenge is never a good move. Will make the misunderstanding worse.
Thank you for the post. It is true the only way the human race can realize the peace it yearns for is to see that all is indeed one and separation is the road to suffering.
Exactly! :)
this is a very good post. i like your work @sauravrungta if you are not busy, visit my blog to look around :)
Thank you so much :)
This quote is to shun violence and promote peace ,tolerance and harmony among various communities living together in an area. This quote an eye for an eye was practiced in mediaeval times and there was much violence and revenge killings. So there is no end to violence in this way. Only tolerance and kindness can be helpful to shun such hatred. All great souls like budh gandhi ambedkar gokhle and others had preached to practice mercy kindness and tolerance to win the violence.
Yes, I read this exact thing on the internet.
Beautifully written :)
Thanks :)
It's a very good and very important post.🙏🙏
Thank you for the kind words :)
Was such an amazing read :) Great post!
Thank you so much :) :)
Are you dealing with a rational group or individual, that love their children? Russians.
Or are you dealing with an insane group or individual, that has no interest in seeing their children live to continue a legacy. For example, radical Islamic terrorists and NK Rocketman.
The only solution for irrational and insane actors is overwhelming destructive force to blow them to the kingdom come they are trying to get to.
stunning post @sauravrungta
Thank you :)
A thought-provoking, and well written post. Thank you for your effort, it was obviously well-received.
Thank you for the kind words :)
You're welcome.
Very nice and inspirational thought :)
Thank you so much :)
:) welcome
Nice lines.. Gandhi Ji, teached us how to handle difficult to difficult condition by without any violence
We have to proud that "he is our father of nation"
Yes :)
A Philosopher at Heart @sauravrungta
Well said. Truly liked what I read.
Upvoted & Following!
Thank you for the kind words :)
This is also found in the bible :)
Revenge is an infinite loop. It takes a sacrifice to end this loop.
But this is a hard sacrifice not to revenge yourself but to forgive and to love.
For me this is true strength; When you are able to do good to those people who treat you bad.
Thanks for sharing this.
Yes, I had read mentions of it while reading more about this quote.
That is exactly correct. It takes a lot of strength to be good to people who always treat you horribly.
Amen! to that.
This is real high dimension if you can live like that.
Even sometimes11
Upvoted. I'm going to resteem this now :]
Thank you :)
very true friend When the world is gripped by war. who likes all the common people. they only become victims of the ferocity itself. while the political elite just laughs at the chaos. because they only enjoy the benefits of the acknowledgment itself.
Sadly, that's exactly what's happening right now.
Good post
Thanks!
What are your thoughts on sentencing people to jail, government-sanctioned revenge let's say?
Without jail, the murderers would freely roam causing even more chaos. But yes, it's not being used as intended as proven in many cases.
Any person from the past, the present or the future who is connected through politics or the media all speak with a fork tongue.
It is as simply as that!
So true!!
This just kind of reminds me of an ugly divorce my cousin is going through now.
His ex-wife to be depriving him and his family of his own kids.
I told him to never badmouth her to his kids. Kids will definitely know who's a good person or not.
An eye for an eye doesn't really work. You just have to man up and let it go.
Kids shouldn't be told what to believe and they should be let to make their own mind up about things.
Of course
From memory - the Buddha said something like this....
Think or act with an impure mind, and suffering will follow you, as your shadow, unshakable'
'Think or act with a pure mind, and happiness will follow you as surely as the cart follows the ox.
He was right I think, with mindfulness any one of us has the power to nullify violence by 'turning the other cheek' and stopping the cycle of violence.
The real challenge which faces us is how to deal with the global capitalist system that locks us into systems of violence, and how to neutralize or minimize what I call a sort of 'violent ripple effect' - which occurs every time we look at our mobile phones, and benefit from the conflict minerals inside!
Getting people excited about the possibility of ending violence in their personal lives is challenging enough, getting them even interested in thinking about what a non-violent system might look like is a real toughie!
Your are absolutely right. That is one of the toughest thing in the world to do and frankly, I have no idea if or how we will ever do it. But one thing is for sure, to change the current system, there needs to be something big, something revolutionary. Only then will that 'violent ripple effect' cease to exist.
@sauravrungta. One wonders if this is a double-edged sword. Isn't violence and peace a part of life? Just like light and dark and hot and cold?