Active nonviolence is a creative power for good available to everyone. It is grounded in the sacredness of all life and respect for every person. When drawn upon, active nonviolence interrupts the cycle of violence by refusing to inflict harm and by actively seeking out ways to promote the common good and justice. It is not passive.
“Nonviolence is the greatest and most active force in the world.”
- Gandhi
The positive energy of active nonviolence is accessible in the everyday lives of individuals, as well as in organized ways of working for change. It recognizes we are all interconnected, respects the dignity of every person, and believes that everyone can be transformed.
- Gandhi
Active nonviolence is all-encompassing: It is a spirituality, a way of life, and a strategy for social change. Gandhi called it satyagraha: “Soul Force” or “Truth Force.” Martin Luther King, Jr. knew it as the way of unconditional love, a transformative power, the means to create the Beloved Community.