Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/410

320 said "Yes"; I agreed with that statement: We do hesitate to say " No " frankly and boldly, when we want to pay due regard to the Sentiments of the person whom we are addressing. In our Ashrama we make it a rule that we must say " No" when we mean " No," regardless of consequences. This then is the first rule. Then we come to the

Literally speaking, Ahimsa means non-killing. But to me it has a world of meaning and takes me into realms much higher, infinitely higher, than the realm to which I would go, if I merely understood by Ahimsa non-killing. Ahimsa really means that you may not offend anybody,you may not harbour an uncharitable thought even in connection with one who may consider himself to be your enemy, Pray notice the guarded nature of this thought; I do not say " whom you consider to be your enemy", but " who may consider himself to be your enemy." For one who follows the doctrine of Ahimsa there is no room for an enemy; he denies the existence of an enemy. But there are people who consider themselves to be his enemies, and he cannot help that circumstance. So, it is held that we may not harbour an evil thought even in connection with such persons. If we return blow for blow, we depart from the doctrine of Ahimsa. But I go further. If we resent a friend's action or the so-called enemy's action, we still fall short of this doctrine. But when I say, we should not resent, I do not say that we should acquiesce : but by resenting I mean wishing that some harm should be done to the enemy, or that he should be put out of the way, not even by any action of ours, but by the action of somebody else,