There are many reasons why the Metta Center for Nonviolence is one of the most valued and inspiring organizations for nonviolence in the world. In fact, we have recently been called “the go-to organization for Gandhi in the U.S.,” as we explain the strategies and spiritual activism of Gandhi and apply these concepts toward building lasting change, and this, for many other reasons, makes us unique. Taking further inspiration from Gandhi, the basis of our work is to raise the human image because we believe that what truly makes us human beings is our capacity for nonviolence. Unlike other nonviolence organizations, we are not a single-issue organization: we maintain that single issues (youth poverty, hate crimes, environmental destruction, veganism, etc.) must address the root of the problem: violence itself. This cannot be addressed by kind speech or protest alone, it must be comprehensive and lived: from word, thought and deed. We believe that if people are going to change the world, they have to be inspired by love, not hatred;  indeed, Gandhi said, “it is not nonviolence until you love your enemy.” We agree.

One of our favorite quotes at Metta is from Arnold Toynbee who said, “Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm; and enthusiasm can be roused by two things: first, an ideal that takes the imagination by storm; second, an intelligible plan for carrying that ideal into practice.” We think that nonviolence –when properly understood–does both.

Find out how Timo in Finland is engaging with Metta’s materials in his work. At this link

Learn how Mike is bringing Metta Center to his students. At this link

 

Here are just some of the testimonials we receive regularly, documenting the  impact our message and our enthusiasm have been making on the lives of people around the world:

 

  •  You are truly amazing, and your work has made a huge difference in my life. I will always pass on your message and teachings of non violence to all I come in contact with…. there seems to be a powerful invisible force that I have become aware of that plays a major factor in the practice of non-violence. This power can only be realized through authentic application and practice. It has had the greatest influence in changing the behaviors of all who come in contact with this force.
  • Since our last communication nearly 5 years ago. I have listened to your courses on-line and applied nonviolent core principals to our Muslim community here in America (I am currently a graduate student studying Neuroscience). I feel it is perhaps the most powerful force for change that I have ever come across. 
  • Your message about Mahatma Gandhi made such a great impression because of its depth of sincerity and profound scholarship.
  • I wanted to take this opportunity and tell you that I truly feel that your teachings of non-violence are the most important topic in the world today. In fact I will fill you in with more detail later but for the last four years that I have been in Afghanistan (probably one of the most unstable and unsafe locations in the world), it was my personal practice of non-violence that has helped me survive many very dangerous situations.
  • Your visit was, of course, a wonderful experience for the students. You brought nonviolence to life for the class.
  • What you wrote about exhibiting nonviolence in one’s personal life as a first step toward a broader societal reconciliation and peace really struck a chord with me.  This very night I was able to reconcile with my father.  He and I had been at odds.
  • I have continued to promote your nonviolence course to people and currently have a good friend taking it and she is incorporating what she is learning to improve her life and marriage.
  • I do believe people come into each others’ lives for a reason. You probably have no idea how you touch my life. You gave me encouragement that peace and nonviolence is achievable.
  •  I took your course on contemporary nonviolence about 10 years ago, and many of the principles and movements we read about have been flooding back to me over the past 18 days. The uprising in Egypt is just remarkable. Your course was one of the best I ever took at UC Berkeley.