Six Questions for Michael Nagler on Nonviolence
Here’s a preview of a bonus section of our new edition Michael’s Search for a Nonviolent Future!
What misconceptions about nonviolence do you most often encounter?
That it’s weak—“the weapon of the weak,” a last resort. Also, the idea that it’s not (when in fact it is) an underlying force in nature. A close second: that it has only a few well-known, narrow applications, mostly limited to protest. I could go on...
What role does inner transformation or personal growth play in the larger social change nonviolence seeks?
A critical one. The great practitioners have all said—and shown—that the quality and effectiveness of our nonviolence depend on the absence of ill will in our minds (or hearts, if you prefer). As Gandhi put it: “I have learnt the one supreme lesson, to conserve my anger...”
Nonviolence is a learning experience, and that’s true in this dimension too: nonviolent action becomes a kind of laboratory for our personal transformation.
What’s a common mistake people make when trying to practice nonviolence, and how can they avoid it?
There are several! For starters, people often don’t realize that the violence or injustice they’re responding to is systemic. What they’re seeing is a symptom—and the symptom will keep recurring until we address the root cause: the false sense of separateness. Learning the New Story is part of the remedy.
Another big one: harboring ill will, resentment, or worse. This is especially critical—and hard to avoid. Related to this is a lack of training. Training should begin with personal development, then move into skill-building (there are many techniques), and include study of our rich history. The rest is organization.
It’s also worth repeating that many think nonviolence is synonymous with protest—while overlooking the power of Constructive Program, where the real long-term change happens.
How do you see science changing our understanding of nonviolence?
It’s a rich and important question. Science, as Willis Harman put it, is the “knowledge-validating system” of our civilization. Several branches of science are relevant here. Neuroscience, for instance—think mirror neurons—offers insight into our capacity for empathy and connection. Conflict studies offer further understanding.
If we follow the path of nonviolence, it leads to a new understanding of what it means to be human: Who are we? What capacities do we have? What responsibilities come with them? What is our destiny?
Quantum physics points to the interconnectedness of all things in the physical world. Nonviolence reveals the unity of living beings—of consciousness itself.
Of course, the harder challenge is assimilation—integrating this new vision into our way of living. That brings us to the science of paradigm shift. How do we help it happen? That question is absolutely key to our future.
How do I talk to friends and family who don’t believe in nonviolence?
Patiently. If you’ve come to nonviolence, you’ve managed to step outside of modern culture to some degree—and that’s a rare privilege. A responsibility, too.
Keep in mind the enormous conditioning they’ve experienced. Share facts and stories as appropriate. There’s a whole science of persuasion, and it usually starts with deep listening—genuinely appreciating where someone is coming from. Often, people can’t articulate what’s really bothering them; it’s more emotional than rational.
And remember: whether or not they recognize it, nonviolence is the moral high ground. It’s important not to hold others to the violence they (like all of us) may have committed. The key to nonviolence is distinguishing the doer (whom we accept) from the deed (which we reject, even as we try to understand what caused it). The “two hands of nonviolence.” Conversation is just one application of that principle.
How can I respond nonviolently if someone is violent toward me?
Remind yourself: this is what you’ve been training for. This is where the rubber of nonviolence meets the road. I believe the universe has a precise meaning—and that includes our own small experiences. So if we’re given a tough test, it means we’re ready for it.
At the same time, know your limits. Some hostility—or even outright violence—might be something we can handle; some might not. That’s okay. Just take note: “Here’s an area I need to work on.”