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.