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Originally Posted by Lightkeeper
I remember that Gandhi practiced (I can't remember the exact word)
nonviolence. Did this spring from Hinduism or did he enhance Hinduism with this practice. Was it nonresistance he practiced?
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Gandhi Ji practiced Ahimsa. The concept of Ahimsa can be described as Non-violance, but this term does not cover it completely. When we talk of Ahimsa, as enshrined in Hinduism, it covers all, " Mansa, Vaacha, Karmana", meaning "thoughts, speech and action". Ahimsa is not causing any harm to others by thoughts, speech and action.
Nonresistance is not Ahimsa. If one is facing a danger to his life and property, he has a duty to defend. A Hindu householder has his first duty to protect himself, his family members, his home, his values, his property. Any attack on them has to be repulsed by all means available with him. All these attempts should preferably be non-violant means. If no alternative is left then he should use violant means. In Mahabharata, Lord Krishna tried all means to avoid war between Pandavas and Kauravas, but when all attempts failed then He called upon Pandavas to go to war to remove the injustice and wrongs done by Kauravas. In Ramayana, Lord Rama tried every way to avoid war with Ravana, but when all attempts failed He went to war and killed Ravana to free His Wife Sita.