<em>"One has to speak out and stand up for one's convictions. Inaction at a time of conflagration is inexcusable."</em>-Mahatma Gandhi<br /><br />The basic principles of Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence (<em>Ahimsa</em>) and non-violent action (<em>Satyagraha</em>)were chosen by Thomas Merton for this volume in 1965. In hischallenging Introduction, "Gandhi and the One-Eyed Giant," Mertonemphasizes the importance of action rather than mere pacifism as acentral component of non-violence, and illustrates how the foundationsof Gandhi's universal truths are linked to traditional Hindu Dharma,the Greek philosophers, and the teachings of Christ and Thomas Aquinas.<br /><br />Educatedas a Westerner in South Africa, it was Gandhi's desire to set aside thecaste system as well as his political struggles in India which led himto discover the dynamic power of non-cooperation. But, non-violence forGandhi "was not simply a political tactic," as Merton observes: "thespirit of non-violence sprang from an inner realization of spiritualunity in himself." Gandhi's politics of spiritual integrity haveinfluenced generations of people around the world, as well as civilrights leaders from Martin Luther King, Jr. and Steve Biko to VáclavHavel and Aung San Suu Kyi.<br /><br />Mark Kurlansky has written aninsightful preface for this edition that touches upon the history ofnon-violence and reflects the core of Gandhi's spiritual and ethicaldoctrine in the context of current global conflicts.