I've been curious about Satyagraha for many years. Want to explore it with me?
Gandhi has been one of my heroes and so I’ve always been curious about his thoughts on nonviolence and how he applied these ideas. Somewhere I ran across Satyagraha and this has been a seed planted many moons ago and I try to read some Gandhi books, watch videos, movies, and read articles to better learn and understand his life and him as a person. Today I thought I would dig into his concept Satyagraha and explore ways to practice it and also how Buddhist philosophies and practices sync with this concept. So let’s explore a bit.
Satyagraha is a powerful concept developed by Mahatma Gandhi, and it combines two Sanskrit words:
Satya = truth
Agraha = eagerness and/or persistence
So, I like to think of Satyagraha as meaning something like “eagerness to live by truth”, “insistence on truth”, or maybe “truth-force.” It is a philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance used to bring about social or political change by appealing to conscience and upholding truth with love and firmness.
If you are an english speaking American like me you may be asking… How do I say Satyagraha? If I’m being honest I struggle with this and other Sanskrit words. Here is a breakdown to make it easier…
Pronunciation
Satyagraha is pronounced:
/ˌsʌt.jəˈɡrɑː.hə/
or phonetically: “sut-yuh-GRAH-huh”
You can break it down like:
Sat (like “sut” in “supper”)
ya (like “yuh”)
graha (rhymes with “drama”)
What Satyagraha Means (In Practice)
It’s not just passive resistance. It’s active and courageous actions that are rooted in love.
As an activist I think this has often been my biggest struggle as I really try to be nonviolent and loving as well as trying to do no harm. As you can imagine This is something we wrestle with when trying to make an impact on the world and minimize as much oppression as possible. What I find is that Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr, and Thich Nhat Hanh have all worked within these constraints and moved a lot of people as well as get some bring oppressive forces brought to their knees and changes made.
If I had my choice, this is the side I’d like to be on as opposed to one doing harm in the intent of doing good.
To explore further, here are the core principles:
1. Truth (Satya) –
Be committed to truth in thought, speech, and action.
2. Nonviolence (Ahimsa) –
Never harm another, physically or emotionally.
3. Self-Suffering –
Willingly endure hardship rather than inflict it.
4. Faith in Human Goodness –
Believe in the potential for transformation in others.
5. Patience and Persistence –
True change takes time and inner strength.
Boy, this is a list of challenging ideas and practices, am I right? As I think of this I see these ideas and practices as the North Star or a guidance system. We may never fully be perfect in these kinds of practices but if we live by these ideas and continually work to do our best to live and apply these ideas that imagine how we would show up in the world and what could be accomplished in a lifetime of living these ideas to the best of our abilities.
Ways You Can Practice Satyagraha in Daily Life
Now what if we explore how to implement and practice these concepts in daily life because that is where the rubber meets the road and the action is taken.
Speak your truth with compassion…
When in disagreement, don’t fight or avoid people or topics— but rather speak calmly and honestly, rooted in love. Calmly with respect step into the uncomfortable conflict with intent on solving the issue or clarifying your take on the issue.
Respond to anger with peace…
Instead of reacting, take a breath. Choose understanding over retaliation. Gosh this is hard. If we feel hurt or upset it is hard for us to NOT move into Fight, Flight, or Freeze states and just flip our lids responding from a reptilian brain or a state of survival instead of a calm rational state.
Stand up for injustice—nonviolently…
Support peaceful movements, speak up for the voiceless, write, paint, or act in ways that awaken awareness. This could be going to protest and acting in a nonviolent way. It could be creating art, or music, or videos, or even writing books and blog articles that support those in harm’s way or at risk and oppressed. It could be how you show up in the world and treat all people and/or how you organize and build community. It could be calling or writing your government representatives.
Live your values…
Make sure your actions align with your beliefs, even in small everyday choices. For me this looks like sharing my love for reading and education by reading books in community and sharing thoughts, concerns, new ways to understand topics, and ideas on how we can live by our values.
Practice deep listening…
Truly hear others, even if they disagree. Listening is a form of honoring truth. This is also tough but I can tell you this is a powerful action if you can train yourself to listen deeply to those you disagree with. Thich Nhat Hanh says the first stage of love is UNDERSTANDING. You see if you can understand those you struggle with it is hard to dehumanize people and do harm without concern. Many times feeling seen and heard also opens people up to connection.
Use art as peaceful resistance…
Express truth through painting, poetry, or meditation spaces that inspire awareness and harmony. I have always been attracted to protest art and especially protest music. Here is a list of 100 Best Protest Songs of All Time according to RollingStone magazine.
Satyagraha & Buddhism: Kindred Paths
While Satyagraha originated with Gandhi, its spirit closely echoes core Buddhist principles, especially in the Mahayana and engaged Buddhist traditions like those taught by Thich Nhat Hanh and Plum Village.
Here are key connections:
Ahimsa (Nonviolence) -
Buddhism: Ahimsa is one of the Five Precepts—“Do not harm any living being.”
Satyagraha: Nonviolence is foundational. Even in resistance, never harm.
In Practice:
Practicing Metta (loving-kindness) Meditation cultivates compassion toward all, even those who cause harm. Please try the guided meditation offered here by Sharon Salzberg to fully experience what a Metta Mediation feels like in practice if you have not done one of these mediations before.
Engaged Buddhism invites peaceful action for justice, never rooted in hatred. See the video below to hear Thay’s thoughts on Engaged Buddhism.
Satya (Truth) -
Buddhism: Right Speech and Right View from the Noble Eightfold Path guide us to seek and speak truth with wisdom.
Satyagraha: Holding firmly to truth, not with arrogance, but with inner clarity.
In Practice:
Mindful communication—speaking truth without blame or anger.
Studying and living the Dharma (truth teachings) authentically.
Self-Suffering / Endurance (Tapasya) -
Buddhism: In the face of hardship, we train to respond with equanimity. The Bodhisattva willingly endures difficulties for the benefit of all beings.
Satyagraha: Willingly bearing suffering instead of causing it, as a form of spiritual power.
In Practice:
Sitting meditation—even when uncomfortable—is an act of peaceful endurance.
Choosing non-retaliation when mistreated, trusting in karma and compassion.
Transformation Through Love -
Buddhism: The idea that even enemies can become awakened beings. Hatred never ends hatred—only love can do that.
Satyagraha: Not about defeating the enemy but transforming the relationship and society.
In Practice:
Deep listening and compassionate speech heal separation.
Seeing the interbeing of all life: “I am because you are.”
Conclusion…
I hope that this exploration of Satyagraha, how to practice it and how it aligns with many parts of Buddhism opens your eyes to this wonderful concept and practice. I also hope that as a society we can learn deeper ways to practice Satyagraha, nonviolence, love, and community building that is able to make the world a little bit better. You can be the change you want to see in the world through these practices.
Peace, Love, and Respect to you, my friends.
Share your thoughts below on your thoughts and or personal practice related to Satyagraha or share this article with others who would be open to learning and practicing these ideas.
Thank you!