When a person recommended this book to me, I was unsure about reading it, not because of the content the title indicated it would have but because I worried it would be a dense and boring book. However, I was happily surprised that it was written in an accessible manner to those who may be new(er) to the concepts laid out in this book about nonviolence. The format of 3 larger sections broken into chapters and subsections within each made it easy to follow along and I think will be helpful for referencing in the future should I want to reread about specific things.

In addition, Haga includes small snippets of humor throughout the book - mostly in footnotes - which added to making the book feel more approachable for non-specialists.

While I think this book is especially an important read for those wanting to be active in larger social change, I think there is also a lot for those looking for more local/personal social change as well. Even if you don't think you'd agree with the nonviolence approach, I think there is a lot to think and contemplate about in many of the points he presents and talks about. I also greatly appreciated the fact that he pointed tells readers to not judge those who make use of violence to try and bring about change. ( )

The author shows that a principled approach to nonviolence is the way to transform not only unjust systems but broken relationships. He offers us a practical approach to societal conflict first begun by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement, which has been developed into a fully workable, step-by-step training and deeply transformative philosophy, and takes on the timely issues of endless protest and activist burnout, presenting tried-and-tested strategies for staying resilient, creating equity, and restoring peace.

As a long-time student of nonviolence, I was excited to pickup the book Healing Resistance by Kazu Haga. Not only was it published by Parallax Press, founded by Thich Nhat Hanh, the jacket quotes from Michelle Alexander, Joanna Macy, and Larry Yang said this was a book for me to read.

Kazu writes in a very friendly, personable, and real style. We are brought right into the stories as he explores the intricacies of Kingian Nonviolence. We begin with some basic definitions of violence, nonviolence, and conflict.

As Kazu writes, “nonviolence is about action, not inaction.” This is an important concept to understand about nonviolence. He continues, “Nonviolence gives us an alternative way of responding: to face. Facing means looking your assailant in the eye, not backing down, not giving into fear, and not reacting in kind.” And perhaps most importantly, nonviolence allows us to heal.

Both Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr. Martin Luther King speak of beloved community. As I read the Six Principles of Nonviolence, I can’t help but draw parallels with the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing. Like the Trainings, the Principles are interconnected. They inter-are. And practicing one we can practice all the other ones.

The Six Principles of Nonviolence
1. Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.
2. The Beloved Community is the framework for the future.
3. Attack forces of evil, not persons doing evil.
4. Accept suffering for the sake of the cause to achieve the goal.
5. Avoid internal violence of the spirit as well as external physical violence.
6. The universe is on the side of justice.

These were first articulated by Dr. King in his 1960 essay, “Pilgrimage to Nonviolence.” These are now the Six Principles of Kingian Nonviolence. Kazu has been a trainer and teacher of these since 2009 and form the heart of this book. Each are looked into with greater detail.

The last third of the book explores the Six Steps of Nonviolence. Namely, information gathering, education, personal commitment, negotiation, direct action, and reconciliation. It is this last one, reconciliation, that can be seen as the goal of nonviolent action. In this section of the book, we see how to apply these steps in the social justice movement. How to organize and to get things changed. To build and create the Beloved Community. To experience reconciliation.

It’s not all about external action. We learn that the internal work is just as important as the external work. Maybe even more important. If you want to learn more about what nonviolence means and how it can be applied in our lives today, then look no further than this book.

As Michelle Alexander wrote, “Kazu Haga’s deep, nuanced, and principled commitment to nonviolence has challenges and inspired me and many others.”

Purchase directly from Parallax Press or from Bookshop. ( )