Radical love: Satish Kumar’s life and legacy
(Global Heart) Discover the inspiring life and philosophy of Satish Kumar. Learn more about his 8,000-mile peace walk and his call for radical love and holistic living.
“We live under the power of Modern Consciousness, which means that we are obsessed with progress. Wherever you are is not good enough. We always want to achieve something, rather than experience something. The opposite of this is Spiritual Consciousness. By that I mean you find enchantment in every action you do, rather in just the results of your action. Spiritual Consciousness is not a particular religion but a way of being.”
― Satish Kumar
Who is Satish Kumar?
Satish Kumar (b. 1936) is an acclaimed activist, philosopher, and editor who is widely regarded as one of the world’s most eloquent voices for ecological and spiritual transformation. His chosen path is dedicated to fostering a life rooted in simplicity, connection, and profound reverence for the entirety of existence.
Learn more about the transformative power of his ongoing work.
From monk to pilgrim: a life of radical trust
Kumar’s life story, powerfully chronicled in his autobiography No Destination: Autobiography of a Pilgrim, is defined by three foundational journeys that progressively integrated spirituality with social action.
From monastery to movement
At the tender age of nine, he renounced the world to become a wandering Jain monk, a period that instilled deep spiritual discipline, simplicity, and the core principle of Ahimsa (non-violence). Yet, at 18, inspired by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, he left the cloistered life, recognizing that true spirituality must be integrated with the active pursuit of justice in the world. He became a disciple of Vinoba Bhave, committing himself to the principles of land reform (Sarvodaya) and engaged activism.
The 8,000-mile testament of faith
The most globally resonant act of his life was the legendary Peace Pilgrimage of the 1960s. Carrying no money—relying solely on the absolute kindness and generosity of strangers—Kumar walked 8,000 miles from India to the capitals of the world’s four nuclear powers: Moscow, Paris, London, and Washington, D.C.
This was not merely a political protest; it was a radical spiritual practice (tapasya). The core lesson, and the central theme of No Destination, is trust over fear. By discarding financial security, he demonstrated that a fundamental human connection and boundless generosity exist across all geopolitical fault lines. The mission—to deliver a symbolic packet of “peace tea” to world leaders—was a simple, profound message: “Stop and have a cup of tea before you press the button.” The journey itself, the continuous act of walking, became the goal—embodying the philosophy that the journey is the destination.
The trinity of wholeness: soil, soul, and society
Satish Kumar’s most enduring philosophical contribution is his proposed trinity: Soil, Soul, and Society. He posits this as the necessary foundation for a sustainable worldview, contrasting it sharply with the destructive modern trinity of market, money, and materialism. His core message is that the immense crises we face—ecological, spiritual, and social—cannot be solved in isolation; they are deeply interconnected dimensions of a single, holistic reality.
“Fire cannot be put out with more fire.”
―
1. soil: reverential ecology
The soil represents the external foundation of life and the principle of reverential ecology. This demands a fundamental shift away from a utilitarian, human-centric view of nature—seeing it only as a resource—to a profound recognition of the Earth’s intrinsic, sacred value. Kumar continues to teach that we must see the Earth as a living system, a community of which we are a part. This worldview is encapsulated by the non-dualistic mantra: “You are, therefore I am,” a powerful rejection of Western dualism.
2. Soul: elegant simplicity
The soul represents the inner landscape, the importance of inner peace, compassion, and well-being. Kumar diagnoses the modern condition as one of “spiritual poverty,” driven by frantic accumulation. His solution is elegant simplicity: a conscious, joyful choice of moderation and frugality over clutter and excess. For him, caring for the soul is achieved not only through meditation but also by transforming daily tasks, such as gardening or cooking, into mindful spiritual practices.
3. Society: non-violence and decentralization
Society represents human relationships and the goal of creating a peaceful, just world. Heavily influenced by his Gandhian training, he extends non-violence (Ahimsa) beyond interpersonal conflict to the entire Earth community, defining pollution or environmental destruction as acts of violence against nature. Rooted in the Small is Beautiful movement, his philosophy champions human-scale living and localized economies, believing that service and fulfillment must supersede personal success and globalized growth.
“The power of love grows from inside, whereas the power of the sword is imposed from the outside. Like a tree grows from a seed, the power of love grows from the self; seek your power within and be your own light.”
― Satish Kumar
The call: from ego to eco
This entire philosophy is distilled into one powerful call: to “drop ego in favour of eco.” The Ego represents the self-centered, separated, and dominating worldview. The eco (oikos—home) represents the relational, interconnected, and holistic understanding of the planet as a shared household. This spiritual transformation from self-interest to reverence is the quantum leap in consciousness required to build an ecological future.
Radical love and holistic education
The culmination of Kumar’s enduring work is his call for Radical Love, which he explores in his recent book of the same title. Radical love is the core principle and call to action that bridges the separation he spent his life overcoming. It is the journey from feeling separate to recognizing our deep connection with the Earth, each other, and our inner selves, extending universal compassion even to those we find unlovable.
Head, heart, and hands
This radical philosophy is not merely theoretical; it is enshrined in the enduring institutions he co-founded and where he’s actively involved:
- Schumacher college: This international centre for ecological studies in Devon, England, is the ultimate practical expression of his worldview. It pioneered holistic education—a model designed to educate the whole person by teaching through the three h’s:
- Head: Focuses on intellectual rigor and knowledge.
- Heart: Cultivates emotional intelligence, compassion, and a sense of reverence.
- Hands: Develops practical skills, craftsmanship, and self-sufficiency, fostering a direct relationship with the Earth.
- Resurgence & ecologist magazine: After serving as editor for over four decades, he continues to be the Editor Emeritus, ensuring the journal remains an internationally recognized “spiritual and ecological flagship.”
From separation to connection
Satish Kumar’s life stands as a testament to the belief that genuine change begins not in parliaments or global conferences, but within the individual. He continues to inspire people around the world with his work, serving as an enduring guide for those who seek to live out Gandhi’s challenge: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Source: Global Heart
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