On Sept. 2, I received an invitation from the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust to visit the Ashram and participate in the "Gandhi Dialogue on Violence," which was to take place on Oct. 1 and 2, the latter being the 147th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and observed as a day of non-violence.

My involvement in Mayors for Peace through the U.S. Conference of Mayors and my participation over the years in the annual Peace Lantern Ceremony at Silver Lake confirmed my invitation and "connection."

Due to my mayoral and personal schedule conflicts, I respectfully declined and was advised that I would be considered for a future trip. In early December, I received a second invitation to attend the third delegation to India, on Jan. 23-31. Mandar Apte, producer of the documentary film, "From India with Love.," and an acclaimed expert on leadership and social innovation, has led the three groups.

I asked if the Rochester police chief, school superintendent and perhaps the Minneapolis mayor could attend. Unfortunately, none were able to participate, but from the Rochester Police Department, Lt. James Evenson was able to attend. He was a valuable "substitute." We would mirror the intention behind the transformative journey undertaken by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1959 when he went to India to deepen his understanding of non-violence principles as practiced by Gandhi.

Our delegation included police officers, a former gang member, a school official, a certified prevention specialist, officials from St. Marten and me.

The airfare from Chicago to Hong Kong and ultimately New Delhi was provided by Cathay Pacific Air, a sponsor of the trip. We were responsible for the costs of room and board and other expenses in India.

Arriving in New Delhi we were greeted by Mandar Apte and met some of the other members of our groups, followed by a wild ride from the airport to our hotel before heading to Gandhi's Ashram in Rishikesh on the banks of the Ganges River. Rishikesh is considered the birthplace of yoga.

At our morning briefing,we received our schedule for the week and were strongly encouraged to experience the week as a vegetarian, which was not an option at the Ashram in Rishikesh. Yoga was also introduced. We visited the American Embassy in New Delhi, the American Center and Choose Love Foundation. We began to understand the phrases, "The revolution begins inside each of us," and "Violence ends where love begins."

"Self-less service" and "random acts of self-less kindness" were others.

The following day we left New Delhi for Rishikesh, Gandhi's home and our home for three nights at the Ashram, "a secluded residence of a religious community and its guru." We learned of the three levels of peace: thought, speech and action. We drove into the Himilayan Mountains, where some of our team waded in the Ganges River. Very cold, but much cleaner than farther down river.

We drove back to Rishikesh where we met H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji. I may have been skeptical, but I appreciated his wisdom. Swami spoke of compassion as being a "oneness" -- no one is excluded.

Ron, one of our group, asked Swami for help: His 17 year-old son had been shot and killed by an adult because four boys were playing their music "too loud" in their car. The adult pulled his gun out of the glove compartment and shot at the boys' car, killing Ron's son Jordan. The adult showed no remorse and said he would do it again and is now serving life in prison.

Swami said to Ron, you need to forgive him -- not excuse him, but forgive him. "Until you can do that, you too are in jail." Not easily done, but necessary.

The night ended with Swami praying for Ron and for my wife Judy, who is ill. It was a very special evening.

Each day we had yoga and breathing exercises. Again, while I may have been initially skeptical, I found it calming and introspective. Near the end of our trip, we visited the Taj Mahal, truly an amazing structure built in 1632-53 by an emperor for his favorite wife. On our last day, Jan. 30, we visited and participated in a prayer meeting on the 69th anniversary of Gandhi's assassination. The meeting was held at the location where Gandhi had spent his last 140 days.

I believe Lt. Evenson and I made an impression on the group, as several members want to visit Rochester this summer and we're working on that. Relationships were created due to our meditation, breathing and yoga together. It was an amazing experience.

The trip was more than I ever anticipated. Through experiences of this kind, I believe we can make a difference, not necessarily by changing someone else but by truly knowing that "violence ends where love begins."

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Mayor: Volent ends where love begins - Post-Bulletin