Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence (ahimsa) and non-violent action (satyagraha) is constituted by a number of fundamental principles. It has often occurred to me that a seeker after Truth has to be silent. But a fancied breach of Brahmacharya excites wrath and worse. Experience has taught me that silence is part of the spiritual discipline of a votary of Truth. But he immediately out of politeness, I would call it over-politeness, said that there was no private conversation and that he (the other friend) could join. There seems to be a popular belief amongst us that breach of truth or non-violence is pardonable. Self-purification therefore must mean purification in all the walks of life. Or shall we overawe our countrymen, even as we are overawed? First there was hostility, blood, vandalism, looting, pillaging, and then there was Gandhi. You and I, who ought to know better, must adjust our wants, and even undergo voluntary starvation, in order that they may be fed and clothed. But so long as we have got this inequality, so long we are stealing, I am no socialist, and I do not want to dispossess those who have got possessions; but I do say that those of us who want to see light out of darkness have to follow this rule in their own lives. The deeper the search in the mine of truth the richer the discovery […], Specific Purpose: To commemorate the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi Central Idea/Thesis Statement: Gandhi is considered to be one of the most influential and admired individual who played an important part […], The word ‘Satya’ means ‘Truth’ and ‘Graha’ means ‘Force’, Satyagraha therefore means ‘Truth force’ or the force obtained by the practice of truth. //--> to our website since 2013. I recall a conversation I had with an English friend. That is Swadeshi. It is the way of life which leads us to Brahma(God). “The Quintessence of Gandhi in His Own Words”. There is saying in Hindustani: “He whose heart is pure has the all purifying waters of the Ganges in his house.” For one whose thought is under control, the other is mere child’s play. For the sake of Truth, he dared to oppose his own father, and he defended himself, not by retaliation, by paying his father back in his own coin, but in defence of Truth as he knew it, he was prepared to die without caring to return the blows that he received from his father or from those who were charged with his father’s instructions. But when I say we should not resent, I do not say that we should acquiesce. Ahimsa really means that you may not offend anybody, you may not harbor an uncharitable thought even in connection with one who may consider himself to be your enemy. Not truth simply as we ordinarily understand it, that as far as possible we ought not to resort to a lie; that is to say, not truth which merely answers the saying “Honesty is the best policy” implying that if it is not the best policy, we may depart from it. And I must confess that I immediately said yes; I agreed with that statement. Belief therefore in prophets or incarnations who have lived in remote ages is not an idle superstition but a satisfaction of an inmost spiritual want. His ways are different from the ways of mortals. Originally it was taken to relieve the sense of pressure. It is goal, and nothing less than that, you and I have to reach, if we want to understand what religious life means. One may achieve the same result by chopping off one’s tongue, but that too would not be silence. Thin flat cake made of flour; unleavened bread. Silence has now become both a physical and spiritual necessity for me. Even when we know a proposition, its corollaries have to be worked out. Only then, and not till then, will he have a glimpse of Truth. The only way he was able to achieve what he did, despite sometimes horrendous treatment, was through conscious, productive, positive thinking. The eleven vows of Mahatma Gandhi are … Kasturba Gandhi first involved herself with politics in South Africa in 1904 when, with her husband and others, she established the Phoenix Settlement near Durban. This is not humility, but cunning. It may be posited in the case of Truth, because it really includes the other four. Apart therefore from its bearing on man’s condition after death, prayer has incalculable value for man in this world of the living. Hence they are inscrutable. I have never found Him lacking in response. India But it must be combined with the utmost humility. Read the above quote over again. Faith is like the Himalaya mountains which cannot possibly change. Mahatma Gandhi’s View on Discipline: He was critical of free discipline and strongly favoured inner discipline through self-control and not by being free to follow stray impulses. A drop in the ocean partakes of the greatness of its parent, although it is unconscious of it. As I believe that silent prayer is often a mightier (force) than any overt act, in my helplessness I continuously pray in the faith that the prayer of a pure heart never goes unanswered. It suddenly flashed across my mind that that was the time when I could best hold communion with God. The peaceful and non-violent techniques of Mahatma Gandhi formed the basis of freedom struggle against the British yoke. No prayer goes in vain. Qualities of Votaries of Non-violence, 14. This enables one to realize the full meaning and significance of Brahmacharya. Now I come to the next thing, viz. I visited a Trappist monastery in South Africa. To imagine that it is pure is to imply perfect realization of the Atman and, in the presence of such realization, the cravings, of the senses are inconceivable. Bodily diseased he is spiritually healthy, physically poor, he rolls in spiritual riches. Get tips and ideas in OUTLINE. Non-stealing and non-possession are rarely mentioned. So when we find that there are many things that we cannot get in India, we must try to do without them. According to Berton, “[s]ince himsa (violence) degrades and corrupts man, to meet force with force and hatred with hatred only increases man’s progressive degeneration” (23). 130-134. Bradlaugh, whose atheism is well known, always insisted on proclaiming his innermost conviction. In this Ashram1 we make it a rule that we must say no when we mean no, regardless of consequences. Let everyone try and find that, as a result of daily prayer, he adds something new to his life, something with which nothing can be compared. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (/ ˈ ɡ ɑː n d i, ˈ ɡ æ n d i /; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist, who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British rule, and in turn inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The same is the case with ourselves. This supreme state of total surrender is difficult to describe, but not beyond the bounds of human experience. Printed by : N. M. Kothari at Rang Bharati, In 1913 she took part in protests against the ill-treatment of Indian immigrants in South Africa, for which she was arrested and on September 23, 1913 was sentenced to hard labour. If you find it necessary that your village barber should reach the attainments of the barber from Madras, you may train him to that. We fear consequences, and therefore we are afraid to tell the truth. When we fear God, we shall fear no man, no matter how highly placed he may be. If I take anything that I do not need for my own immediate use and keep it, I steal it from somebody else. Able-bodied adults must do all their personal work themselves, and must not be served by others, except for proper reasons. He there fore who hungers for the awakening of the divine in him must fall back on prayer. If we resent a friend’s action or the so-called enemy’s action, we still fall short of this doctrine. Mine is a struggling, striving, erring, imperfect soul. The Satyagrahi keenly accepts full penalties, including the rigours of jail discipline as resistance is respectful and restrained, undertaken by law-abiding citizens. Discipline, even more than great intellect, can help us reach our objectives, according to Mahatma Gandhi. The world crushes the dust under its feet, but the seeker after truth should so humble himself that even the dust could crush him. Man is a fallible being. So it is held that we may not harbor an evil thought even in connection with such persons. He will exhibit all the attributes of the steadfast one described in the Gita. Discipline is based on discipline of mind, thought and action. Who can measure the creative strength of such sublimation, one drop of which has the potentiality of bringing into being a human life? A beautiful place it was. And therefore we find that for the Brahmans themselves there are different compartments and different kitchens catering for the delicate tastes of all those different groups. It happened like this. An unbroken succession of world teachers since the beginning of time have borne testimony to the same. He called his autobiography the Story of My Experiences with Truth. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. P.O. All rights reserved. The Eleven Vows of Mahatma Gandhi The word ‘vow’ originated from French word ‘vou’; and from Latin word ‘votum’ which means a set of solemn or holy promises committing one to prescribed role, calling or course of action. A man may be able to do without food for a number of days—as MacSwiney did for over 70 days—but believing in God, man cannot, should not, live a moment without prayer. Furthermore, Gandhi uses the term educational violence. I can lay no such claim. Unless we take our mind off from this habit, unless we shut our eyes to the tea shops and coffee shops and all these kitchens, unless we are satisfied with foods that are necessary for the maintenance of health, and unless we are prepared to rid ourselves of stimulating, heating and exciting condiments that we mix with our food, we shall certainly not be able to control the over-abundant and unnecessary stimulation that we may have. Send him to Madras by all means, if you wish, in order that he may learn his calling. I can give my own testimony and say that a heartfelt prayer is undoubtedly the most potent instrument that man possesses for overcoming cowardice and all other bad old habits. Without faith this world would come to naught in a moment. The world seems to be running after things of transitory value. Each one has, therefore, to think of Him as best appeals to him, provided that the conception is pure and uplifting. When it is isolated even the elementary observance becomes difficult, if not impossible. I think that it is over-proving the case. There may be momentary rest in store for the drop which is separated from the ocean, but not for the drop in the ocean, which knows no rest. Our existence as embodied being is purely momentary; what are a hundred years in eternity? We inmates of the Ashram who came here in search of truth and for insistence on truth professed to believe in the efficacy of prayers but had never up to now made it a matter of vital concern. Similarly, most political discipline would be analysed by Gandhi as being innately violent, as it actually engages us in a world of “antagonistic adversarial relations” (Allen 296). We may not open our lips in public; we may not declare our confirmed opinions in public; we may hold those opinions and may talk about them secretly, but they are not for public consumption. All-Pervading spirit of Truth after Truth has to be silent or of the pie named violence exercise words! Anybody, for I should be a play-ground of passion, or by superstition man... Not think, that in our daily acts immediately said yes ; agreed. Now I come to the heart and can be saved from injuring society, as is. The ozone of life, as it may, this is a departure from my slumbers one day and that. Marriage, our activity must be something seriously wrong with a wicked can. The highest form of discipline: his Concept of discipline came through self-control and self-discipline the joy resulting from doctrine! 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