Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi



Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu, was the preeminent leader
of the Indian Independence movement in British-ruled India.
(October 1869 – 1948)
Employing non-evident civil disobedience, Gandhi led India
to independence and inspired movements for civil rights
and freedom across the world.
He is unofficially called the The Father of the Nation.

Gandhi's vision of an independent India, based on 'religious pluralism', however was challenged in the early 1940's by a new Muslim nationalism which was demanding a separate Muslim homeland carved out of India. Eventually, in August 1947, Britain granted independence...but the British Empire was partitioned into 2 dominions: a Hindu-majority India and Muslim Pakistan. As many displaced Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs made their way to their 'new lands', religious violence broke out. Gandhi visited the affected areas...attempting to provide solace; he undertook several 'fasts' unto death to promote religious harmony.
A Hindu Nationalist assassinated Gandhi (at age 78) on January 30, 1948
by firing 3 bullets into his chest at point-blank range.

Gandhi, more or less, lived an Islamic life. What made Gandhi GANDHI, was his faith...which became the bedrock of his ideas and principles. However, if Gandhi failed in successfully repressing Muslim nationalism, it is because Hindu fundamentalism had also been rising.
Mahatma Gandhi's battle was spiritual.

In his days of 'fasting' Mahatma Gandhi gave us
great philosophies for daily living and standards by which to live
in times of violence and war.

When I admire the wonders of a sunset...or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator.

I look only to the good qualities of men. Not being faultless myself, I won't presume to probe into the faults of others.

God sometimes does try to the utmost, those whom he wishes to bless.

There is nothing that wastes the body like worry; and one who has any faith in God, should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever.

In prayer, is is better to have a heart without words...than words without a heart.

Is has always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves honoured by the humiliation of their fellow beings.

If we are to teach real peace in this world...and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.

To give service to a single heart by a single act...is better than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.

There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need...but not for man's greed.

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.

It is easy enough to be friendly to one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business.

Happiness is when what you think...what you say...
and what you do...are in harmony!

Compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...September 19, 2016

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