Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was one of the most important spiritual leaders in history, a man who was once eulogized as the spokesman for the conscience of humanity. He was a strong inspiration to spiritual and political leaders, and human rights activists like Martin Luther King Jr., Vinoba Bhave, Nelson Mandela, and contemporary changemakers like Nipun Mehta.
About Gandhi
Gandhi was given the title Mahatma — by Tagore — which is similar to the Western term saint, and is credited with legitimizing India’s quest for freedom from the British Empire, easing the transfer of power in 1947.
But it wasn’t so much the result of his activism that led to his reputation — he wisely embraced a strategy of non-violent civil disobedience that spiritually and politically removed the yoke of British rule from India. People like Gandhi, those who inspire millions and change nations, are often the epitome of wisdom — they know things that most people don’t, and are willing to go to lengths that others would not dream of.
On the path of Gandhi
After getting frustrated with myself and the happenings around me, I planned to take some time off. I was mind-fucked, heartbroken, tired, embezzled, and disturbed. I had no time to look inside me, but when I made time to look inside, I saw that I was lost and shattered. I had so many scars.
In college, I read The Story of My Experiments with Truth written by Gandhi, which helped me. One quote changed my life.
If you want to find yourself, lose your self in the service of others.
I followed his advice and thus started a 4-year-long sabbatical. I packed my bags for Sabarmati Ashram. I stayed there for some months to take part in a series of spiritual retreats and learn Gandhian philosophy for self-development.
The journey on the path of Gandhi begins
The ashram in Ahmedabad is well connected with villages, communities, and other non-profit organizations across the state. I participated in various volunteering activities designed on the philosophy of Gandhi.
I served with people from across the globe who helped me to widen my perspective. I not only learned about selfless service but also about non-violence, forgiveness, compassionate communication, kindness, gratitude, and compassion.
The best part is that I also found a living legend who — according to me — is Gandhi of today’s time.
Lessons from Gandhi
Gandhi was an Indian leader with clarity and insight. I don’t know how the world sees him, but for me, he has been a messiah. There’re many things to be learned from this man.
Leadership by example
He didn’t simply preach — he lived out what he believed. He lived by five pillars of non-violence — respect, understanding, acceptance, appreciation, and compassion.
Although he was as flawed as any human, he did his best to live by those pillars. This is exactly why he was so successful. He treated everyone, no matter their anger, no matter their prejudice against him, with kindness and respect.
Importance of persistence
You can see the power of persistence in every part of his life, including his diet — he would endure periods of fasting to increase in discipline. He applied this principle to larger and larger endeavors, never giving up his task to free India, even in the face of hardship and setbacks.
Remember, India wasn’t freed over a day, a month, or a year. It took him several years of careful non-violent activism to reach his goal, putting aside all worldly comforts while enduring harsh words, imprisonment, and beatings. Although historically he wasn’t the sole reason for freedom from colonial rule, he played a crucial role.
Radical perspective
He believed that anger was a gift. You’d never know it, but perhaps the persistence was fueled by intense anger at injustice. Except this wasn’t unbridled anger that lashed out when provoked.
No — this was anger that focused, that pushed, that helped him remain on the path he set out on, no matter how difficult things became. He knew how to cultivate anger into doing something that would crush injustice and achieve freedom.
Strength lies in forgiveness
He promoted the fact that forgiveness is more important and useful than punishment. He believed in reform as a restorative justice format. It takes much more strength to forgive someone who has wronged you than to punish.
This is a concept that is difficult in our contemporary era — we like to think that might makes right, that we must respond with force when someone insults us, lest we become weak. But in authenticity, the one who hits back is weaker than the one who forgives.
When we engage in revenge rather than forgiveness, we hurt one another in an infinite cycle of emotional and physical violence.
Understand your value
Despite his austere lifestyle, he saw the value within himself, just as he saw it in others. He humbly recognized his talents and skills, and because of this, he was able to put them to full use.
Being humble doesn’t mean that we lessen ourselves — it simply means that we don’t overestimate our importance in the context of the world around us. We all have value as human beings, as well as an exclusive set of skills that make us valuable in an unusual way.
Recognizing this is a big step on the path to kindness.
Means over ends
Overall, the most important lesson we can take from his life is that the means are more important than the ends. He worked so hard at pioneering nonviolent resistance because he knew that violence begets violence. If we use evil means to achieve something good, we get only more evil in the end.
More than anything, this is the lesson that our modern world needs to internalize. Evil means are never justified. It’s only through kindness, respect, and forgiveness that good truly wins.
Minimalism
He lived his entire life as a simple man. He wore few clothes, had a simple diet, and lived a simple lifestyle. One can see this from his hermitages in various parts of India.
My experiments with truth
I’ve met so many people who have different views on Gandhi and his philosophies. It’s alright because I believe no one knows everything about him. We’re all filled with half-knowledge.
A couple of the philosophies of this great man have helped me a lot. The way I deal with people nowadays is completely different — it’s more compassionate.
This story of how I changed the heart of a driver who jumped a red light changed millions of hearts globally. By living a minimalist life, I and my wife are enjoying life to the fullest. I could also change my mindset and electrify an entire tribal village, and setting up a library in a remote village that I thought was never possible.
For four years, I also had my experiments with truth. Like Gandhi, I also got an opportunity to look inside, fight injustice, help the needy, and BE THE CHANGE!
All of this can only be done with the support of like-minded people.
Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this planet.
Albert Einstein
Epilogue
I’m fortunate to have met many living Gandhians in my journey and share enlightening conversations with them. One of them told me the reason Tagore gave Gandhi the tag of Mahatma to this man even if he had his share of quirks and weaknesses. I’m sure you’ll never know this one until you read that blog post or know Gandhi inside and out!
BTW, there are no others. We’re all one species, one family, one global village.
