Monday 2nd Oct 2017
Today, on 2nd October
2017, let me reflect upon a sentence written by Mahatma Gandhi, which deeply
moved me in the warmth of its truthfulness. This is the sentance: “The more I
reflect and look back on the past, the more vividly do I feel my limitations.”
(Introduction to The Story of My
Experiments with Truth)
Gandhi ji was called Mahatma,
according to me, because of this approach in his life and Sadhana. He was
aware of his own limitations, more than anybody else. That is the strength of a
Sadhaka. Knowing about your limitation means to have the idea of that which is
beyond your limitation. The one who is aware truthfully of his own limitation
can look into that which is beyond the limits in a realistic sense. Gandhi ji
was ready to set forward for such a journey courageously, to go beyond the
limitations. He writes: “I am prepared to sacrifice the things dearest to me in
pursuit of this quest. Even if the sacrifice demanded be my very life, I hope I
may be prepared to give it.” This much of power in Sadhana makes him different.
In the Indian scenario, he could
easily live as a “God-man” if he
wanted to. But he didn’t intend to. What he was trying to, was to experience
the Truth within. All his political as well as social activities were
manifestations of the internal quest for the Eternal Truth and Freedom. In his
words: “My experiments in the field of politics are now known, not only to
India, but to a certain extent to the ‘civilized’ world. (Gandhi ji had become
a bit sarcastic here to highlight the word ‘civilized’.) For me, they have not
much value; and the title of ‘Mahatma’ they have won for me has, therefore,
even less. Often the title has deeply pained me; and there is not a moment I can
recall when it may be said to have tickled me. But I should certainly like to
narrate my experiments in the spiritual field which are known only to myself,
and from which I have derived such power as I possess for working in the
political field.”
The writings of Gandhi ji is becoming
more and more relevant in the present time, because of its emphasis on Truth. “Success at the cost of any value” is the
advice the young ears receive from all corners. In fact, young minds are
naturally inclined to truth and justice. But they are advised to look for so
called success through any means.
They get confused and lose their right direction. At this scenario, the
writings of Gandhi ji, gives us a system of values to set the right direction
for a personal as well as social life. Ahimsa
(Non-violence) and Sathyam
(Truthfulness) are the spiritual values, he put forward for the man kind. They
are not newly invented. They are the age old values of human kind all over the
world. Gandhi ji tried to practice them truthfully. That was the change he
brought in it.
Sadhana means to bring your ideas into
practice. Gandhi ji lived a life, trying his level best to implement his ideas.
Remember, he himself accepted his limitations. He was generous enough to enrich
us with necessary inputs to criticize him in all aspects. He knew that. But he
was the least bothered about them. He was truthfully following his values. Each
day, he evaluated himself for the progress in implementing his values in
day-to-day life. He noted down his failure. He never tried to glorify himself.
All his activities were his experiments with the practice of Ahimsa and Sathyam. He continues: “These will of course include experiments
with non-violence, celibacy and other principles of conduct believed to be distinct
from Truth. But for me, Truth is the sovereign principle, which includes
numerous other principles. The Truth is not truthfulness in word, but
truthfulness in thought also, and not only the relative truth of our conception,
but ultimate Truth, the Eternal Principle, that is God.”
Gandhi ji was a spiritual Sadhaka in all its sense. But he was
aware that no spirituality exists distinct from day-to-day life. Spirituality is for truthfully and permanently
removing the unhappiness in man. Of course it is directly related to
day-to-day life. When we observe the thought process of Gandhi ji we realize
that even while involving in the day-to-day social life around him, he was keen
upon the perfection of the mind and personality in Truth. See what he wrote: “For,
it is an unbroken torture to me that I am still so far from Him. Who as I fully
know, governs every breath of my life, and who’s offspring I am. I know that it
is the evil passions within that keep me so far from Him, and yet I cannot get
away from them.”
I prostrate with pranam-s in front of him for the last
sentence above, for the courage to tell the Truth that yet he could not get
away from the evil passions.. That is the expression of Truthfulness in him.. And
the young world may model him for truthfully creating a better world..
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