Essay on Gandhian philosphy
Answers
Gandhism is a body of ideas that describes the inspiration, vision and the life work of Mohandas Gandhi. It is particularly associated with his contributions to the idea of nonviolent resistance, sometimes also called civil resistance. The two pillars of Gandhism are truth and non-violence.
The term "Gandhism" also encompasses what Gandhi's ideas, words and actions mean to people around the world, and how they used them for guidance in building their own future. Gandhism also permeates into the realm of the individual human being, non-political and non-social. A Gandhian can mean either an individual who follows, or a specific philosophy which is attributed to, Gandhism.[1]
However, Gandhi did not approve of 'Gandhism'. As he explained:
"There is no such thing as "Gandhism" and I do not want to leave any sect after me. I do not claim to have originated any new principle or doctrine. I have simply tried in my own way to apply the eternal truths to our daily life and problems...The opinions I have formed and the conclusions I have arrived at are not final. I may change them tomorrow. I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and non-violence are as old as the hills."[2]
In the absence of a "Gandhism" approved by Gandhi, there is a school of thought that we have to derive what Gandhism stands for, from his life and works and living. One such deduction is that his philosophy essentially was based on "truth" and "non-violence" in the sense that first, we should acknowledge the truth that people are different at all levels and accept it. Second, that we should never resort to violence to settle inherent differences between human beings at all levels: from between two people to two nations or two races or two religions.
Like all idealists, he believed in Almighty God, the Ultimate Reality and Supreme Ruler. According to him “God is changeless, that holds all together, that creates dissolves and recreates.”
He held firm belief in God, surrendered himself to Him and got Divine revelation from Him for his daily actions.
2. Individual as a spiritual being:
Like all Hindu philosophers, he believed in the spiritual essence of all human beings, Like a Vedantist he says, “What though we have different bodies. We have but one soul. The rays of the sun are many through refraction, but they have the same source. All humanity is therefore, one. All are brothers.”
3. God realization as the goal of life:
Gandhiji was essentially a man of God and he firmly believed that the goal of life is to realise God. He advised all to have a living faith in a living God who is ultimate arbiter of our fate. He himself felt the presence of God. In the introduction to his ‘My Experiments With Truth’ he writes— “What I went to believe, what I have been striving for and pinning to achieve these thirty years, is self-realization, to see God face to face, I live and move and have my benign pursuit of the goal.
As the individual has divine origin, has also a divine density. His aim, therefore, is spiritual and not material. Surely he has to work out his divine in a society but his highest goal cannot be achieved through a particular social order, he has the right, may the duty, to revolt and cut a new path.”
According to Gandhiji, though there is an intimate connection between matter and spirit, material possessions are merely a means, never an end in themselves. Upto a point they are essential, but their pursuit for more sense enjoyment etc. is slavery which results in loss of personality.
4. Truth:
According to Gandhiji, Truth is the highest goal. Truth and God are the same. Formerly Gandhiji used to say, God is truth. But later on, he asserted that ‘Truth is God.’ He says, “I have no God to serve but Truth.”He gave preference to Truth in his own words, “The denial of God we have known, the denial of Truth we have not known. ‘Truth is not merely a quality which manifests itself in word and deed; it has a divine significance.
Thus Truth is manifested both externally and internally; it is expressed through the inner voice, the call of consolence. Gandhiji believed in the practical application of the principle of Truth in our daily behaviour. He believed in the Social Truth in all our dealings with our fellowmen. He remarked, “Forme, Truth is a sovereign principle which included numerous others principles.
This Truth is only truthfulness in word but truthfulness in thought also, the Eternal Principle that is God.” For the sake of self-realization one has to combat evil and seek Truth. Truth is the same thing as reality, and this must ultimately triumph over evil and hatred.
5. Love:
Gandhiji’s religion was – religion of love. He possessed unsatiable love for mankind. Hence, he preached that only the law of Love should guide all life. It is through love that we can attain truth. “To see the universal and all prevailing spirit of truth face to face, one must be able to love the nearest of creation as oneself. ” One must rise above hatred, fear and unity. Just as God is Truth, God is also love. This belief that God is Life, Truth, Light and Love, is, in fact, in accordance with Upanishadic philosophy. Gandhiji moved from village to village and bestowed showers to love all and sundry.
He says, “It is no exaggeration but the literal truth to say that in meeting with the peasants I was face to face with God, Love and Truth.” Like Abou-bin- Adhem, he wanted to approach the Father through the Love of his children. In fact, the whole political and social revolution that he started was prompted by his inherent love of humanity.
6. Ahimsa (Non-violence):
According to Gandhiji, evil can be conquered not by being evil, but by being good. Hate and violence can be defeated only through Love and Non-violence. Non-violence is bound to triumph because it corresponds to the invaluable moral laws of the Universe. Non-violence, Truth and Love are identical. He says, “The only certain means of knowing God are non-violence, Ahimsa and Love.
“He further explains, “Ahimsa and Truth are so interveined that it is practically impossible to disintegrate and Truth and separate them.”They are two sides of a coin, of rather smooth metallic disc, where it is not possible to say which is the adverse and which is the reverse.” Ahimsa is not a negative altitude: it is a positive attitude of tolerance, patience, preservance, self-sacrifice, and self- suffering.” “It is the law of our species, and violence is the law of the brutes. It entails power of the spirit, the power of truth and power of love. Non-violence of the spiritual quality is rooted in the power of reality, the inward creativeness of the soul.”