Explain any four principles related to the gandhian thought
Answers
The first of his few principles which guided all his thoughts and activities was the complete unity and integrity of body, mind and soul in the individual human being. He firmly believed that the body should be controlled by the mind and the mind by the soul. But this cannot be achieved by neglecting either the body or the mind or in the mystic exaltation of the soul by itself.
The second principle of Gandhian philosophy meant all social action should be governed by the same simple set of moral values, of which the main elements are selflessness, non-attachment, nonviolence and active service.
His third conviction was that no society, state or any other institution has any importance apart from its part in contributing to the growth of the individuals of which it is composed.
It was Gandhi's firm belief that means are more important than ends. Ends give a direction to life while the means adopted constitute life itself. Therefore, if the means are right, that is, if they conform to the tests of truth and nonviolence, even mistakes, errors and failures aid the growth of the individual. On the other hand, wrong means corrupt the soul and no good can ever come out of them. Gandhi repudiated the idea that ends justify the means. This implies the rejection of war, espionage and crooked diplomacy, even when they are adopted for the so-called noble ends of defending the country, religion or humanity.