________________
THE MESSAGE OF GANDHI
I. TRUTH AND NON- VIOLENCE :
Truth was for Gandhi the ideal to be striven after, it was always to be approached but, being infinite, it would be ever receding. Gandhi's non-violence is based on the higher aspects of human nature which rebel against tyranny, injustice and authoritarianism. For Gandhi non-violence involves an inner conflict which requires us to defeat fear, greed, anger and guilt. The passage to truth through non-violence was the aim of Gandhi's effort. Gandhi insisted that non-violence is the best way and the shortest path to truth. It is not the best but the only way to truth. Gandhi believed that unity with truth and identity with truth could be realized only through love and selfless service to the manifested universe, particularly the universe of living beings. Sacrifice involving even death would be the last and irrevokable step in such service. Gandhi maintained that a man in search of truth ought to abstain in thought, speech and action from injury to living beings and men. That is the beginning of Ahiṁsā (non-injury or non-violence).
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
