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CHAPTER V
ROOTS AND ROUTES-AN ANALYSIS
"Three things in the Jaina system of thought influenced Gandhiji's outlook most. They were: Ahimsa on the religious side, Anekanatavada or Syadvada on the philosophical side, and the institutions of vows on the ethical side."
In this chapter we shall analyze Gandhi's philosophy and his way of life to assess the impact of Jain philosophy and way of life on them, if any. A word about religions is important here. All Indic religions believe in life after death, transmigration of soul, and karma doctrine etc. Each religions delves deeper and in greater details some features and emphasize them more to give them a unique identity; for example in Jainism detachment, Ahimsa at the subtlest level, Anekantavada, celibacy, vows and fasting are emphasized most.
Gandhi taught The Gita, referred it quite frequently in his autobiography as his refuge; read, taught, experienced and even wrote a translation cum commentary on it called 'The Gospel of Selfless Action'. He also talked of the eleven vows or Ekadash vrata which he finally documented as Yerawada Mandir.
We shall discuss a number of values / philosophical factors and give their philosophical and ethical interpretations as per Jain doctrine and give corresponding references in The Gita particularly as translated by Gandhi to demonstrate similarity between the two. Of particular interest is the 'Message of Gita' in this translation (The Gospel of selfless action or The Gita according to Gandhi; Hindi version called Anasaktiyoga) written by Gandhi himself and made a part of the book that gives his thinking while translating verses of The Gita. Similarly 'My
