Gandhi And Jainism

Author(s): Shugan C Jain
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 84

recommended eggs and chicken soup. This advice was also supported by a visiting swami on religious grounds but his wife and he denied. She later on became well.'
Fasting: He observed first penitential fast (October 1913) when two people at his Phoenix Farm had a moral fall, one of them being his son."" Subsequently he started observing fasts to help him enhance self restraint and observe brhmacharya that are good for soul as well. Jainism propagates fasting and dietary restrictions as the first four external austerities to invoke soul force by supporting annihilation of the bonded karmas and purification of the soul of its impurities.
Lifestyle: He accepted a life of poverty as a constant companion throughout life. He decided not to take any occupation which would prevent him or make him shirk from undertaking the lowliest of duties or largest roles.94 He laid greater stress on the training of self-discipline which in his view assisted the individual in his spiritual and moral growth. He became a firm believer of Naturopathy and Hydropathy and developed habits like eating less (avoid breakfast) and use natural treatments like mud therapy as better alternatives than to take medicines. Accordingly he treated persisting pleurisy by dietetic changes rather than use of external medicines." He simplified his life style by washing and ironing his own clothes, cutting his own hair as solutions to be self reliant and avoid the problems of delays by washer-man and white barber's refusal to cut his black hair. 46 He also decided not to take action against the offender, having made a rule not to go to court for any personal grievance.47
Celibacy: In the process of his social engagements for the uplift of Indians, he made serious attempts to be a selfless servant of the people. He thought that to devote himself to the service of
Gandhi & Jainism Pg. 61