Gandhis Teachers Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta

Author(s): Satish Sharma
Publisher: Gujarat Vidyapith Ahmedabad

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Gandhi's Teachers : Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta
giving up of starchy foods at times and living on bread, fruits, and nuts only at other times. These dietetic experiments taught Gandhi self-control and he learned that taste of food and desire for things like salt and condiments were more a matter of mental cravings than a real need of the body for them. 25
After his return from England, Gandhi used to discuss with Rajchandra his dietetic enigmas. It was Rajchandra who first pointed out to Gandhi that the use of cow's or buffalo's milk also posed a hindrance in one's spiritual path, as the milk came from an animal's body and had the tendency to arouse animal passions.26 Gandhi later discovered that the books on vegetarianism supported this argument. Gandhi, henceforth, pledged to abjure milk and started living on a diet of fruits and nuts.27 Gandhi also found out that control of the palate in other respects also was helpful in observing the vow of brahmacharya and that an intense effort was needed to control the palate. He mentions: "I have found from experience that the observance of brahmacharya becomes comparatively easy, if one acquires mastery over the palate."28 He adds: "Eating is necessary only for sustaining the body and keeping it a fit instrument for service. It must not be practiced for self-indulgence. Food must, therefore, be taken like medicine and with restraint."29 Additionally, Gandhi says that a brahmachari's diet has to be limited, simple, without spices, and uncooked if possible. Fresh fruits and nuts are helpful in controlling animal passions and thus observance of the vow of brahmacharya. Different foods make different impacts on the passions and one has to be selective in the choice of taken foods. Gandhi stresses that a strong connection exists between the body, mind, and carnal desires. A carnal mind craves for delicacies and luxuries and becomes a slave of such cravings. Self-examination, self-restraint, and dietetic restrictions, therefore, are necessary in order to observe the vow of brahmacharya, which also needs a spiritual orientation and faith in God and prayer to be successful.30
Gandhi's interest in the dietetic experiments initially