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A Journey of Ahimsa his doubts. Said Gandhi : "My meeting with him resulted in mental peace. He restored my confidence in Hindu religion saying that I would get from it what I wanted..... I cannot describe the kind of impression he created on me. I have not come across a religious leader of his stature. I considered Tolstoy a great philosopher in Europe, followed by Ruskin, but Rajchandra has been a cut above these two." It is said that if Gandhi had not met Rajchandra, he would have converted to some other religion.
Gandhiji, on a train journey, had the occasion to read Ruskin's 'Unto this Last' and it also influenced him profoundly. He then entered into correspondence with Tolstoy and got more strength to pursue his movement. But more than this, it was his meeting with Rajchandra that had launched him on the right path. He often discussed with him matters like non-violence, truth, compassion, existence of God, moksha, rebirth, Christ etc and sought his guidance on matters which baffled him. Shrimad answered all his questions to his entire satisfaction. It was, indeed, a happy co-incidence, and a historical event that such great souls were born in Saurashtra in Gujarat in the same century. Gandhi's correspondence with Shrimad had been extensive, but unfortunately only three letters are extant today.
Gandhi fought injustice meted out to him in South Africa with non-violence and this was due to Shrimad's infulence. He forgave those who treated him cruelly for he had learnt the virtue of forgiveness from Shrimad. Shrimad, thus, showed Gandhi the right path and Gandhi, on his part, reflected what he learnt from him in his actions. He considered non-violence to be more potent than lethal weapons and made truth and non
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