Journey Of Ahimsa

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaibhikkhu Sahitya Trust

Page 23

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.
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Gandhi fought injustice meted out to him in South Africa with non-violence and this was due to Shrimad's influence. 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-violence his two most powerful weapons. Gandhiji's concept of non-violence is no ordinary one. It encompasses a whole gamut of qualities and virtues - sacrifice, justice, compassion, mortification, tolerance, and love for one and all. A person needs inner strength to practice non-violence. A votary of non-violence, he said, would be prepared to face any consequences,
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50 A Journey