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Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi
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weaker than other physically or mentally. Therefore, superficially there is no equality between the two but there is a essential equality.
To Gandhiji, there is no antithesis between God and man. The soul is the only reality in man. To quote him :
I believe in absolute oneness of God and therefore also of humanity. What though we have many bodies, we have but one soul. 23
The relation between God and individual soul is that if the individual shatters the chains of egoism and melts into the ocean of humanity, he shares its dignity. On the other hand, if he feels that he is something, he sets up a barrier between God and himself. “... to cease feeling that we are something is to become one with God.”24
This belief in the essential spirituality and goodness of every man leads Gandhiji to believe further in the essential unity of mankind. This unity is expressed both in the life of an individual and in social life. The spiritual law is constantly working behind all kinds of activities, individual, social, econoinic, and political. He clearly admits this spiritual law as the Law of Karma. As there is no question of death for soul, our actions also are not destroyed. It means that every action yields its effects either in this life or in the future.
The Law of Karma
Gandhiji, like the traditional Indian thinkers, believes in the existence of the Law of Karma. His belief is obviously a product of his extreme respect for Hindu beliefs and traditions. This doctrin; has both a metaphysical and a moral aspect. Metaphysically, this law explains births and formation of bodies. Accordingly, this life and body are on account of our past Karmas. It is believed that our Karmas create tendencies in accordance with which our subsequent bodies and capacities are buiit. On the other hand, it is conceived as moral maxim, 'as you sow so you reap'. The ancient Indian thinkers have
