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FOUNDATION OF GANDHIAN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT
Miss Himanshu Bourai
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was not a systematic academic thinker in the field of metaphysics and Political philosophy. He was an inspired teacher and prophet. Gandhi believed in truth and nonviolence. He accepted the creative force of religion in human history. To him, religion signified, belief in the ordered moral governance of the world. He called himself a Hindu, but he was no rian like Buddha and Ramkrishna. He was above the bonds of creeds, cults, rituals and ceremonies. He accepted the spiritual and moral essence of Hinduism, which according to him, was the essence of all the great religions of mankind i. e. Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrinism.
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Hinduism :-It signified a relentless search of truth and nonviolence. To him true religion, implied an emphasis on the moral values of man as a spirit.
No other country of the world, has the tradition of non-violence, so deep-rooted and continuous as in Indía. Since the time of the upanishads, Hinduism has always laid stress on the virtue of ahimsa or non-injury to all living beings i e, human or otherwise. The great sage Patanjali's Yogashastra; Gandhi studied in 1903 at Johannesburg which included ahimsa in his Pancha-yamas. Gandhiji did elaborate these yamas and made them an integral part of the discipline of the Satyagrah.
The Ramayana and the Mahabharata act like the guiding stars for the millions of India. These are apparently stories of wars. But, the aim of these poets, Valmiki and Vyasa, is not mere historical narration. Gandhiji is of the opinion that the epics (though some of the figures deal with historical) are allegories which describe the eternal duel that goes on within man between the forces of light and darkness.
Gandhiji in his well known address to christian missionaries, in Calcutt , on July 28, 1925 did acknowledge his attachment to Gita: "Though I admire much in christianity, I am unable to identify myself with orthodox christianity. Hinduism as I know it entirely satisfies my soul, fills my whole being, and I find a solace in the Bhaga
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