Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test: Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him…. Then you will find your doubts and self melting away.”
Mahatma Gandhi showed the world spirituality in action. He loved all beings and dedicated his life to serving others. I truly believe Einstein was correct when he said,
“Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”
Of course, Gandhi ji was flawed in many ways, but who isn’t? Even the great Maharaja Yudhisthira, the embodient of Dharma made the mistakes of gambling away his family. Gandhi said on his own errors, “I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow mortal. I own, however, that I have humility enough to confess my errors and to retrace my steps.”
Gandhi was serving God through serving humanity. He loved everyone. I believe he showed us the path to making the world a better place through non-violence. Among his devoted students are the Dalai Lama, Dr.Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Vinoba Bhave and an endless list of change makers who have used Satyagraha for fighting evil and injustice.
The Dalai Lama said, “I consider myself to be his follower. Indeed, he has been a source of inspiration to me ever since I was a small boy growing up in Tibet. He was a great human being with a deep understanding of human nature, who made every effort to encourage the full development of the positive aspects of the human potential and to reduce or restrain the negative.”
Maharaji said to be like Gandhi and Christ. This is to be one with God and serve everyone. Gandhiji was soul force. Many have taken advantage of his philosophy of love but I believe that is all temporary. God is love, and causing harm to others can never be inline with love. On Martyrs day, the day he was assassinated, perhaps we can commit to forgive someone who has wronged us. Perhaps we can take some action to increase love in the world like feeding the hungry, or planting a tree.
I am grateful that Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy is here with us to learn and grow from. He said, “”Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position.”
We as human beings will only evolve if we consider non-harming and other Human values to be of the highest importance.
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