Mahatma Gandhi
Name: |
Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi), Father of the nation (of India) |
Birth, Age, Death: |
2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948 |
Nationality: |
Indian |
Method/Religion started: |
No spiritual movement in the normal sense, but a revolution in ahimsa; Indian nationalism, non-violent civil disobedience |
Holy book/teachings: |
Many books and newspaper columns known as “The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi” |
Followers: |
Millions respect him, but not many are his spiritual students |
Lifestyle requirements: |
Simple and pure. He had strict control of his palette. |
Form of practice: |
Ahimsa (non-violence), fasting, meditation, vegetarian |
Wiki (encyclopedia) link: |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohandas_Karamchand_Gandhi |
To summarize his life, it was to show how love could always defeat evil or hatred. His non-violence principle was part of his being. To convince the nation, he would fast to bring out their compassion. What needed to be done, it was never to cause harm to others. He was a dedicated vegetarian, and undertook long fasts as means of both self-purification and political mobilization.
- Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.
- Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
- The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
- Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
- You must be the change you want to see in the world.
- You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.
- There is no God higher than truth & God has no religion (see here why he said that)
- Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.
- Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.
- Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn’t have it in the beginning.
- You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result.
- The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within.
- There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.
- Suffering cheerfully endured, ceases to be suffering and is transmuted into an ineffable joy.
- Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
- To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.