As a young lawyer in South Africa, he stood up to state-sponsored discrimination by forming a movement based on non-violent protest. Returning to his native India, he eschewed all material possessions and wove his own clothes on a spinning wheel as a statement of personal and national self-sufficiency. Similar to Thomas Jefferson, he rose at 4:30 every morning. In contrast to the author of the Declaration of Independence, he did not place his legs in a bucket of ice water to improve his circulation (Jefferson actually did this every morning). Rather, he placed his heart in prayer and asked for divine assistance to always be truthful and compassionate. On Mondays, not a word passed from his lips. For him, Monday was a day devoted to sacred silence for God and for life itself..
By age 50, he had become one of the most (if not the most) respected leaders in his country by sparking and extending grass-roots campaigns to eliminate discrimination against the poor, women and the lowest caste - 'the untouchables'. In 1919 (at age 50), he was poised to make his life's greatest accomplishments, ending British rule of India, and creating a culture of love and respect for millions around the world by living an exemplary life.
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Of course, these biographical facts could only pertain to one person - Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi (1869-1948).
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To the question, 'What do you think of Western Civilization?', Gandhi made one of the sharpest, wittiest and keenly accurate retorts ever on record by saying, 'I think it would be a good idea.'
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What did he mean? Most Western societies are based on personal ambition, extreme individualism, and lust for professional achievements (degrees, certificates, awards etc.) and consumer goods. Although individual expression, academic accomplishment and having a comfortable lifestyle are to be pursued, they ought not define life itself. When they do, society descends into nothing more than relationships based on greed, opportunism, destructive levels of competition and self-absorption.
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A man (or woman) unable to read or unable to find a job is not a failure. The existence of such a man is proof of the failure of his society. If Gandhi was correct in saying that 'A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people', then Western culture cannot escape the charge of being at least partially heartless and soulless as tens of millions of its people are unemployed and/or go hungry in some of the wealthiest nations in the world. This must change, and it must change now.
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No country could survive if every member of its citizenry were a detached ascetic similar to Gandhi. The world needs engineers, city planners, administrators, architects and an abundance of devoted and empathetic teachers to create and recreate itself in each successive generation. Between 'progress' and civilization, what then ought to define our lives? From his quotes below with commentary on their application, Gandhi possessed the timeless answer to that question.
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'The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others'
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'Gentleness, self-sacrifice and generosity are the exclusive possession of no one race or religion'
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Gandhi's life was the epitome of sacrifice to others. By choosing to spend his time fighting for the dignity for the poor, the socially oppressed and the emotionally scarred, he found a reward far higher than any advanced degree or any amount of money could furnish. Even though you may be busy keeping up with your career and taking care of your family, a couple of days or nights spent at a local homeless shelter or a few hours devoted to helping someone learn to read and write each month will offer a fulfillment and a purpose not found in anything else. If you are able to reach the lofty, unselfish heights of being able 'To give without counting the cost' (Saint Ignatius of Loyola, 1491-1556), you will become one of the most respected members of your community. More importantly, you will carry an unconquerable joy from those you serve and truly understand 'the essence of living'.
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'Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err.'
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'The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong'
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Everyone displays poor judgment at one time or another. Some people are malicious in character. If a jealous or insecure boss inserts unfounded criticism of your work in a performance review or a friend casts aspersions about you behind your back, what should you do? If you are religious, you should pray for your boss or friend. If you are not religious, you should call your local priest and ask him to pray for them (a little dry humor here). Whatever you do, you ought not become angry. Abraham Lincoln, who was closer to agnosticism than anything else (he neither believed in the divinity of Jesus nor an afterlife), dealt with incendiary egos on both sides of the war by listening, pausing and thinking before responding. Sound familiar? President Obama, who admires Lincoln more than any other president, also refuses to allow himself to be dragged into a visceral reaction. Moreover, as you have made mistakes with words in the past, it is necessary to immediately forgive your detractors. Sacrifice your wounded feelings and pride. Their petty politics and ego-driven methods are only reflections on themselves. Rather than showing anger, say nothing or express cordial disagreement. Remaining kind and respectful in difficult situations will not only win over friends and co-workers, it will also add an important dimension of self-respect.
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As difficult as it is to sometimes forgive others, it is even harder for a person of conscience to forgive himself or herself. The fact that a person struggles to forgive themselves, however, is a profound sign of a truly good character. A struggle to forgive oneself indicates sincere regret and the ability to learn from the experience. If 95% of your life has been positive, there is no sense in walking the floors at night over the 5% you wish to do over again. Besides, there are too many suffering people waiting for your help in shelters and illiteracy programs to waste time on regrets of the past. In helping the weakest and most pathetic people in society, you will find your own forgiveness.
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As Gandhi stated, the essence of living, living a life for the betterment of others, is not particular to any race or religion - or any ideology for that matter. Sacrifice is eminently human. By making sacrifices, you put yourself on a path to being beautifully human - and is not being 'beautifully human' what you really wanted to be when you grew up?
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(Photo: Gandhi at his spinning wheel - India)
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J Roquen