InSpiritry

He was a Mahatma (Great Soul) and India’s Bapu (Father of the Nation).

October 2 is the birthday of Mohandras Gandhi, political leader, spiritual advisor, social activist and wise elder. Educated and of means, but having experienced the sting of racism while in South Africa, the domination of India by Britain and the brutal violence between Hindus and Muslims, Gandhi turned his life to what he called non-cooperation - just saying “no” to injustice. A student of Jesus’s teaching as well as other world religions, he practiced kindness and forgiveness in a sacred endeavor towards the Greater Good. Because of his leadership, people around the world were inspired. In tribute to Gandhi, the date of his birth was designated several years ago as the annual International Day of Non-violence.

Today as the world continues to struggle with war, terrorism, genocide and oppression, as our American democracy wrestles with racism, political hate speech and teenage violence, as our families deal with limited money, resources and optimism, it is a good time to put an ear to Gandhi’s compassionate wisdom. If we listen with a sense of possibility, his words speak truth that transcends the decades since his death.

Because I am a devoted fan of Gandhi’s approach to living and because many of the ideas of InSpiritry are connected to his work, in celebration of his birthday, I thought I would offer a sort of rhapsody of his wisdom for your listening pleasure! Many of these quotes hang on the bulletin board above my computer. Feel free to borrow some for your own spiritual (and political) consideration. Speak them out loud. Listen to your voice with an open mind. Take the ideas into your heart. You will be better for it!

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. 

You must be the change you want to see in the world.

Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent than power derived from fear. 

There are many causes I am prepared to die for — but no causes that I am prepared to kill for. 

Like a bee gathering honey from different flowers, a wise person accepts the essense of different Scriptures and sees the good in all religions.

There is no path to peace. Peace is the path.

What power his words have! 

Today and every day, whatever your life struggles may be, whatever your political leanings, whatever your ideas about war, whatever your experience of violence, whatever your financial situation – think of Gandhi. Surrounded by anger and injustice, he found goodness everywhere and devoted himself to others.

When We Follow Gandhi’s Example, We Can Be a Blessing!

Join the InSpiritry Conversation about this post!  How Can We Serve Others and Practice Non-Violence?

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This entry was posted on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at 12:28 pm and is filed under Celebration, Best Self, Wisdom, Compassion, Problem Solving, Change, Courage, Commitment, Greater Good Thinking, World, Peacework, Spiritual, Social Issues, InSpiration, Politics of Possibility, InSpiritry, Greater Good, Christianity, Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.