Gandhi's principles of simple living

Gandhi: A Man of Principle

George C. Wallace, the United States Secretary of State when Mohandas K. Gandhi was assassinated, said that Gandhi “had become a spokesman for the conscience of all mankind-a man who made humility and simple truth more powerful than empires” (Gandhi, np). Gandhi is well known for his leadership in the liberation of India from Britain, but his main goal and message transcends beyond the acts he did, into everyday living. Gandhi promoted simple living, non-violence, and forgiveness as a way to unite all people peacefully. These principles helped him to liberate his people and to teach them a lesson that all can learn.

Much of Gandhi’s philosophy is rooted in what he learned as a child. From his mother, he learned Hindu teachings. She often took him with her to care for the poor of the area and encouraged fasting as a way to achieve purity of the soul (Logue, 6). Vegetarianism and simple living were also principles first given to Gandhi by his mother and born religion, Hinduism. Gandhi’s father was the town diwan – the man to settle disputes. When Gandhi was 15, he tried smoking and stole money from servants as well as jewelry from his brother. He felt guilty for doing such things, however, and wrote to his father in apology, asking for punishment. Instead of learning through punishment, Gandhi learned forgiveness from his father. When the letter was received, his father began to cry and forgave him (7). From his parents, Gandhi also received an “early grounding” in toleration for all branches of Hinduism and similar religions. His parents often took him and his siblings to different temples. Gandhi also often listened to his father discuss religion with Jain monks (Gandhi, np). The lesson Gandhi learned as a child was mirrored in his adult life, as he then learned first hand the importance of ahimsa, or Truth.

Gandhi encouraged people to live a simple life. Simple living to Gandhi meant wanting less and sharing more. The Hindu faith he grew up with called him to free himself from possessions and passions as a way to God (Gandhi, np). While living in England to study law, Gandhi read many religious books. There he fully began to grasp the meaning of the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, and found a personal reason to simplify his life. He was called to achieve Moksha, the setting free of one’s soul. In...

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...it, and the striving should be conscious, deliberate and hard” (“Quotes”, np). Gandhi’s principles of simple living, non-violence and forgiveness were not watered down in his life and are not to be watered down in the lives of future generations. He calls everyone everywhere to lead peaceful, loving lives. It is evident not only in what he did, but who he was.

Works Cited

Chadha, Yogesh. Gandhi. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997.

Gandhi. Dir. Richard Attenborough. With Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, and Martin Sheen. Columbia Pictures, 1982.

Gandhi, Mohandas K. The Story of My Experiments with Truth. Beacon Press, 1963.

The Higher Taste. U.S.A.: The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1991.

Leigh, Angela. “Gandhi Living in Peace.” 7 May 2000: n. pag. On-line. Internet.

Available: http://gandhi.virtualave.net/

Logue, Mary. Forgiveness: The Story of Mahatma Gandhi. U.S.A.: The Child’s World, 1998.

McKibben, Bill. “Joys R Us”. Unte Reader. March-April 2000. No.98: 60-64.

“Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi” Encyclopedia of World Biography V.6

Detroit, MI: Gale Research, 1998.

“Quotes”. Gandhi, Mohandas K. Available: http://www.mahatma.org.in/anthro.htm