| The comparative study of religions has
| |
| | limitations ... I know that the vice
|
| never been merely an academic concern for
| |
| | that is going on today in all the Hindu
|
|
| |
| | shrines ...
|
| Mahatma Gandhi, the great Hindu
| |
| | My zeal never takes me to the rejection
|
| spiritualist and leader. Since the days
| |
| | of any of the essential things in
|
| of his youth
| |
| | Hinduism." (6) Hinduism according to
|
| he has been existentially in the search
| |
| | Gandhi, did not have one central book for
|
| of such studies as has been evident from
| |
| |
|
| his
| |
| | reference, no particular God of worship
|
| famous book "The story of my experiments
| |
| | nor one particular way of God
|
| with truth."India is a country where
| |
| | realization.
|
| people are predominantly religious.
| |
| | Whether he is a theist or an atheist, he
|
| Religion and spirituality
| |
| | is a Hindu.Whether he believes in one
|
| are firmly rooted in the minds of the
| |
| | absolute or many Gods, he is a Hindu.
|
| Indian people. Some countries are well
| |
| | Whether he
|
| known
| |
| | believes in Vedas or not, he remains a
|
| for their political institutions, others
| |
| | Hindu. Gandhi was therefore liberal
|
| for their economic prosperity while some
| |
| | enough
|
| others for their social advancement.
| |
| | to take idol worship as a part of human
|
| India is well known for her philosophy
| |
| | nature, though he did not believe in idol
|
| and
| |
| |
|
| religion. According to Max Muller the
| |
| | worship as such. Gandhi, was, however,
|
| study of religion is incomplete unless it
| |
| | deadly against untouchability, the
|
| is
| |
| | greatest
|
| studied with reference to India. To
| |
| | plague of the Hindu society according to
|
| quote him, "Take religion and where can
| |
| | Gandhi, which is the duty of every true
|
| you
| |
| | Hindu or combat. Gandhi was also against
|
| study its true origin, its natural
| |
| | animal sacrifice though prescribed in the
|
| growth, and its inevitable decay better
| |
| |
|
| than in India,
| |
| | Vedas as it went against his concept of
|
| the home of Brahmanism, the birth place
| |
| | non-violence. Instead he advocated the
|
| of Buddhism and the refuge of
| |
| | sacrifice of animality in us in the form
|
| zoroastrianism even now the matter of
| |
| | of lust, greed, anger, hatred, ill-will
|
| new superstitions - and why not, in the
| |
| | etc.
|
| future the regenerate child of the
| |
| | Referring to Rama and Krishna, the most
|
| purest faith, if only purified from the
| |
| | popular Gods of Hinduism, Gandhi said,
|
| dust of
| |
| | "My Krishna is not the historical
|
| nineteen centuries?" (1) . To others,
| |
| | Krishna. I believe in the Krishna of my
|
| Religion is one condition among so many
| |
| | imagination
|
| other
| |
| | as a perfect incarnation, spotless in
|
| countries, but to the Indian people it
| |
| | every sense of the word, the inspirer of
|
| is one great sustaining force, pertaining
| |
| | the Gita,
|
| to all
| |
| | and the inspirer of the lives of
|
| the spheres of their lives. Mahatma
| |
| | millions of human beings. But if it is
|
| Gandhi who was born and brought up in
| |
| | proved to me ...
|
| India
| |
| | that the Krishna of the Mahabharata
|
| could not escape this strong influence
| |
| | actually did some of the acts attributed
|
| of religion in all his activities.In
| |
| | to Him,
|
| ancient times it was a common belief that
| |
| | even at the risk of being banished from
|
| religion is a matter of individual
| |
| | the Hindu fold, I should not hesitate to
|
| experience. But modern psychology has
| |
| | reject that Krishna as God incarnate."
|
| shown that there is no such thing as a
| |
| | (7) Though deeply religious by nature,
|
| merely individual experience, which is
| |
| | Gandhi
|
| absolutely cut off from the society.
| |
| | did not believe in rituals, customs,
|
| There is
| |
| | traditions, dogmas and other formalities
|
| an important element of truth in the
| |
| | observed for the sake of religion. Like
|
| views of Durkheim and other members of
| |
| | Swami Vivekananda and Rabindranath
|
| the
| |
| | Tagore, Gandhi's religion was not
|
| French Sociological school, who maintain
| |
| | confined to Temples, Churches, books,
|
| that religion, is essentially a social
| |
| | rituals and
|
| phenomenon. The views of Jesus: "Render
| |
| | other outer forms. Thus Gandhi's concept
|
| to Caesar the things that are Caesar's
| |
| | of religion was not bound by any
|
| and
| |
| | formalities. His God may be a personal
|
| to God the things that are God's" did
| |
| | God to those who needs his personal
|
| not find much favour in Gandhi. Rather
| |
| | presence. He may be a law to those who
|
| his
| |
| | concentrate their minds on the
|
| view was more in accordance with the
| |
| | orderliness
|
| writings of H.G. Wells, according to whom
| |
| | of the universe. He may be an embodied
|
|
| |
| | being to those who need his touch.
|
| "the doctrine of the kingdom of heaven
| |
| | According to Gandhi God may have a
|
| as Jesus preached it, it was no less than
| |
| | thousand names as Ishwara, Siva, Vishnu,
|
| a
| |
| | Rama, Krsna, Jehovah, Christ, Allah etc.
|
| bold and uncompromising demand for a
| |
| | according to the traditions in which a
|
| complete change and cleansing of the life
| |
| | man is
|
|
| |
| | brought up. In the words of Gandhi, "Is
|
| of our struggling races an utter
| |
| | there one God for the Mussalmans and
|
| cleansing without and within." (2) .
| |
| | another for the Hindus, Parsis, and
|
| Gandhi's religion
| |
| | Christians? No, there is only one
|
| was spiritual humanism because he
| |
| | omnipresent
|
| declared that the service of the poor
| |
| | God. He is named variously, and we
|
| whom he
| |
| | remember him by the name which is most
|
| called "Daridranarayana" is a true
| |
| | familiar to us."Gandhi also advocated
|
| service of God. In other words, Gandhi
| |
| | his views on Islam, another great world
|
| found God
| |
| | religion. Islam is a
|
| amidst his creation; this creation is
| |
| | religion of strict monotheism and
|
| confined not only to India, his own land
| |
| | rigorous ethical discipline. Gandhi had a
|
| and not
| |
| | very high
|
| Hinduism alone, the religion to which he
| |
| | esteem for this religion and regarded it
|
| belonged. It consisted of men belonging
| |
| | as a religion of peace, love, kindness
|
| to
| |
| | and
|
| different land and different religions.
| |
| | brotherhood of all men. It may be true
|
| Therefore the study of comparative
| |
| | that sometimes the followers of Islam
|
| religion
| |
| | often
|
| was important to Gandhi. The best
| |
| | took to sword for the spread of their
|
| principle of different religions, he
| |
| | religion, but this was not in accordance
|
| felt, should be
| |
| | with
|
| assimilated for the advancement of our
| |
| | the teachings of Koran. As Gandhi
|
| society.In India the word 'Dharma' is
| |
| | himself said in this connection, "I do
|
| used to mean 'religion'. But it should be
| |
| | regard Islam
|
| noted, that the
| |
| | to be a religion of peace in the same
|
| word 'Dharma' in Hinduism has a much
| |
| | sense as Christianity, Buddhism and
|
| wider connotation that what we ordinarily
| |
| | Hinduism
|
|
| |
| | are." (9) The charges of fanaticism
|
| mean by the word religion. The word
| |
| | against Islam cannot be justified,
|
| 'Dharma' comes from the root 'Dhre' which
| |
| | according to
|
|
| |
| | Gandhi as there are several passages in
|
| means to 'sustain'. 'Dharma' is thus the
| |
| | the Koran which speak of religious
|
| greatest sustaining force or the binding
| |
| | toleration. Of course, there is a place
|
| force of the society. The goal of
| |
| | for Jihad in Islam and this Jihad is
|
| 'Dharma' is to create mental and
| |
| | generally
|
| spiritual fellowship
| |
| | interpreted as aholy war against those
|
| among all men and to regulate its
| |
| | who are not the followers of Islam. But
|
| relation with all living entities. It
| |
| | Gandhi justifies the true meaning of
|
| thus tries to
| |
| | Jihad by saying that the conditions laid
|
| keep the world in perfect equilibrium.
| |
| | down
|
| It is thus clear that the word 'Dharma'
| |
| | for the Jihad are so strict that they
|
| was not
| |
| | are not capable of being fulfilled by
|
| used in connection with any particular
| |
| | everybody.
|
| religion. Any religion, any custom, any
| |
| | To quote Gandhi, "where is the unerring
|
| creed
| |
| | general to order Jihad? Where is the
|
| could be brought under its fold and was
| |
| | suffering and love and purification that
|
| thus out out secular. Gandhi's concept of
| |
| | much precede the very idea of drawing the
|
|
| |
| |
|
| religion, therefore, brought under its
| |
| | sword? We are too imperfect and impure
|
| fold people belonging to different
| |
| | and selfish to resort to an armed
|
| religions.The broad outlook of Mahatma
| |
| | conflict in
|
| Gandhi, the progressive interpretations
| |
| | the name of God." (10)Gandhi was also
|
| of the
| |
| | impressed by the personal and social
|
| various ideas and concepts in the domain
| |
| | codes of behavior that Islam
|
| of religion, made it possible to
| |
| | prescribes. In the Koran there are rules
|
| facilitate
| |
| | and regulations for virtues like
|
| the study of comparative religion.
| |
| | obedience to
|
| Gandhi refers to 'God' as 'Truth' and
| |
| | parents, avoidance of adultery, cheating
|
| this has very
| |
| | and lying, refraining from theft, murder
|
| important bearings. The word 'Truth' has
| |
| | etc.
|
| a much wider connotation than the term
| |
| | The five pillars of Islam, which
|
| 'God'. There may be non-believers in
| |
| | prescribes prayer, fasting, alms giving
|
| God. But no one can deny 'truth' for even
| |
| | and hospitality
|
| the
| |
| | are the duties that every Muslim has to
|
| atheist must accept the power of
| |
| | perform. All these aspects of Islam
|
| 'Truth'. Gandhi's description about
| |
| | influenced Gandhi, a great deal.Amongst
|
| 'God', again,
| |
| | religions, other than Hinduism, no other
|
| points out that it is something, which
| |
| | religion inspired, impressed and
|
| can be accepted by all men in the way he
| |
| | influenced Gandhi as Christianity. In
|
| likes. The following statement of Gandhi
| |
| | the concept of Satyagraha, Gandhi was
|
| regarding God would make it clear. "To me
| |
| | deeply
|
|
| |
| | influenced by the teachings of Jesus
|
| God is Truth and Love. God is Ethics and
| |
| | particularly the sacrifice Jesus had to
|
| Morality. God is Fearlessness. God is
| |
| | undergo
|
| essence of life and light and yet He is
| |
| | during crucification for a noble cause.
|
| above and beyond all these. God is
| |
| | The teachings of the New Testament
|
| conscience. He is even the atheism of
| |
| | specially
|
| the atheist. For in his boundlessness,
| |
| | the Sermon: "You have heard that it hath
|
| God
| |
| | been said: An eye for an eye and a tooth
|
| permits the atheist to live. He is the
| |
| | for a tooth. But I say to you not to
|
| searcher of hearts. He is a personal God
| |
| | resist evil; but if one strikes thee on
|
| to
| |
| | thy right
|
| those who need his personal presence. He
| |
| | cheek, turn to him thy other also"
|
| is embodied to those who need his
| |
| | impressed Gandhi very much. Satyagraha,
|
| touch. He is the purest essence.... He
| |
| | in the
|
| is all things to all men. He is in us and
| |
| | hands of Gandhi had been a weapon of
|
| yet
| |
| | conquering evil by good. Gandhi said that
|
| above and beyond us." (3)Mahatma
| |
| | he
|
| Gandhi's mission was not only to humanise
| |
| | had the same liking for the Sermon as he
|
| religion but also to moralise it.
| |
| | had for the Gita. To use Gandhi's words,
|
| He would reject any religious doctrine,
| |
| | "Today supposing I was deprived of the
|
| which was in conflict with
| |
| | Gita and forgot all its contents but had
|
| morality.According to Gandhi religion and
| |
| | a
|
| morality are inseparably bound up with
| |
| | copy of the Sermon, I would deprive the
|
| each
| |
| | same joy from it as I do from the Gita."
|
| other. To Gandhi, "There is no religion
| |
| | "Gandhi loved Christianity because of
|
| higher than truth and Righteouness."
| |
| | its absolute emphasis on love as the most
|
| Morality
| |
| |
|
| is prized by almost all the great
| |
| | ethical virtue. But Gandhi disliked the
|
| religions of the world. The emphasis on
| |
| | claims of Christianity as superior over
|
| morality, by
| |
| | all
|
| Gandhi helped his ideas to acquire a
| |
| | other religions of the world. But though
|
| universalistic outlook.Gandhi's religion
| |
| | Gandhi had a deep respect for the
|
| was a federation of different religious
| |
| | different
|
| creeds, theological schools
| |
| | religions he was against
|
| and sectarian faiths that have survived
| |
| | proselytisation. He was against certain
|
| in India from ancient times. People
| |
| | forms of missionary
|
| belonging
| |
| | activities specially those relating to
|
| to different religions would go to him
| |
| | conversion. Gandhi was not opposed to
|
| for his advice and blessings on different
| |
| | conversion if it was based on one's will
|
|
| |
| | but he was against any use of force or
|
| matters. All through his life Gandhi
| |
| | propaganda in the matter of conversion."
|
| devoted much time and energy for the
| |
| | As he remarked, "A rose does not need to
|
| promotion of Hindu Muslim unity and also
| |
| | preach. It simply spreads its fragrance.
|
| fasted for his cause on many occasions.
| |
| | The fragrance is its own sermon. The
|
| In the wake of the partition of the
| |
| | fragrance of religion and spiritual life
|
| country, hundreds and thousands of Hindus
| |
| | is much finer and much subtler than that
|
| and
| |
| | of a
|
| Muslims were killed in Punjab, Bengal
| |
| | rose." (12)From the comparative study of
|
| and Bihar. Gandhi threw himself into a
| |
| | religions, Gandhi was convinced that a
|
| struggle to heal the breach between the
| |
| | mere
|
| two communities. Gandhi wanted
| |
| | doctrinaire approach in the field of
|
| communal harmony and peace not only
| |
| | religion does not help to create inter
|
| between the Hindus and the Muslims but
| |
| | religious
|
| between all sections of the people who
| |
| | fellowship. Dogmatic religions do not
|
| believe India to be their home, no matter
| |
| | help to promote creative dialogue. The
|
| to
| |
| | religions dogmas directly or indirectly
|
| what faith they may belong. Gandhi had
| |
| | breed an attitude of dislike towards
|
| the good fortune to have as his
| |
| | other
|
| colleague's
| |
| | religions. Such an attitude does not
|
| people belonging to different religions.
| |
| | help to provide any meeting grounds for
|
| Two important examples are those C.F.
| |
| | religions. Gandhi realized that true
|
| Andrews and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The
| |
| | religion vitalizes and elevates the inner
|
| Ashram prayers of Gandhi had
| |
| | life of
|
| passages from holy books like the Gita,
| |
| | human beings. The progress of any
|
| the Bible and the Koran. This tradition
| |
| | religion depends on how effectively one
|
| still
| |
| | has
|
| continues in India in most of the public
| |
| | been able to realise the inner
|
| meetings and prayers. Gandhi also
| |
| | spirituality and convictions in his day
|
| maintained that a reverential study of
| |
| | to day life. The
|
| the different religious tradition is
| |
| | rituals, the symbols, the churches, the
|
| necessary.
| |
| | temples or the mosques are aids so long
|
| He felt that it is the duty of every
| |
| | as
|
| cultured man and woman to read
| |
| | they help to nourish and fertilize the
|
| sympathetically
| |
| | inner spiritual life of their followers.
|
| the scriptures of the world. To respect
| |
| | In their
|
| other religion, a study of their
| |
| | true aspects all religions call for
|
| scriptures, is a
| |
| | peace and brotherhood amongst man. The
|
| sacred duty according to Gandhi. To
| |
| | great
|
| understand the point of view of another
| |
| | religions of the world should strive,
|
| faith
| |
| | according to Gandhi, in promoting a life
|
| requires tolerance, sympathy, broad
| |
| | of self
|
| mindedness, humility and willingness to
| |
| | control, sacrifice, harmony, peace and
|
| recognize Truth wherever it is to be
| |
| | understanding amongst its followers so as
|
| found. If we posses these qualities we
| |
| | to
|
| can
| |
| | create a heaven on earth. We may
|
| appreciate other's faith, traditions,
| |
| | conclude here, in the words of Swami
|
| customs, culture and way of life. The
| |
| | Vivekananda, one of the greatest
|
| prophets
| |
| | champion of peace and understanding of
|
| and seers of different religions have
| |
| | religions,
|
| brought to mankind the consciousness of
| |
| | which Gandhi also supported : "If any
|
| the
| |
| | one hopes that this unity will come by
|
| unity underlying the whole universe and
| |
| | the
|
| a deep sense of brotherhood of man.
| |
| | triumph of any one religion and the
|
| Gandhi therefore felt a need of the
| |
| | destruction of the others, to him I say,
|
| comparative study of religions to pave
| |
| | 'Brother,
|
| the way
| |
| | yours is an impossible hope.' Do I wish
|
| for unity and brotherhood amongst the
| |
| | that a Christian would become a Hindu ?
|
| followers of different religions.Mahatma
| |
| | God
|
| Gandhi was a Sanatani Hindu. His love for
| |
| | forbid. Do I wish that a Hindu or
|
| Hinduism was not blind love.
| |
| | Buddhist would become a Christian ? God
|
| Gandhi spoke about the lofty ideals
| |
| | forbid ...
|
| preached by Hinduism. Hinduism, according
| |
| | The Christian is not to become a Hindu
|
| to
| |
| | or a Buddhist, nor a Hindu or a Buddhist
|
| him is the most tolerant and liberal
| |
| | to
|
| religion. He was deeply impressed by the
| |
| | become a Christian. But each must
|
| ethical
| |
| | assimilate the spirit of the others and
|
| and spiritual outlook of Hinduism.
| |
| | yet
|
| Gandhi said, "The chief value of Hinduism
| |
| | preserve his individuality and grow
|
| lies in
| |
| | according to his own law of
|
| holding the actual belief that all life
| |
| | growth."(13)The world does not need a new
|
| is one i.e. all life coming from one
| |
| | religion. What it does need are the
|
| universal
| |
| | people who,
|
| source, call it Allah, God or
| |
| | discovering the eternal and universal
|
| Parameshwara." (4) Gandhi was also very
| |
| | truths in their own religion are bold
|
| much
| |
| | enough to
|
| impressed by the teachings of the Gita
| |
| | live in accordance with those truths.
|
| saying, "when one sees Me everywhere and
| |
| | When it is done, the dry outer forms of
|
| everything in Me, I am never lost to him
| |
| | religions, which divide the entire human
|
| and he is never lost to Me." (5) But
| |
| | race into several groups, will crumble
|
| Gandhi
| |
| | before the radiance and power of the
|
| at the same time was very radical in his
| |
| | mighty human spirit. The power of the
|
| approach and he did not hesitate in
| |
| | human
|
| criticizing those aspects of Hinduism
| |
| | soul, knows no bounds, no limits and if
|
| which did not appeal to his reason. For
| |
| | religion is its vehicle then that vehicle
|
| example he was very much against the
| |
| | will
|
| caste system that was prevalent in
| |
| | surely participate in transforming the
|
| Hinduism.
| |
| | human society on its journey towards the
|
| To quote Gandhi, "My religion is
| |
| | Divine Being.Gandhi has been killed.
|
| Hinduism ... I can no more describe my
| |
| | Physically he is no more with us. But his
|
| feelings for
| |
| | spirit lives amidst
|
| Hinduism than for my wife ... Even so I
| |
| | us and within us, with all its glory
|
| feel about Hinduism with all its fault
| |
| | than ever before.
|
| and
| |
| |
|
