Mohandas [Mahatma] Gandhi
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
[now a Centre of the international Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission]
DAILY READINGS
Transcribed from the recordings made by Mother Radha
Day 1029
Swamiji commenting on a talk about the non-violence [ahimsa] of Sri Mahatma Gandhi:
Whether you knock somebody's nose off or retaliate, non-violence is far from that. Because there are many ways in which you can retaliate. The first retaliation is to have bad feeling [ill-will] towards someone. And here you find from the beginning Gandhi did not have any bad feeling, but referred all his feelings to God. 'God, Thou art there [in that person]. And if You are there, then what business do I have to take action?'
The next way you can retaliate is by taking a man to court. Because a man may not be able to [physically] retaliate but he can go and get his lawyers to involve the police and arrest the person. But Mahatma Gandhi was not prepared to do any one of these things.
As the speaker said, he was prepared to be hurt and shed his own blood with the attitude of tapasya – sacrifice. He was not prepared to hurt anyone else's feeling or harm them bodily – in any way, whatsoever.
His truthfulness in my opinion stands out very well. He represents non-violence in thought, word and deed. It's a unique feature in the life of an Indian. Because he stood by the greatest scripture, the Bhagavad Gita and practised every bit of it.
He fought – but he fought with non-violence. Make no mistake. He fought – but he fought with the instrument called?...non-violence. Can you put that instrument, non-violence, into operation? Then you are the greatest yogi.
1) Care should be taken by the reader to understand and take Swamiji's words in these postings, in context. Every teaching or instruction that he gave was specific to the people who were with Swamiji at the time.
2) Mouse-over the words highlighted in red in the posting for further explanation or links.
There are currently available, 150 different CDs or DVDs with mp3 files, of Swamiji speaking. Please email timhoare@webmail.co.za to order.
For more about the Holy Trinity, and also the founding Swamis of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, please mouse over their names below:
Sri Ramakrishna Sri Sarada Devi Swami Vivekananda
Swami Nischalananda Swami Shivapadananda
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - read online
Reference websites - please mouse over the name and click to connect:
Ramakrishna Math and Mission Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa Ramakrishna Dham
