GandhiGandhiA Post-Modern ManA Post-Modern Man

““My life is My life is my message”my message”

• Lets start at home where “The Great Soul” Lets start at home where “The Great Soul” was introduced to a variety of ideologies, was introduced to a variety of ideologies, influences or ISM’S from a very young age.influences or ISM’S from a very young age.

• Mother – a pious Hindu who fasted Mother – a pious Hindu who fasted often. She is credited with often. She is credited with developing Gandhi’s Ascetic self-developing Gandhi’s Ascetic self-disciplinediscipline

• Friends – many were members of a Friends – many were members of a religion known as religion known as JainismJainism. Some . Some precepts of this faith later have great precepts of this faith later have great influence on his life.influence on his life.

• Home – Western influence was very Home – Western influence was very weak in his home region. When weak in his home region. When Gandhi left India to study he was Gandhi left India to study he was very much a “traditional” Indian.very much a “traditional” Indian.

• Wife – “My wife demonstrated that Wife – “My wife demonstrated that passive resistance to a wrong doer passive resistance to a wrong doer could shame him into repentance.”could shame him into repentance.”

JainismJainismMany facets of Gandhi’s character are Many facets of Gandhi’s character are revealed when we look at Jainist revealed when we look at Jainist philosophy.philosophy.

Very similar to Hindu philosophy, basic Very similar to Hindu philosophy, basic Jainist doctrine can be summed up in one Jainist doctrine can be summed up in one sentence:sentence:The phenomenal individual consists of a The phenomenal individual consists of a soul closely enmeshed in matter and his soul closely enmeshed in matter and his salvation is to be found by freeing the soul salvation is to be found by freeing the soul from matter so that it may regain its from matter so that it may regain its pristine purity and enjoy omniscient self-pristine purity and enjoy omniscient self-sufficient bliss for all eternity. sufficient bliss for all eternity. (I did not (I did not say it’d be easy to grasp!!!)say it’d be easy to grasp!!!)

Origins and History of the Origins and History of the JainsJains

• Originated at the same time as Originated at the same time as BuddhismBuddhism

• However it never spread like However it never spread like Buddhism to become one of the Buddhism to become one of the great world religions.great world religions.

• It did remain strong in some regions It did remain strong in some regions of India, not disappearing from the of India, not disappearing from the sub-continent like Buddhism.sub-continent like Buddhism.

Significant TeachersSignificant Teachers

VardhamaVardhamanana

MahaviraMahavira

• ““The Great Hero”The Great Hero”

• A contemporary of A contemporary of BuddhaBuddha

The Schism. One of the most significant The Schism. One of the most significant moments in the development of the Jains. moments in the development of the Jains. Bhadrabahu (the Jain leader) foresaw a Bhadrabahu (the Jain leader) foresaw a great famine coming to the North of India.great famine coming to the North of India.

• He and a great He and a great following of following of Naked monks left Naked monks left for its duration.for its duration.

• These are the These are the Digabaras who Digabaras who became known as became known as the thethe the Space- Space-Clad.Clad.

• The rest, taught by The rest, taught by Stulabhoda, remainedStulabhoda, remained

• On returning they were On returning they were discovered to have discovered to have adopted a range of adopted a range of dubious practices, dubious practices, including the wearing of including the wearing of white robes.white robes.

• These became known as These became known as the the White-Clad. White-Clad.

• Gandhi wore much the Gandhi wore much the same style of dress.same style of dress.

White-Clad IdealogyWhite-Clad Idealogy

This branch of This branch of Jainism is a great Jainism is a great supporter of the supporter of the idea of:idea of:

AHIMSAAHIMSA

• Non-Injury or Non-Non-Injury or Non-Violence to all Violence to all creaturescreatures

• Often expressed in Often expressed in the form of non-the form of non-violent protestviolent protest

• One of Gandhi’s One of Gandhi’s great political toolsgreat political tools

Learning in Jainist Learning in Jainist communities.communities.• Much attention is paid to secular learning in Much attention is paid to secular learning in

Jain communities – much more so than in Jain communities – much more so than in their contemporary Buddhist neighbours.their contemporary Buddhist neighbours.

• Emphasis is placed on telling of stories with Emphasis is placed on telling of stories with moral messages – India’s greatest poet moral messages – India’s greatest poet “Kalidasa” was a Jain.“Kalidasa” was a Jain.

• Also made significant contribution to Indian Also made significant contribution to Indian science, math, astronomy and linguistics.science, math, astronomy and linguistics.

• Preserving of texts was one of their most Preserving of texts was one of their most sacred dutiessacred duties

Jain Learning and Gandhi???Jain Learning and Gandhi???

• Gandhi, as we have said already, was born in Gandhi, as we have said already, was born in a region where Jain influence was great.a region where Jain influence was great.

• He himself admitted the role of Jain ascetics He himself admitted the role of Jain ascetics he met in his youth had on his professional he met in his youth had on his professional life.life.

• He went to England to gain a law degree – a He went to England to gain a law degree – a very secular line of study and one which very secular line of study and one which would be encouraged by the open minded would be encouraged by the open minded Jain’s, but not the more conservative Hindu Jain’s, but not the more conservative Hindu population of India which had little contact population of India which had little contact with groups like the Jainists.with groups like the Jainists.

HinduHinduSimilar in many ways to Jainism, this religion Similar in many ways to Jainism, this religion was also a great influence on Gandhiwas also a great influence on Gandhi

Central to Hindu philosophy is the concept Central to Hindu philosophy is the concept ofof Dharma Dharma which which cancan mean the following: mean the following:

• Foundation of the UniverseFoundation of the Universe• Highest goodHighest good• What-ever is attached to non-violenceWhat-ever is attached to non-violence• That from which results material gain That from which results material gain

and spiritual good (the most valued and spiritual good (the most valued meaning)meaning)

• When violated destroys, when preserved When violated destroys, when preserved preserves.preserves.

Dharma in Significant TextsDharma in Significant Texts

Two main texts:Two main texts:

• MahabharataMahabharata

• RamayanaRamayana • Rama – the hero of Rama – the hero of this text – was a this text – was a role model for “The role model for “The Great Soul”Great Soul”

• He was the He was the inspiring human inspiring human symbol ofsymbol of DharmaDharma

RAMARAMA

• Was devoted to dutyWas devoted to duty

• Was devoted to his fatherWas devoted to his father

• Was devoted to his peopleWas devoted to his people

• Overcame vice in order that virtue & Overcame vice in order that virtue & moral law might prevail in personal moral law might prevail in personal and public lifeand public life

Gandhi sought:Gandhi sought:

RAMA-RAJYARAMA-RAJYAA reign of truth A reign of truth

and non-and non-violence as the violence as the ideal.ideal.

Role of Hindu Teachers on Role of Hindu Teachers on the Development of the Development of “The Great Soul”“The Great Soul”

The most influential Hindu teacher on the The most influential Hindu teacher on the life of Gandhi was:life of Gandhi was:

•Swami Vivekananda (1863-Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)1902)

His basic philosophy was as follows:His basic philosophy was as follows:Each man is potentially divine, and so should both work to Each man is potentially divine, and so should both work to

unleash the infinite power within himself, and should help unleash the infinite power within himself, and should help others to do the same.others to do the same.

The Life of Swami The Life of Swami VivekanandaVivekanandaThere are many similarities in the growth, development There are many similarities in the growth, development and philosophies of Swami V. and Gandhiand philosophies of Swami V. and Gandhi..• He was a Calcutta born He was a Calcutta born studentstudent• He came from a family of He came from a family of LawyersLawyers• He possessed a good He possessed a good Western Western educationeducation• He gave up He gave up worldly pursuitsworldly pursuits – adopting a – adopting a

life of philosophylife of philosophy• Began a life of Began a life of service to othersservice to others in his older in his older

age – working in Ramakrishna Missionage – working in Ramakrishna Mission• He He fired others to help the poorfired others to help the poor• He burnt out.He burnt out. Dieing prematurely Dieing prematurely at age 39.at age 39.

Swami V’s influence on Swami V’s influence on The Big GThe Big GGandhi acknowledged a huge personal debt to this Gandhi acknowledged a huge personal debt to this Swami for his personal growth both privately and Swami for his personal growth both privately and publicly. Particularly with respect to the following publicly. Particularly with respect to the following points.points.

• His preaching of His preaching of the greatness of the greatness of Hinduism gave Hinduism gave his countrymen a his countrymen a sense of pride sense of pride and dignity in and dignity in their own culturetheir own culture

• His Zeal to serve His Zeal to serve downtrodden masses downtrodden masses added a new facet to added a new facet to nationalist Indian nationalist Indian leaders, which lead to leaders, which lead to greater popularity and greater popularity and political success in political success in their campaigns.their campaigns.

• Previously their Previously their Western education Western education had served to isolate had served to isolate them.them.

Three Years in EnglandThree Years in EnglandOn his return from England he said “ next to India, I On his return from England he said “ next to India, I would rather live in London than any other place in the would rather live in London than any other place in the world”world”

• Gandhi decided to study law in England.Gandhi decided to study law in England.• When he left India he was a fairly typical example When he left India he was a fairly typical example

of the TRADITIONAL Indian.of the TRADITIONAL Indian.• It was here that he in part became It was here that he in part became WesternisedWesternised• But he did not refute his heritage, for example:But he did not refute his heritage, for example:

– He was an active member of the He was an active member of the London Vegetarian London Vegetarian SocietySociety

• Also it was here that he came into contact Also it was here that he came into contact with another very important religious with another very important religious influence:influence:– Christianity.Christianity.

The Christian ExperienceThe Christian Experience

• While in England Gandhi studied the While in England Gandhi studied the New TestamentNew Testament extensively – he extensively – he really tried to understand those he really tried to understand those he was living with and around.was living with and around.

• In particular Gandhi was attracted to In particular Gandhi was attracted to the sentiments expressed in “The the sentiments expressed in “The Sermon on the Mount”. Sermon on the Mount”. (That’s the spot (That’s the spot where the late great J.C. said “Blessed be where the late great J.C. said “Blessed be the……)the……)

The Sermon on the MountThe Sermon on the Mount

Gandhi credited Gandhi credited this source as this source as being one of being one of the most the most influential influential doctrines on doctrines on his life.his life.

It expressed:It expressed:

• that the ideal life that the ideal life was one of selfless was one of selfless action in the service action in the service of ones fellow man.of ones fellow man.

• that the best method that the best method of righting wrongs of righting wrongs was to protest non-was to protest non-violently, suffer violently, suffer lovingly rather than lovingly rather than submit to injusticesubmit to injustice

Other Christian influenced sources Other Christian influenced sources Gandhi sighted as helping develop Gandhi sighted as helping develop on his personal philosophy. on his personal philosophy. Note that both are Russian – What was going on there Note that both are Russian – What was going on there at the time???at the time???

Tolstoy’s Tolstoy’s The The kingdom of God kingdom of God is Within You.is Within You.

• Gandhi identified Gandhi identified with its message of with its message of Christian pacifismChristian pacifism

Ruskin’s Ruskin’s Unto This Unto This LastLast

• He noted the He noted the significance of significance of manual labor as manual labor as an expression of an expression of solidarity between solidarity between educated and educated and uneducateduneducated

In Conclusion….In Conclusion….

• Gandhi was attracted, throughout his life, to Gandhi was attracted, throughout his life, to ideologies which expressed a range of ideologies which expressed a range of philosophies. philosophies.

• No single ISM is responsible for the public No single ISM is responsible for the public and private man known as “The Great Soul”and private man known as “The Great Soul”

• The ISM’S associated with the development of The ISM’S associated with the development of Gandhi discussed here have been:Gandhi discussed here have been:

•Jainism;Jainism;

•HinduismHinduism, and;, and;

•ChristianityChristianity..

So how does India, and how did Gandhi, function So how does India, and how did Gandhi, function with so much diversity to deal with? Wasn’t it with so much diversity to deal with? Wasn’t it confusing?confusing?

Yes, India is a melting pot of Yes, India is a melting pot of cultures and ISM’s. However cultures and ISM’s. However like a very busy intersection like a very busy intersection full of different types of full of different types of vehicles and pedestrians it vehicles and pedestrians it finds a way to gel together finds a way to gel together and work.and work.

THERE IS NO SPOON…THERE IS NO SPOON…

THE MATRIXTHE MATRIX• In one of the final In one of the final

scenes of this movie, scenes of this movie, Neo says “There is no Neo says “There is no spoon”spoon”

• He was He was acknowledging that acknowledging that there were no rules in there were no rules in his world. his world.

• He could manipulate He could manipulate the computer program the computer program in which he lived as in which he lived as he wished.he wished.

POST-MODERNISMPOST-MODERNISM• This theory is similar This theory is similar

to Neo’s philosophy.to Neo’s philosophy.• This ideology could This ideology could

say “There is no say “There is no ideology”ideology”

• There are no single There are no single ideologies or systems ideologies or systems that can be used to that can be used to explain how the world explain how the world functionsfunctions

• We are the products We are the products of many philosophies.of many philosophies.

So what do we So what do we have???have???

We have is a great example of We have is a great example of POST-MODERNISM POST-MODERNISM

in action.in action.

Someone choosing from a Someone choosing from a variety of ideologies ideals variety of ideologies ideals

which appeal, and using those which appeal, and using those to develop their own personal to develop their own personal

philosophy. philosophy.

What do you think?What do you think?

Could be good material for an Could be good material for an Response to Stimulus Test!!!!! Response to Stimulus Test!!!!!

Bye for now.Bye for now.