Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #3- Gandhi: Hindu and Activist

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #3- Gandhi: Hindu and Activist

Gandhi: Hindu and Activist

Mahatma Gandhi was a major political and spiritual leader of India and it’s spiritual movement. He believed in approaching situations with non-violence and civil disobedience in order to receive what he wanted. Gandhi’s idea of Hinduism was to lead a simplistic lifestyle and be one with his community. In the movie he was spinning his own cloth to make into his own clothes. After he returned from South Africa, he gave up wearing Western-style clothing and opted for linens made of homespun cloth. Gandhi associated Western clothing with wealth and success, and gave them up and dressed in homemade linens to be accepted by the poorest of Indians. Later in the movie, Gandhi subsequently began to wear a dhoti. Poorer Indians usually wore dhotis, and as a gesture of unity Gandhi began to wear one as well. He also did this to express the simplicity of his life.

Gandhi once said, “’Love thy neighbor as thyself’ is not something we Hindus prescribe to, but it is something we could learn from.” Gandhi was a Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Jew. He believed he was a part of every religion, thus feeling he should ‘love thy neighbor as thyself’. Even though the Muslims and Hindus did not get along and caused chaos Gandhi still felt they should treat one another kindly and considerately. To end the incessant rioting between the Muslims and Hindus, Gandhi fasted for a very, very long time. As he grew weaker and weaker, the fighting yielded and Hindu rioters visited Gandhi leaving their swords, expressing that the fighting was coming to an end. A Hindu warrior came to Gandhi’s bed and confessed he had killed a little Muslim boy, because the Muslims had killed his own son. He asked Gandhi what he could do to get out of going to hell. Gandhi says that he should find a Muslim orphan, about the same age as his own son and raise him as a true Muslim. This is an example of loving thy neighbor as thyself, this is also a good example of Hindus not following this belief. But, with the help of Gandhi, is something they strive for.