Mohandas Gandhi was, and is still believed to be one of the most peaceful human being that has ever walked the earth. Watching the movie in class on how he lived, left me with mixed emotions. I had feelings of sadness, and anger, because of the way he was treated, yet a part of me felt eternally grateful, knowing that he choose such humble and nonviolent method to get his point across. His peaceful and nonviolent demonstrations has been admired by the world, including many religions .It was the key ingredient that brought changes to India.Years later I can truly say we have benefited from his extraordinary example as the great Civil Right leader Martin Luther King fallowed his example, marched peacefully for freedom in America.
Gandhi was opposed to the caste system which was once considered to be a part of Hinduism. He believed that all human were created equally, and all should be treated with dignity. He practiced Hinduism through devotion, diet and fasting. He was always in a humble poster (namaste) both hands claps in a prayer like fashion with head bowed. This is a symbol of a humble greeting from the heart.
I believe that the part of Hinduism that he emphasized was moksha, liberation from birth, death and rebirth.He practiced unselfishness and was total devoted to his belief's as he understood what a good Hindu should be.He also emphasized karma not by words, but by his actions, refusing to physically fight back. It is said that when he was kicked he asked his abuser did your feet hurt? Because he believed that whatever wrong was done to him would be return by karma. There were times that he confessed that he did not consider himself a good Hindu, because of the killings and the brutality that the people suffered because of his protest.
Base on what I have learn about Hinduism, he would not be considered a good Hindu because he was defiant of some of Hinduism beliefs and practices.Gandhi did not gain world recognition by practicing Hinduism, he is admired because of his nonviolent demonstrations.Yet he died at the hands of one of his own people. One of the very thing he fought against ended his life.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I think you make a good point in the fact that he was not a good Hindu. After reading your post i got a different feeling than what i first thought of. He did defiant the Hindui beliefs and practices.
It comes back to the same question we discussed in class several weeks ago, doesn't it? How much of a religion does one have to assent to/practice in order to be a "good" member of that religion? Gandhi seemed to practice much of the essential parts of Hinduism but he also clearly opposed some of its major tenets.
it is confusing if you get in depth on ones religion that s not your own , since they are all different and one person can take out of content the true meaning that another can mis interpret and twist for there own greedy reasons.
Post a Comment