Reflection #3 - Gandhi: Hindu and Activist

Gandhi's idea of Hinduism was that of a religion that was all-encompassing, meaning that it was nonexclusive and nondiscriminatory, as well as self-improving, that by understanding the self and working towards becoming a better person, one could attain the highest spiritual state, his concept of heaven.  These ideas of self achievement and openness to other religions were evident in Gandhi's life, as shown in the movie.  In the movie, when the reporter asks Gandhi's wife about their marriage, she reveals that Gandhi has taken a vow of celibacy, meaning that he had given up the sex.  Gandhi also went on long fasts, going for days without food.  Both are ways that Gandhi gave up pleasures of the world to transcend his physical self and achieve a higher state of spirituality.  He also demonstrates the acceptance of all religions through his actions in the movie to stop the splitting of India into Muslim and Hindu, as well as his actions to stop the rioting between the two factions in Calcutta.  In one part of the movie, he even states that he is a Hindu, a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, and other religions, showing how he believes that all religions are the same.  


Gandhi lived out his faith in this way, as exemplified by the quote: “’Love they neighbor as thyself’ is not something we Hindus prescribe to, but it is something we could learn from.” What Gandhi tried to do was bring peace and harmony to the Hindus and Muslims in India, in accordance with his belief that all religions are right and essentially the same.  His way to do this was to show his love for his neighbors, those of different religions than his own, and he tried to extend that love to others.  For example in the movie, a Hindu man wracked with guilt over killing a Muslim child comes to Gandhi.  Gandhi tells him that the way out of hell would be for that man to adopt a Muslim child, the same age as his own would have been if Muslims hadn't killed him, and raise that child as his own.  But Gandhi also adds that the man must raise the child as a proper Muslim.  Thus Gandhi tries to get others around him to love their neighbors as themselves, by showing it to those around him.  This is the faith that Gandhi lived by.