Rajasthan

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Mahatma Gandhi & Gandhian Ethics ​

Introduction ​

  • "Gandhian Socialism is Socialism of Karl Marx - Violence."

Core Concepts & Philosophies ​

1. Neo-Vedanta Thinker ​

  • Vedanta: Brahma Satya, Jagan Mithya (Brahma is truth, the world is illusion).
  • Neo-Vedanta: Acknowledges the reality of social problems. Both Brahma and the world are real.
  • Other Neo-Vedanta thinkers: Swami Vivekananda, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Rabindranath Tagore, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.

2. Key Influences ​

  • Upanishads: ईशावास्यं इदम सर्वम
  • Bhagavad Gita: Swadharma (one's duty) concept, commentary through Anasakti Yoga (detachment).
  • Jainism/Yoga/Vedas: Panch Mahavrat (Five Great Vows).
  • Buddhism & Patanjali Yoga.
  • Western Philosophy:
    • Jesus Christ: Kindness and Compassion.
    • John Ruskin: Unto the Last influenced Sarvodaya (upliftment of all).
    • Tolstoy & Thoreau: Inspired his Anarchist (non-violent) political ideology.

3. Panch Mahavrat (Five Great Vows) ​

  • Sathya (Truth)
  • Ahimsa (Non-violence)
  • Asteya (Non-stealing)
  • Aparigraha (Non-possession)
  • Brahmacharya (Celibacy/Control of senses)

a. Sathya (Truth) ​

  • General meaning: Reporting what is seen, heard, understood without alteration.
  • Gandhi's interpretation: Truth is God (wider than "God is Truth"). - atheist can agree with this
  • Ultimate objective of life: Realize Truth.
  • Autobiography: My Experiments with Truth.
  • Following the path of truth requires:
    • Avoiding unnecessary expression.
    • Capacity to bear pain & criticism.
    • Avoiding unnecessary philosophical drama.
    • Practicing Satyagraha.

b. Satyagraha ​

  • Combination of Satya (truth) and Agraha (insistence).
  • Practitioner bears pain, attempts to change the opponent's heart.
  • Values of a Satyagrahi:
    • Strong belief in God
    • Non-violence
    • Tolerance
    • Courage
    • Patience
    • Honesty
    • Lack of Hatred

c. Ahimsa (Non-Violence) ​

  • Negative: Not hurting anyone through thought, speech or action.
  • Positive: Having feelings of kindness, compassion, love, and serving others.
  • Basic nature of humans, not just an ideal.
  • Violent solutions are temporary and one-sided. Non-violent solutions are permanent and universally accepted.
  • Non-violence is NOT cowardice. Violence is preferable to cowardice.
  • Non-violence is based on morality and spirituality. Cowardice is based on helplessness and weakness.

d. Asteya (Non-Stealing) ​

  • Types of Theft: Material, Mental, Ideological.
  • No special effort needed if one follows Truth and Non-violence.
  • Truth prevents ideological theft, Non-violence prevents material and mental theft.

e. Aparigraha (Non-Possession) ​

  • General Meaning: Non-collection, Non-possession.
  • Inspired by Thoreau
  • Accept nothing without labor.
  • Surplus after basic needs are met should be used for social upliftment.
i. Theory of Trusteeship ​
  • Gandhi's economic philosophy.
  • Addresses income inequality.
  • Advocates for class cooperation, not class struggle.
  • Equal importance to labor & capital.
  • Capitalists are trustees, not owners, of wealth.
  • Inspired Bhoodan movement and modern CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).

f. Brahmacharya (Celibacy / Control of Senses) ​

  • Controlling senses.
  • Not the basic nature of humans.
  • Requires Practice
  • Achieved Through:
    • Prayer to God
    • Pure Thoughts
    • Meditation
    • Service to Others
    • Self-Study / Introspection

4. Other Ideas ​

  • Means and Ends:
    • Rejects the idea that pure ends justify impure means. Both means and ends must be pure ("As we sow, so shall we reap").
  • Relationship with Nature:
    • Opposes anthropocentrism (human-centeredness).
    • Human and nature are co-existent.
    • Nature can fulfill human needs but not human greed.
    • Arne Næss(book - Gandhi and Nuclear Age): Gandhian thought can solve environmental problems.
  • Change of Heart (Hridaya Parivartan):
    • Believe in transforming the individual via changing one's heart.
  • Economic Ideas:
    • Self-dependent rural economy.
    • Village-level demand and supply.
    • Strong advocate for decentralization (Panchayati Raj).
    • Criticized capitalism and industrialism.

5. Seven Sins ​

  • Commerce without Morality
  • Knowledge without Character
  • Pleasure without Conscience
  • Science without Humanity
  • Politics without Principle
  • Prayer without Sacrifice
  • Wealth without Work

6. Eleven Vows of Gandhi ​

  • Sathya
  • Ahimsa
  • Asteya
  • Aparigraha
  • Brahmacharya
  • Physical Labor
  • Removal of Untouchability
  • Sarva Dharma Sambhava (Equal respect to all religions)
  • Testelessness
  • Fearlessness
  • Swadeshi (promoting domestic goods/self-sufficiency)