Today, I started study on a new topic as a part of my Pranic Healing group. It is a book study on ‘Chakras and their Functions‘ authored by Master Choa Kok Sui. Group activities simply make my life easier as I don’t quite trust myself to be consistent when I do it on my own. Whenever I get a chance to join a group, I don’t think twice. I guess the group dynamics and energy helps, also that I am too much of a ‘people person’. To jot down my learnings, I wanted to use a fresh/unused notebook. As I sifted through my bookshelf, I found this diary give to me by a friend. It says Takshila yearbook probably given to him by Takshila group of institutions as he’s a pioneer and an outlier in the education industry. This diary themed on Gandhi (see images) has some beautiful illustrations, highlights of his life and thought-provoking quotes.
The very first page got me to choose this topic to write on today. Since I recently resolved to pen down my thoughts each day and this first paragraph made me feel really encouraged. It says “Gandhi believed that a daily audit of one’s life on its own is crucial for self-reflection, introspe
ction to become a better and evolved person for the next day. So journaling every day in itself is a GANDHIAN activity and a humble tribute to the memories of a great soul (Mahatma) whom one might hate or love, but certainly cannot ignore”.
This got me googling some of the Gandhian activities to see what made this man a legend that he is! Turns out there’s even a WikiHow on it :D. More populary known for Truth, Simplicity and Non-Violence, Gandhi believed and lived the following philosophies:
Gandhi’s 11 Vows
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However, Gandhi did not approve of ‘Gandhism’. As he explained:
“There is no such thing as “Gandhism” and I do not want to leave any sect after me. I do not claim to have originated any new principle or doctrine. I have simply tried in my own way to apply the eternal truths to our daily life and problems…The opinions I have formed and the conclusions I have arrived at are not final. I may change them tomorrow. I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and non-violence are as old as the hills.”
While quite a few of the principles mentioned above are covered as ‘Yamas‘ in the Raja Yoga section of the Bhavadgita, few others are relevant to the 1800s and 1900s such as Untouchabilty & Swadeshi. Doing and being righteous is never an easy choice, but hey! that’s what makes a few individuals great. After all, how many of us can live to say, “My life is my message”. A brilliantly audaciousness statement that one can only make if they have a staunch self-belief. In Yoga, it is said that even if you follow one of the Yamas to the letter, one gets closer to moksha or liberation. Let’s see which one of these I can adopt most easily and live simplistically. So, what change would you like to be, and wish to see in the world?
“Be the chage you wish to see in the world” – Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
References:
Gwilym Beckerlegge, World religions reader, 2001
http://www.gandhi-manibhavan.org/gandhiphilosophy