The Gandhi Project by Nashid Fareed-Ma’at
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Mohandas K. Gandhi, Hind Swaraj (Indian Home Rule), 1938 reprint from original publication in 1909, p.
20, Chapter I: The Congress And Its Officials.
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As I write in America, I must address the prevailing perception that the Civil Rights
Movement of the mid-1900s is reflective of Satyagraha. I trust that the readers will see that what
this movement sought and attained falls short of the more expansive scope of Satyagraha. There
are differing perceptions of what the Civil Rights Movement was, especially when you talk with
people who were involved in aspects of this movement ignored by mainstream media coverage.
Yet despite the diversity of perceptions, an honest analysis will show that the Civil Rights
Movement exempted major components of Satyagraha, most notably Swaraj. I share this point
not to criticize my predecessors, because even in their incomplete application of Satyagraha
there is much to be praised, particularly their courage and willingness to suffer and act against
injustice. And as I am someone who directly benefitted from the work of the Civil Rights
Movement, I share Gandhi’s sentiment that:
“It is a mark of wisdom not to kick away the very step from which
we have risen higher. The removal of a step from a staircase
brings down the whole of it. When, out of infancy, we grow into
youth, we do not despise infancy, but, on the contrary, we recall
with affection the days of our childhood. If after many years of
study, a teacher were to teach me something, and if I were to build
a little more on the foundation laid by that teacher, I would not, on
that account, be considered wiser than the teacher. He would
always command my respect.”
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I acknowledge that the road that led to my personal discovery of Gandhi ran through my study of
the Civil Rights Movement. And for the participants of that movement, I hold great respect and
appreciation. But I also realize that movement did not adequately represent or embody the
complete expanse of Satyagraha. As I hope the readers have realized by now, an incomplete
practice of Satyagraha is not Satyagraha -- just as the standard of Truth requires that all things
true be completely true. (I’m reminded of a mystic saying that proclaims a statement that is 99%
true is a lie because Truth demands one hundred percent purity; but lies don’t mind being
partially true, especially since this helps them appear more valid.)
In the larger quest for Truth, human progression will at times fall short of fully
embracing (beneficent) lessons readily available; but in realizing this, the challenge becomes to
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fully embrace these lessons, that the ongoing journey of practice and continual learning can
proceed. This point applies not only to those in America shedding the limitations of the limited
practice of Satyagraha that has been glorified in the name of honoring the Civil Rights
Movement; this point also applies to re-examining and adjusting the lessons of Gandhi once we
learn and apply what he taught. And I stress learning and applying what he taught as a
requirement before we, with limited understanding, prematurely make adjustments to the proven
lessons his work left to us. Even in looking at the present state of India, whose independence
from Britain was greatly assisted by Gandhi’s work, there is much to reflect upon from Gandhi’s
teachings that will move India (and Pakistan) closer to the just and beneficent nation he
envisioned and worked to attain.
Gandhi was very open throughout his adult life in stating that Satyagraha is in an on-
going experiment. In his humility and approach as a student of it, he was very careful about
making definitive proclamations about Satyagraha. But given the opportunity to reflect on his
work decades later, I say with great confidence that much of Gandhi’s lessons are worthy of a
definitive status. Even in looking at what lays ahead for the advancement of Satyagraha, I think
much of it will not be negations of what Gandhi taught, but rather explorations to find ways to
make his methods more efficient and potent, and discovering other new methods that are more
efficient and potent than Gandhi’s good methods. But the possible advancement of this spiritual
science will be nearly impossible if we don’t seriously devote ourselves to being humble and
pure students of this science, learning it first before heeding any calls from Truth that seek to
guide us to advance the deep spiritual science of Satyagraha (holding on to Truth).
Thus, I conclude with an invitation: if we honor Gandhi, let our lives be living
expressions of such honor. If we live Satyagraha (non-violence), let us realize we can only do so
by wholistically living all that this path requires. And if we choose other paths, which is our
right, let us be clear to designate that those paths are not reflective of Satyagraha or Gandhi.
And out of respect for the blessings he left to us, let us not confuse others about the differences
between our paths and the Satyagraha path Gandhi dedicated his life to walk.
And after this, Gandhi: we’re even... :)
(As if the merits of love can be repaid with a single act or even all the acts of a human
lifetime. Yet how beautiful such repayment can be...)
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Mohandas K. Gandhi, Non-Violent Resistance (Satyagraha), 1961, p. 108 - 109, excerpt from Young
India, May 12, 1920.
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Mohandas K. Gandhi, An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth, 1957, p. 504.
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“Now I think that the word saint should be ruled out of present
life. It is too sacred a word to be lightly applied to anybody,
much less to one like myself who claims only to be a humble
searcher after truth, knows his limitations, makes mistakes,
never hesitates to admit them when he makes them, and frankly
confesses that he, like a scientist, is making experiments about
some ‘of the eternal verities’ of life, but cannot even claim to be
a scientist because he can show no tangible proof of scientific
accuracy in his methods or such tangible results of his
experiments as modern science demands.”
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“But this much I can say with assurance, as a result of all my
experiments, that a perfect vision of Truth can only follow a
complete realization of Ahimsa.”
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˜ ˜ ˜
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315
countless steps to infinity
there are countless steps from here to infinity
and on the way
we can find a road to Truth
(each of us find our own road)
yet many are the charades
that call to the eyes of many i’s
reflecting the refractions of endless refracted reflections
on the soulscape of the universe
painting labyrinths of amazing lights
that illuminate and fade in random disorder
entrapping perceptions of perceived mazes
for humans caught in the many headlights of what we call life
how easy it is to get lost in this illusion
and
how easy it is to escape it
to bow one’s head to the ground
to hear the deepening silence of a prostrated soul
that realizes and accepts
i must reduce myself to nothing
i must be humbler than the dust
so as i move through the universe
let not my walking step crush a single dust particle on the ground
instead i carry myself to be crushed by the dust
that i may commit no harm
in this song of spiritual silence
as i perform the wonderful dance of ahimsa (no harm)
the realization of reality can reveal itself
if i deeply humble myself to
unfolding the freedom of no attachments
the fulfillment of no desires
the contentment of no passions
the treasures of sacrifice
the abounding strength of the surrendered soul
the beauty of serving others
the untouchability of purity
the joy of the willingness to suffer for Truth
the certainty of love
the great acquisition of releasing myself (my ego)
to discover the truth of the purposes unfolding within
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to live these sacred purposes as a student
that never yields the beginner’s mind (and approach)
being open to learning the meaning(s) of life
over and over again
even if through the same lessons and practices
so that the teachings of seeking Truth
cultivate me to live
Truth completely
to receive the blessings Truth bestows
through justice
beneficence
happiness
peace
and more
and to think it all begins
and continues to begin anew
with bowing my head to the ground
to reduce myself to nothing
to be humbler than the dust
to be deeply humble within a deepening humility
may i learn to live with my head bowed to the ground
to enjoy the blessing of endless blessings
in the countless steps from here to infinity
˜ ˜ ˜