Hinduism And Gandhi
...ciety. There are many paths that lead into the Hindus' liberation. The principle three are: the path of devotion, action, and knowledge. The devotion path, which is known as Bhakti, is the union that exist between the individual's soul (Atman) and the universal soul (Brahman). It's believing and surrendering oneself to a personal God and putting an unquestionable faith in Brahman. The final goal is to break the cycle of Samsura and be in God's presence eternally by merging the Atman (soul) into Brahman (universal soul). Karma is the path of action that requires Hindus to think thoughts and carry out actions selflessly. The result of these actions must effect both good and evil. The best way and simplest ways is to follow a way of life that can benefit both society and the individual. People of the west use yoga as a method of breathing exercises to relax and calm the nerves. But yoga is used as another way of leading the Atman (soul) into liberation is through its practices. There are four main yogic paths. Ones that are made to fit the different kinds of human personalities each person poses. They are: Raja, Jnana, Karma, and Bhakti. Raja yoga is the physical and psychic practices that non-hindus are most familiar with. It includes and emphasizes on body posture, breathing control, and meditation. Regulated breathing exercises are used to calm the nerves and increase the body's supply of "prana" (an invisible life force). Breath is thought to be the key to controlling the flow of this energy. Hinduism And Gandhi 4 Jnana yoga uses the mind rather than the use of meditation practices. This is the use of intellectual effort. They see ignorance as being the root of all problems in the world. It is acquiring the ultimate wisdom through knowledge of the spirit rather than intellectual knowledge. A clear understanding of this knowledge results in breaking bonds to the material world and attaining liberation. The Karma yoga is the path of unselfishness and service in Hinduism. It is service rendered without any interest in its effect and without any personal sense of giving. This consciousness leads to liberation from the self through the midst of work. Gandhi's wife and children were trained to a life of service, and service was its own reward. Gandhi did not permit his wife to accept gifts for her public service. The Bhakti yoga is the path of devotion. It means the act of sharing a relationship with the supreme. The relationship is that of great love with God. Gandhi was born in Gujarat in 1869. He studied law in London from 1888 to 1891, and two years later practiced law in South Africa. It was in South Africa where he gained the rights of the Indian population against the British rule. He returned to India in 1914 and began his campaign of non-violent protest against the British. He believed that non-violence transformed everything it touches. Ahimsa is the practice of non-violence acts. It is the act of compassion towards even the tiniest creature. Ahisma (non-violence) is the unity of all life. He believed that protesting in a non-violent manner against the British was a far more effective way than using violence. Violence, which he referred as Hisma is the destruction of life. He felt that the only way the British would listen to his plea was to protest in a manner that would hurt the British financially. In 1930 he led the Salt March Hinduism And Gandhi 5 to protest a tax on Salt. He referred to all people as children of God tarred with the same brush. He believed in one creator who has given divine gifts. To hurt any person was to hurt the world. Gandhi stated that non-violence is needed for the protectio...