Delhi

The experience of Delhi has been a much more positive one than Kolkata. Delhi is clean. The traffic is less eratic. The people I am currently staying with are very hospitable and compassionate. They have made me feel a part of the family.

Yesterday, I visited Gandhi's memorial and was very moved by the display of his life. It was very clear that he was not only a man of eloquent words but also a man of the highest and most respectable actions. He cared not for the advancement of himself, but for the advancement of mankind that we all show compassion for one another regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and gender.

The memorial was built in the place where he was assasinated. Inside there were hallways full of pictures, the story of his life, Gandhi quotes, and quotes of people speaking about their experiences with Gandhi. From spending a few hours in this memorial it was clear that he was not a man who thought only in terms of the present moment, but also in terms of the very long term. It was also interesting to see pictures of a man who only wore hand spun loin cloth and was pretty skinny; yet he was the one of if not the most respected and powerful leader in India's history. He used a weapon that required no swords, guns, nor atomic energy. In Hindi is is called "ahimsa" also known as non-violence. This technique successfully dispelled the British from their rule over India. Additionally, as many know Martin Luther King Jr., who studied Gandhi extensively, used this same method of force to give African-Americans deserved rights in America.

After imperial rule the country of India, which at times and in certain locations, would be full of bloodshed between the Hindus and Muslims. In response, Gandhi would simply fast telling the country that he would starve to death if they did not quite their quit thier violence. More than once, the entire country would come to a state of peace in order to keep him alive and avoid the guilty concious of having killed Gandhi. I find this much respect and admiration for a moral and political leader to be quite unbelievable today. IF the leaders of today could embody what Gandhi stood for and influence the masses in such a way that he did, this world - I feel - would be a much more amazing and peaceful place.




Here is Gandhi's favorite hymn...

Refrain: He is gods devotee who identifies himself with others sorrows and so doing has no pride himself

1st stanza: Such a one respects everyone and speaks ill of none. He passions, may his mother be blessed.

2nd stanza: He is equidisposed towards all, has no desires, regards another's wife as one's own mother, always speaks the truth and does not touch other people's property.

3rd stanza: He labours neither under infatuation; nor withdraws his mind from worldy things. He is intent on God's name, his body is the sacred shrine and pilgramige

4rth stanza: He is no miser and is free from deciet and he has conquered passions and anger.




Here are some quotes by Gandhi that were displayed...

"My life is an indivisible whole, and all of my activities run into one another; and they all have their rise in my insatiable love of mankind."


"Forgiveness is a quality of the soul, and therefore, a positive quality it is not negative. Conquer anger by non-anger. But what is non-anger? I is a positive quality and means the supreme virtue of charity of love."