What we can learn from Gandhi in these times
What we can learn from Gandhi in this day and age.
In memory of Mohandas ‘Mahatma’ Gandhi (1869 – 1948)
The name Mahatma Gandhi is much mentioned in these days of protests and demonstrations. Mahatma means great Soul, or great teacher. And for good reason.
It was in 2010 that my wife Monique and I stood in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s tomb in New Delhi on a trip through India. It was an impressive moment to be so close to this great man. Since my late adolescence this man has inspired me and I did a lot of research on his life and work.
The events in the world in the year 2020 provide a wonderful moment to elaborate on the Mahatma, the Great Teacher. Much of the information I’m sharing with you now, I got from books and the internet. If you find any additions or inaccuracies, I would appreciate it if you let me know at info@bridgeman.nl.
LIVING RUN
Gandhi, after studying law in London, was working as a lawyer in South Africa when, because of the colour of his skin, he was expelled from the first-class compartment of a train by a white conductor. This humbling experience would change him forever. He vowed to eradicate this “disease” of inequality. He focused on civil rights of Indian immigrants. It resulted in the first attempt to kill him.
In 1906, Gandhi introduced the phenomenon of SATYAGARA, which means fidelity to the truth and is often translated as PASSIVE, or CONFIDENTIAL SALVATION. He called on Indians in South Africa to peacefully resist oppression. Gandhi had the important condition that the resistance should be completely FELT-FREE. There wasn’t even any name-calling allowed.
For seven years his followers were mistreated, imprisoned and humiliated by the government. But they didn’t use force. When Gandhi returned to India in 1915, he saw how the Indian people were oppressed by the British. He decided it couldn’t go on like this.
He realized that a relatively small English elite was oppressing the vast Indian people. He also realized that this was only possible because Indians LIKE to oppress.
“Oppression can only happen with the consent of the oppressed.”
Mahatma Gandhi
From 1918, Gandhi led the great CIVIL DISABILITY movement, which spread throughout India. He was arrested, but hundreds of thousands of Indians came together in peaceful resistance to force his release.
Gandhi inspired his followers to place themselves outside the system of the English and even exchange English clothing for traditional woven Indian clothing so that the English clothing trade (which had Indian cotton worked by Indian workers to sell it as clothing then to Indians for far too much money) would fall.
In 1922 he was imprisoned again for several years. It was March 1930 when he started a SATYAGARA, non-violent resistance, against the English taxes on salt. His followers and he walked 400 kilometers to get salt from the coast. The famous ZOUTMARS.
Despite 60,000 people being imprisoned, the movement continued to grow. It took two more arrests of Gandhi, thousands of dead followers, hundreds of thousands of imprisonments and 3 attempts to kill him himself, but Gandhi won.
After 90 years of occupation, India freed itself from the yoke of British rule in 1946. Simply by no longer participating in the system.
DIVINE LOVE
Gandhi was a spiritual man. He studied the Bhagavad Gita -one of the most important Hindu scriptures- daily. He meditated intensively and he lived what he preached. Every day he read from the Gita to his followers in his ashram.
In the Bhagavad Gita, the hero Arjuna is taught by the deity Krishna how life works during a war where Arjuna leads one of the armies. Krishna disguises himself as a coachman and mentors Arjuna’s horses.
Gandhi saw himself sitting on the back seat of his life’s carriage, letting himself be driven by his God. He was inspired by higher forces in his decisions and choices. According to Gandhi, the people of India could only overcome if they practiced ‘absolute self-control according to God’s laws’. And victory they did.
Unfortunately, on January 30, 1948 at 5:17 pm, the Great Soul was shot by Nathuram Godse, who is said to have been a Hindu religious fanatic who disagreed with Gandhis policy of unity between Muslims and Hindus. His entire career he had said that one would not be able to recognize his mastery until he was in his God at the time of his death. And it worked.
His last two words after the three shots to his chest were HAI RAM…which means O GOD. He died conscious and in God’s hands.
A million people came to his funeral. His birthday, October 2, was declared the International Day of Nonviolence.
LESSONS FROM THE MASTER
When Monique and I stood at the Master’s grave, his power was still palpable. The power of truth-telling and non-violence. A power that appears to be essential in these times. I see many parallels in the current world domination by a small Elite and a world population that tacitly allows it.
What would happen if the people of earth withdrew this permission? This raises a number of questions for me:
– Can we throw off the yoke of the Elite who oppress us modern world citizens through nonviolent and loving civil disobedience and peaceful protest?
– How would it be if we liberated ourselves by focusing on OUR Bhagavad Gita. Namely the 5th DIMENSION of love and compassion, the Christ Consciousness?
– Are we able to control ourselves in love, patience and trust as Gandhi taught his people?
– From this loving self-control are we able to no longer participate in the system that keeps us small, just as Gandhi and the Indians no longer participated with the English?
– Are we willing to make the sacrifices that the Indians did back then? And are our leaders willing to run the risks that Gandhi and his leaders ran?
– And what can we learn from this great master? He fought NOT AGAINST the English, but FOR the freedom of his people.
THE BIG WEDDING
June 21, 2020, the final solstice, was a global spiritual reversal. The people of planet Earth have awakened. People are fed up with the lies, deception, manipulations and control mechanisms of the last (1)3000 years.
“It’s enough,” many people think, and it’s noticeable. The non-violent and peaceful movements from love are now truly on the rise. Worldwide.
SUPPORT FROM NEUTRALITY
What would happen if we all stood up as one now? From our own authenticity? Each in his or her own way?
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi
I don’t join any party, movement, or group. I stand in my own authentic power. But I do support any group that stands up for freedom on the basis of truth-telling and peaceful protest. I do this through my meditation, lightwork and inspiration.
What is your authentic way of getting up? What is your personal contribution? We are going to experience the power of people rising up in large numbers from peace, non-violence and love in the coming time. And as in the time of Mahatma Gandhi, the people will transcend the small group of oppressors.
Compared to Gandhi, we have an easy time. We shall not be killed by thousands, or imprisoned by hundreds of thousands. And we live in a much higher collective consciousness vibration than in the beginning of the twentieth century.
So, what are we waiting for? Are you ready for this?
What a magical time to be alive.
One Love
X Robert