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Gandhi: Difference between revisions
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Whether following the ideal of the Eastern ascetic or the inner necessity for sacrifice to achieve his goals, once convinced of his course of action Gandhi was determined to overcome. So, with the agreement of Kasturbai, he twice attempted to become celibate. But he failed both times. Then in 1906, at the age of thirty-seven, he took a vow of complete renunciation, because | Whether following the ideal of the Eastern ascetic or the inner necessity for sacrifice to achieve his goals, once convinced of his course of action Gandhi was determined to overcome. So, with the agreement of Kasturbai, he twice attempted to become celibate. But he failed both times. Then in 1906, at the age of thirty-seven, he took a vow of complete renunciation, because | ||
<blockquote>I realized that a vow, far from closing the door to real freedom, opened it.... I clearly saw that one aspiring to serve humanity with his whole soul could not do without it.... In a word, I could not live both after the flesh and the spirit.”<ref>Ibid., pp. 180–81, 281.</ref> | <blockquote>I realized that a vow, far from closing the door to real freedom, opened it.... I clearly saw that one aspiring to serve humanity with his whole soul could not do without it.... In a word, I could not live both after the flesh and the spirit.”<ref>Ibid., pp. 180–81, 281.</ref></blockquote> | ||
Gandhi never broke his vow. Years later, he realized that ''brahmacharya'' was impossible to attain by mere human effort. It was only by acknowledging the power of God within that he could control his senses. | Gandhi never broke his vow. Years later, he realized that ''brahmacharya'' was impossible to attain by mere human effort. It was only by acknowledging the power of God within that he could control his senses. | ||