The Way to God

by GANDHI, MAHATMADESHPANDE, M. S.

• ISBN13: 9781556437847
• ISBN10: 1556437846
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2009-03-17
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books

Summary

The Way to God explores the deep religious roots of Gandhi's worldly accomplishments and reveals--in his own words-his intellectual, moral, and spiritual approaches to the divine. First published in India in 1971, The Way to God is based on Gandhi's lifetime experiments with truth and reveals the heart of his teachings on love, the soul, meditation, service, surrender, and prayer. There are chapters on: · Intellectual foundation · Moral discipline · Spiritual practice · Spiritual experience Samples from the book: Truth is the Source of Character "Character is based on virtuous action, and virtuous action is grounded on truth. Truth, then, is the source and foundation of all things that are good and great. Hence, fearless and unflinching pursuit of the ideal of truth and righteousness is the key of true health, as of all else." Man's Primary Duty "It is the duty of every human being to look carefully within and see himself as he is, and spare no pains to improve himself in body, mind, and soul. He should realize the mischief wrought by injustice, wickedness, vanity, and the like, and do his best to fight them."

Author Biography

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian Independence movement. Born in 1869 in British India, he was the pioneer of Satyagraha—a philosophy that is concerned with truth and resistance to evil through active, non-violent resistance. He led India to independence from Britain and inspired movements for freedom and civil rights around the world.

Gandhi lived a simple life, organizing an ashram that was self sufficient and even made his own clothes. He lived on a vegetarian diet and later on a fruitarian diet. He often underwent long fasts, for both self purification and for protest.

He was assassinated in 1948 in New Delhi, India.

This book includes a forward by Gandhi's grandson, Arun Gandhi, and an introduction by Michael Nagler, Professor emeritus of Classics and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has taught since 1966 and where he founded the Peace and Conflict Studies Program.