Gandhi For All Ages....

There have been  many a recent headline around the world with regard to the communal tensions/violence (especially in India, China, Srilanka, USA, UK, Africa and the list goes on). It would be easy to point fingers at a section of the society and criticize the government for the failings.

But i choose not do those today. 

This cycle of hatred has been going on for too long. Far too long. The directors/location/cast might have changed from the Crusades, but the script remains the same till today.

 --> Intolerance.

It is the same from east to west and north to south. It has nothing to do with the level of the development of the country. As long as humans are involved, the ends have been the same, though the means might have been different.

In this atmosphere, I find it imperative to revisit some of Gandhi's teachings/ideals to bring back some perspective. (though what he said was from a different era and in a different context, it still holds true.)

The below excerpts from the some of his teachings will appeal to any sane and reasonable mind.

"The golden way is to be friends with the world and to regard the whole human family like members of one family. He who distinguishes between one's family and another's mis-educates the members of his own and opens the way for discord and irreligion.
-----

It is easy enough to dig out a few criminals from their hiding places and hand them over 
to the police, but it does not protect society against the repetition of them. It is necessary 
to remove the causes by undertaking a thorough process to reform. There must arise in 
Islam as well as in Hinduism men who being comparatively pure in character, would work 
among such men.

We would not then try to shift blame for ugly happenings on the hooligan elements. We 
could convert and control the hooligan elements too.
There is not a man, however cruel and hard-hearted, but would give his admiration to a 
brave man. A goonda is not the vile man he is imagined to be. He is not without his noble 
traits.

(‘A goonda does not understand reason.) But he understands bravery. If he finds that you 
are braver than he, he will respect you.
-----

Mutual toleration is a necessity for all time and for all races. 

Honest public opinion should make it impossible for grieved parties to take the law into their own hands and every case [of dispute] must be referred to private arbitration or to law courts.… "

source: http://www.mkgandhi.org

The only way to remove the tree of discord is to strike at its roots. Otherwise, it will only keep cropping up back. And the best place to start is with some self-introspection.

I would love to elaborate and explain on what he meant, but it is best if one discovers the truth for oneself. 

Hope you see the light...
Hope you reflect on them...
More earnestly, Hope you illuminate your world with it...