GANDHISM — THE RELIGION OF TRUTH AND NON-VIOLENCE


GANDHISM — THE RELIGION OF TRUTH AND NON-VIOLENCE

A Manifesto for Humanity

1. Prologue: The Birth of a Living Faith

In every age, when the world sinks into violence, falsehood, and division, a light arises to guide humankind back to truth. In our modern age of machines and greed, that light took human form — Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
He was not born to create miracles; he was born to remind humanity that itself is the miracle. His faith was not built on dogmas but on truth and compassion. Today, when religions have become walls, the world needs a bridge — a new faith rooted in the eternal principles of Gandhi. That faith is Gandhism.

2. The Central Belief: Truth is God

Every religion begins with a vision of the divine.
In Gandhism, Truth itself is the divine.
To live in harmony with truth is to live in the presence of God. Gandhi said, “God is Truth,” and later, “Truth is God.” This reversal was not philosophy but realization — that the divine is not distant; it is the moral law that beats within every human heart.
Hence, in Gandhism, worship is not about kneeling before an idol but standing fearlessly for what is true.

3. The Living God: Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi is not a god of miracles or myths; he is the manifestation of moral divinity. His life was his scripture; his actions were his prayers.
He represents the possibility that a human being, through discipline and purity, can reach the highest spiritual consciousness without abandoning the world.
In Gandhism, Gandhi is not worshipped for his image, but revered as the eternal symbol of truth, non-violence, and selfless service. He is the living God within the conscience of humankind.

4. The Sacred Texts of Gandhism

The scriptures of this faith are not written in gold — they are written in deeds.
Yet the following shall serve as its spiritual foundation:

  • The Bhagavad Gita – Gandhi’s source of moral courage.
  • Hind Swaraj – His gospel of self-rule and inner freedom.
  • The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi – A modern scripture of ethical action.
  • The Words of Conscience – Every act done in truth by any person becomes a verse in this living scripture.

5. The Commandments of Gandhism

These are not rigid laws but guiding principles — the soul of the faith:

  1. Truth is God — live by it.
  2. Non-violence is the path — harm none in thought, word, or deed.
  3. Simplicity is sacred — own less, love more.
  4. Self-discipline is worship — conquer desire to find peace.
  5. Service is prayer — lift others to lift yourself.
  6. Faith in Humanity — see God in every being.
  7. Forgiveness is strength — hatred is weakness.
  8. Labour is holy — all honest work is divine.
  9. Equality is Dharma — no caste, no creed, no division.
  10. Peace is the goal — truth is the way.

6. Temples of Gandhism

There will be no marble shrines or golden domes.
The true temple of Gandhism is the human heart that beats with kindness.
Still, physical spaces may exist — called Seva Sthal (Places of Service) — where people gather not to worship idols but to serve the poor, educate children, and heal the suffering.
In every such temple, the symbols shall be:

  • The Spinning Wheel (Charkha) — sign of self-reliance and purity.
  • The Three Monkeys — representing purity of speech, sight, and thought.
  • The Lamp of Truth — ever burning to remind us that darkness fades before truth.

7. The Rituals of Gandhism

Rituals are not mechanical acts but spiritual disciplines:

  • Morning Prayer of Silence: Begin the day in reflection, asking — “Did I live truthfully yesterday?”
  • Daily Service: Perform one act of kindness or labour for others.
  • Fasting: Purify body and mind; conquer greed and anger.
  • Simplicity in Food and Dress: Wear khadi, eat humbly, live without excess.
  • Confession of Falsehood: Admit one’s mistakes openly, and atone through service.
  • Evening Prayer of Peace: Forgive all before sleep; wish well to even one’s enemy.

These are not obligations but steps toward self-purification.

8. The Festivals of Gandhism

Instead of celebration through extravagance, Gandhian festivals are days of awakening:

  • 2 October – The Day of Truth (Birth of Gandhi)
    A day for fasting, silence, and service.
  • 30 January – The Day of Sacrifice (Martyrdom Day)
    A remembrance of non-violence and the triumph of love over hate.
  • The Day of the Spinning Wheel – Celebrating self-reliance, simplicity, and dignity of labour.

9. The Priesthood of the People

In Gandhism, there are no priests, no intermediaries between man and God.
Every person is both worshipper and teacher.
The truest priest is the one who speaks the truth even when silence is easier.
Women and men are equal in all spiritual matters — for the soul has no gender.

10. The Vision: A World Without Fear

The final goal of Gandhism is not salvation after death, but liberation while living — a world free from violence, greed, and hatred.
When every individual becomes truthful, every nation becomes peaceful.
When service becomes the new form of prayer, poverty will disappear.
When Gandhi’s light shines in every home, humanity itself will become divine.

11. Epilogue: The Eternal Religion

The religion of Gandhism does not ask for conversion — it asks for awakening.
It is not limited by geography or scripture; it is a universal way of life.
To follow Gandhi is not to worship a man, but to live his message.

So let there be a new dawn — where temples are replaced by schools, where offerings become acts of service, and where truth walks the earth again.
Let every heart declare:

“I am a Gandhist — a seeker of truth, a servant of all, and a believer in non-violence.”

And thus, Gandhi shall live forever — not as an idol in stone, but as the God within the conscience of humankind.


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