"Gandhi continues what the Buddha began. In the Buddha the spirit of love set itself the task of creating different spiritual conditions in the world; in Gandhi it undertakes to transform all worldly conditions."

Albert Schweitzer, Indian Thought and Its Development

Mahatma Gandhi, Hind Swaraj

Mahatma Gandhi, Young India August 11, 1920

Mahatma Gandhi, 1924

Mahatma Gandhi, Autobiography

(Neither do they truly know the means of becoming great politicians)

"A nonviolent revolution is not a program of seizure of power. It is a program of transformation of relationships ending in a peaceful transfer of power."

Mahatma Gandhi, 1942

The following is from the Autobiography of a Yogi, twelfth edition, twelfth paperbound printing, 1993, copyright Self Realization Fellowship

Gandhi's epoch has extended, with the beautiful precision of cosmic timing, into a century already desolated and devastated by two World Wars.  A divine handwriting appears on the granite wall of his life:  a warning against the further shedding of blood among brothers.

"He was in the true sense the father of the nation, and a madman has slain him.  Millions and millions are mourning because that light has gone out... The light that shone in this land [India] was no ordinary light.  For a thousand years that light will be seen in this country, and the world will see it." 

So spoke Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru shortly after Mahatma Gandhi had been assassinated in New Dehli on January 30, 1948.

Five months earlier, India had peacefully achieved her national independence.  The work of the 78-year-old Gandhi was done; he realized that his hour was nigh.  "Abha, bring me all the important papers," he said to his grandniece on the morning of the tragedy.  "I must reply today.  Tomorrow may never be."  In numerous passages of his writings, also, Gandhi gave intimation of his final destiny.

As the dying Mahatma sank slowly to the ground, three bullets in his frail and fast-worn body, he lifted his hands in the traditional Hindu gesture of forgiveness.  Innocent artist as he was in all the ways of his life, Gandhi became a supreme artist at the moment of his death.  All the sacrifices of his selfless life had made possible that final loving gesture.

"Generations to come, it may be," Albert Einstein wrote in tribute to the Mahatma, "will scarce believe that such a one as this every in flesh and blood walked upon the earth."  A dispatch from the Vatican in Rome said:  "The assassination caused a great sorrow here.  Gandhi is mourned as an apostle of Christian virtues."

Fraught with symbolic meaning are the lives of all great ones who come to earth for the accomplishment of a specific righteousness.  Gandhi's dramatic death in the cause of Indian unity has highlighted his message to a world torn in every continent with disunity.  That message he has stated in prophetic words:

How do we acknowledge and understand what peace is without it's opposite?  If the entire universe was the color blue, how would one explain blue?

When I first created this page, the words you are reading now were quite disparaging of the current presidential administration.  I was not concerned with reprisals from zealous supporters of that administration, but when I reflected on what I had written, I had an uneasy feeling.  Something was not quite right.

Later that evening I discovered what it was.  In my zeal for peace, I had made a verbal/written attack, which stood against my position for peace.  I am discovering that there may be a seeming dichotomy of views, that when transcended are only points along the same path.  Therefore, the path being taken by the current administration may oppose my views and those of a majority of people throughout the world, but in the Eyes of God, the Absolute, both of our views are limited, and as such are very similar.  

I can't say that I know more than anyone else unless I am able to also say that I know everything there is to know about whatever it is we choose as our subject.  I still know in my heart of hearts that peace is the result of ultimate good, and I believe that the practice of peace will bring about the reality of peace more quickly than the practice of war.  But I cannot condemn those who disagree with me.  I am not the ultimate authority.  And as Gandhi, Sri Ramakrishna, Jesus, Buddha, and others taught, my place is to love those who oppose my views, not to return violence with violence.

In the United States, we are able to vote for our president, senators, and legislators.  Regardless of what some may say, voting does have an impact.  Even if we feel we are voting for the lesser of two evils, that is great!  We are slowly taking a less and less evil path.  To reject the process out of hand because one cannot hope to win an election doesn't make sense.  

To give up before starting is to admit defeat, and admit that those who espouse violence, greed, and materialistic pursuit are right.  Do what you can to improve even your own little corner of the universe and the universe will be a better place.  It cannot be otherwise.  The center of your universe is within you.  Create a center with peace, love, and joy.  The waves of such creation will spread out and intersect with others' universes, eventually resulting in the establishment of your own kingdom of heaven on this earth in your lifetime.