E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi’s Pancha Mahavrat… 51God’? Two, what is his view on avartarhood of God in theview of his above definitions? In offering various definitions ofGod did he break away from the basic advaitic tenet? Let usfirst examine the first proposition. It is interesting to note that itwas during late 1920’s that Gandhi came out with his newformulation that ‘Truth is God’ reversing the earlier one, viz.,‘God is Truth’. He himself offered a number of reasons forsuch a reversal. In the first place, the new formulation of Truthbeing God was more in keeping with his recent spiritualexperiences. He averred that the new maxim enabled him to seeGod ‘face to face’ as he felt that He pervades every fiber of hisbeing. Secondly, it helps a spiritual seeker in the process ofavoiding the general tendency of looking at God inanthropomorphic form. Thirdly, the new formulation takes Godaway from the narrow confines of religion. Thus, even anatheist could adhere to it as he could deny God but not thetruth. Fourthly, though he accepted that there were other waysof approaching God – love being one of them. He asserted thatlove had many connotations including human passion whichexhausts in a few moments. But ‘sat’ (truth) is one that existsforever and that is why it literally captures the concept of Godwhich alone exists. On all these counts, he felt satisfied on hisnew maxim of Truth as God. Gandhi brought his concept ofGod more in consonance with his advaitic position as Truth isthe nearest approximation of Nirakar Brahma. Thus, it could besafely asserted that by offering various definitions, Gandhi didnot break away from the advaitic position. In fact, theconfusion arises because Gandhi while offering variousdefinitions of God underlines different aspects of God. But thatis quite natural as God is ineffable and any attempt to describethe indescribable is found to result in confusion. Anotherreason for confusion is that advaitic tradition did not put God ina straight jacket as perceived by many people. This traditionremains unbroken in the subsequent ages. Gandhi, though