Fasting As Penance Nagkalan Amritsar

FASTING AS PENANCE

By M.K. Gandhi

SPIRITUAL POWER Fasting as Penance is an extract from Gandhi ji’s Autobiography My Experiments with Truth. The theme of the passage is that the power of the spirit is greater that the power of body. Gandhi ji was in tosltoy farm in south Africa when the event took Place . Gandhi ji was a great teacher,he believed in Spiritual Training

THE EXERCISE OF SPIRIT Gandhi ji always wanted to exercise the power spirit. The exercise of spirit entirely depends upon the life and character of the teacher. It is possible for a teacher situated miles away to effect the spirit of his students by his way of living. To develop the spirit is to build character. It means to works towards a knowledge of God & self realisation

PHYSICAL PUNISMENT Once Gandhi ji give physical punishment to one of his student at Tolstoy Farm. Then Gandhi ji felt that he had not exhibited the spirit, rather the brute in him. The boy begged to forgiven. But the youngster soon forgot the incident. He did not show any improvement in his conduct.

CURING OF SUPERIORITY COMPLEX. Gandhi ji’s three boys come into contact with some unruly boys at Tolstoy Farm. Mr. Kallenbach pointed out that it would have a negative effect on his boys and they become demoralised . But Gandhi ji let his boys mix up with other boys. Gandhi ji’s decision show good effect on them . and they were cured of superiority complex and also learnt to mix up with all kind fo children.

MORAL FALL OF INMATES.

On release of some of Satyagrahis from Jail ,Very few inmates were left at the Tolstoy farm, who belonged to phoenix. Gandhi ji removed them there where they had to pass through a severe tast . he got the news of the moral fall of two fo the inmats at the ashram. Gandhi ji was pained but he did not penalise the guilty physically. He exerted the power of the spirit on the guilty. He underwent penance and imposed himself fast for seven days. He took only one meal a day for four month and a half. His penance pained everybody and make them realise that it was terrible to be sinful and it also strength the bond between teacher and students.

TWO FAST OF GANDHI JI Gandhi ji undertook two fasts. He had no pproblem during the first fast. And he remained a strict fruitarian during this fast. The second one was very hard. He has not understand the power of ramanama. He also did not take plenty of water. Moreover he had become a bit careless as the first one has been as easy affair. During the first one he had taken kuhne bath everyday. During the second fast he had given them up after two or three days.

Presented by Varinder Kumar Computer Faculty Govt. Senior Secondary School , Nag Kalan, Distt. Amritsar.