Mentors #1

Who do you have in your corner? I would like to present an ongoing section dedicated to talking about specific individuals who  through their actions and words have made a positive impact on my life. 

 

We are like sponges, we constantly absorb information from our surroundings, slowly this new found information gets ingrained into our makeup.   What stimulus do you surround yourself with?  Do you believe it has an effect on how you behave?  I used to look up to sports figures and actors but these days  I find myself being heavily influenced by authors, businessmen and spiritual masters.  My plan is not to get into too much autobiographical information but just highlight the things that stand out to me.  If you would like to know more I would really encourage you to wikipedia any of the mentors and learn more.   

 

Tonight I would like to discuss one of my earliest mentors, Mahatma Gandhi.

 

 

I came to know of this man from my parents, they would salute his image usually with clasped hands at the chest.

 

Most lawyers live the life of lavish luxuries and follow the system to a T.  Gandhi being a lawyer gave it all up! He replaced his suits and prestige for a piece of linen cloth that he wore proudly because he made it himself!

Dedicating his life to social equality and freedom from tyranny he motivated his Indian brothers and sisters to show peaceful resistance against the British occupation.  The British killed many Indians during the peaceful civil disobedience (marches, rallys, walking out of parliment etc).  Gandhi did his best to make sure his side did not react back violently, unfortunately in desperate times some Indians did fight back and more blood was spilt.  Gandhi was so determined that violence was not the way that he would fast (not eat) for unimaginable time periods… he was ready to die, he told his people he would not eat again until the violence stopped.  Since the country embraced and loved this man so much, they swallowed their pride and went back to following his plan.  Gandhi was put into jail, was always a target and was eventually assassinated by a fanatical.

We all know his actions led to the independence of India and his seeds of wisdom are still being planted into the fertile minds of caring individuals.

 

Here are some famous quotes from Gandhi that you might enjoy:

 

Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.

 

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

 

You must be the change you want to see in the world.

 

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

~ by davinderbirk on July 29, 2007.