MAHATMA GANDHI–By Swami Yogananda
(East-West April, 1932 Vol. 4-6)
1925, September 17 Mahatma Gandhi visited YSS school in Ranchi.
Oh, Gandhi! The prison walls have become a temple by Thy Presence!! And Thou art more dangerously eloquent by Thy Silence!! Thy physical voice is muffled ‘neath the prison vaults, but Thy silent voice of Spirit is loosened, and is beating the drums of universal sympathy and attention, to rouse the races slumbering in hatred, in political selfishness, in greed for possessions, in mutual deceptions, and in brother making war preparations against brother.
Gandhi! Politically crucified, Thou are not only the saviour of a race, of India, but also of all the selfish, hatred-stricken races of the world. And now there comes Thy prison, like a Judas, to take Thee away from us, but Thy prison shall be Thy best message bearer, the greatest preacher of Thy truth for all times, and Thy supreme slave to build a mansion of love for Thy truth and Thee in the heart of each race.
Gandhi! Thy Bible, all the warriors of futurity will read and follow, and therein learn to combat, not their brothers, but the Satan of Ignorance and all his army.
Gandhi! Thy saintliness, and the fragrance of the unfading flower of Thy determination, will charm the menacing fire of cannon, until they sing instead the Freedom of India through Peace
Gandhi! Thy flute of peace will tune the wild beasts of political misunderstandings in the race! Just as God did not choose to use His miraculous powers to discipline man, but chose love instead, so Thou hast chosen the path of love, not force, that mightiest love to free India. For Thy love will awaken love, will melt gunpowder, selfishness, political strife, hatred, wars, fighting airplanes, bombs, machine guns and armies into the consistency of All-Freeing Love.
Oh, Gandhi! Thy Love will build the United States of the World, and thy seal will be in every heart!
Sri Paramahansa Yogananda
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR GHANDI, EAST-WEST, February 2, 1948
Gandhi World Peace Memorial, SRF LAKE SHRINE, Dedicated August 20, 1950
Gandhi’s ashes are enshrined in the 1,000 year old sarcophagus seen under the arch
SEE ALSO –click here MAHATMA GANDHI for more articles on Mahatma Gandhi and how the change that took place in his personal spiritual life led, through totally peaceful means, not only to the political freedom of India from the British Empire, but his teachings and example continued to spread to the Civil Rights movement in America, the Black freedom movement in South Africa, the freedom of Eastern Europe from Communism through the efforts of St. Pope John Paul II, and more. As Paramahansaji said:
OH, GANDHI! Thy Love will build the United States of the World-–Paramahansa Yogananda
Yogananda Site 