n they leave we’d like to see them off as friends” (Gandhi, np). The strongest example of Gandhi’s forgiveness can be seen in the very last moment of his life. Gandhi said to one of his followers that if someone were to kill him, he would say God’s name with his last breath, forgiving the person that killed him. Three days later, a Hindu who blamed him for the division of India (to India and Pakistan) shot Gandhi. As Gandhi died, he spoke God’s name, forgiving the man that killed him (Logue, 22-23). Gandhi was called Mahatma, meaning “great soul”, as well as Bapu, meaning, “father” (Chadha, 506). Over the course of time, many have taken parts of his wisdom and made a difference in their lives and in the world. The Farm Workers Protest of California Central Valley, the Anti-Apartheid movements in South Africa, as well as the Civil Rights movement by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. all owe a great debt to Gandhi. Sit-ins, “going limp”, and boycotts were all concepts inspired by Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement (McKibben, 62). He was the father of many movements, and of a philosophy not only believed, but lived. “A principle is a principle. And in no case can it be watered down because of our incapacity to live it in practice. We have to strive to achieve it, and the striving should be conscious, deliberate and hard” (“Quotes”, np). Gandhi’s principles of simple living, non-violence and forgiveness were not watered down in his life and are not to be watered down in the lives of future generations. He calls everyone everywhere to lead peaceful, loving lives. It is evident not only in what he did, but who he was. OUTLINEThesis: Gandhi promoted simple living, non-violence, and forgiveness as a way to unite all people peacefully. I. Gandhi’s religious instruction as a child II. Simple livingA.To free India from British ruleB.To un...
