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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.

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