Gandhi

I have been coming up with at least one new blog idea a day. Or one new theme since I was last able to write a bit. Now I can't decide which idea to roll with. So, I'll talk about one of my personal heroes. Well, he's one of many people's heroes but I take a special fondness to him as anyone who's ever received an email from me, from work may have noticed.

Gandhi.

Over the weekend I got to watching the movie again. And my heart fell aflutter. I find myself with a strange postmortem crush on "the little brown man from India". The spiritual and moral leader that gave his life for what he believed in. While the movie was only one aspect and really, generally the only aspect I have been exposed to, aside from small readings here and there about him. I just feel such a sense of connection. Of all the modern day people, including many other great men and women, he seemed to have gotten it the most right. In my opinion. He was a Hindu but did not discount other religions. In the movie, at least he would occasionally reference Christ's teachings too. As well as common sense but well thought out arguments. He was just amazing.

Still, I recognize that this was a movie meant to pay homage to him so it was going to be flattering. (Unlike "W", which I got to be bored by last week.) But, still... it gave me something else to strive for. The kind of understanding and love and peace he was looking for. He and his reluctant at first wife. And while the movie may have focused on what others saw as most important about him, it's a wonder what he would have thought was most important about his life.

And he was shot for his beliefs. Which usually means he was doing something right, sadly. Not always, of course. But often.

"No man's life can be encompassed in one telling. There is no way to give each year it's allotted weight, to include each event, each person who helped to shape a lifetime. What can be done is to be faithful in spirit to the record and try to find one's way to the heart of man..."

- introduction to Gandhi, the movie

I recommend this to anyone who wants an inspiration for what the true desire for peace and truth is not only like but how it is also lived.