GRANDSON OF GANDHI


Arun Gandhi (2017). The Gift of Anger: And other Lessons from my                                      Grandfather Mahatma Gandhi.


I first encountered Arun Gnadhi, the grandson of the great Mahatma Gandhi, via a video recording of him speaking on nonviolence at Old Dominion University in Virginia (my home institution). Then, i had the opportunity to meet him personally while at a Communication convention in Nashville, Tennesse at Christian Brothers University where he had a small institute for nonviolence on campus. The part about the visit i remember most was at lunch everyone pulled out their food and placed it on the table for anyone to partake of--it was one big feast shared by all, and everyone ate their fill--so unlike the western idea of everyone brings and eats their own bagged lunch...a model for a larger sharing of our goods with all humanity so that no one is in need. Lessons like that are in the book.


One of the most important lessons that we can all apply from the book is Arun's feeling of being loved by his Grandfather. Babaji showered him with hugs, kisses on the cheeks, walks, telling stories, smiles, being both serious but humorous, and taking time to listen to him no matter what business he had to attend to...we can all do these kinds of things for the people in our lives.

There are many other lessons that one could apply from the book like: don't be afraid to speak up because you may be able to facilitate understanding and positive change, we need solitude as well as community, we need a schedule to practice self-improvement, and make the most of everything--waste nothing. 







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