Simple but very useful tips from Gandhi’s life
It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Today is Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday. On this day, here are a few simple things and life lessons that we can learn from his life:
1. Discipline in diet to control/lose weight: Looking for a way to maintain healthy weight? According to most of the studies done, the body weight is most dependent on our eating and dietary habits. Have a will-power to say no to the food, even the yummy ones! Find a cause and fast for it, like Gandhi did! May be not to the same extremes, but you got the idea, right? 
2. Believe in the power of simple logic: Want to succeed in something? – Then work hard for it. Want to get something done? -Just do it! We complicate our lives for no reason. Keep it simple!
3. Be kind and caring: Don’t bully anybody; be kind to one and all. Don’t harm others – humans or animals; don’t hurt anyone’s feelings…. All this is also good for our own peace of mind, keeps everybody around us happy, and makes us more conscious as a human being.
4. Let go of the ego: Our ego is our worst enemy sometimes, well, most of the times. We are not so special all the time ! What we think of ourselves is not always what others think of us. Try to stay grounded and be humble.
5. Plan, persevere and be persistent: This is the basic mantra for any successful venture, or to achieve any significant goal in life. Have a vision toward the goal, plan for it, and work hard to achieve it.
6. Be open-minded: Always keep things in perspective. Do not dismiss others or anything – big or small – without giving a try. We never know where the next ‘cool’ or useful idea may come from.
7. Be minimalist and save: Be frugal and save. Being frugal and minimalist is good for the environment and it eliminates the wasteful spending. This is even more important especially in today’s world of tough economy.
8. Travel abroad:Gandhi never advocated studying abroad or traveling overseas after he started the freedom struggle, but his overseas education and and his own travels abroad played a significant role in understanding the British Empire and the global politics. Traveling provides first hand experience which books and Internet cannot.
9. Find a hobby: Be it reading, writing, traveling, spinning a wheel, gardening…., have some constructive hobby. People with good hobbies live longer and happier lives.
10. Vegetarian lifestyle:The studies have proven the importance of vegetables in our daily diet. Even in America and European countries, more and more people are finding vegetarianism a rich and rewarding lifestyle. Oh, and it is good for the environment too !
Share your thoughts and stories, even the ugly stories!
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#1 by Vanamali on October 27, 2009 - 12:18 AM
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I hold the Mahatma in the highest regard – I admire him greatly. I do differ on one of his lessons – lesson 7 about being a minimalist. Gandhi was born in a different time, and that shaped his views. But one should spend if one has the money. Never overdo anything, but there is nothing wrong with buying something that you may not need but you might like. Today millions of chinese and Indians are being lifted out of poverty because of the american consumer. Billions of aid money has been poured into africa without making much of a difference. What they need are jobs – factories making goods. But to make these factories successful one needs buyers. Today a car or a motorbike is deemed essential – back in Gandhi’s day these were deemed extravaganzas.