The life of Mahatma Gandhi

By: Louis Fischer

BookNo.: r019

Asunto: highlights

Fecha: 13/10/11

• Proper accounting... Essential especially for charitable institutions
• Cleanliness... He was completely against humans doing their ba ic necessities anywhere, poverty not being an excuse
• Ready to acknowledge he was wrong: India served on a platter to Japan if Britain left ... Change of position in Harijan

• The purity of Gadhi's methods made it difficult for Smuts to oppose him. Victory came to Gandhi not when Smuts had no more strength to fight him but when he had no more heart to fight him. Professor Gilbert Murray wrote: 'be careful in dealing with a man who cares nothing for sensual pleasures, nothing for comfort or praise or promotion, but is simply determined to do what he believes to be right. He is a dangerous and uncomfortable enemy because his body which you can always conquer gives you so little purchase over his soul' (fortitude, poverty, dettachment)
• 'I expect through cleaning of heartsl he declared. It did not matter what the Moslem's in Pakstan were doing. Hindus and Sikhs should remember Tagore's favorite song: 'If no one responds to your call, Walk alone, Walk alone.' (perseverance, difficulties )

From Prison to Torreciudad

Book written by "Fernando".

Fernando is a guy who spent 10 years in jail (the reason for that is not given in the book), but while in jail he experienced a conversion thanks to the help of a priest and his close union to the Virgin Mary. At some point he promised her that, if he was released during that year, he would go on a walking pilgrimage to her shrine in the North of Spain. After a short while he changed slightly his promise... he would go for such a pilgrimage whenever he was released, even if it wasn't that year itself.

This book is the story of that pilgrimage.

Some remarkable things about Fernando and his trip:

1. His love for Our Lady. It sounds simple, but walking 700 km in less than a month, without a single day break is very tough. He did for love of Mother Mary, to thank her and to ask her for a new job.

2. His daring and boldness to help people, by speaking to them and giving them advice, as well as doing things for others when required... for instance, he saw a forest fire going on and he approached to see if he could give a hand in dousing the fire... it wasn't easy stuff.