Mahatma Gandhi on Serving Our Neighbors

While imprisoned in the the Yeravda Central Prison in 1930, Mahatma Gandhi wrote a series of letters titled the Yeravda Manir. One of these letters, written in 1931 after his incarceration, outlines the law of Swadeshi. Gandhi describes this principle as “a doctrine of selfless service that has its roots in the purest ahimsa, i.e. Love” (38). In the spirit of Swadeshi, he instructs his readers to help those nearest them, for in doing so they will aid those far away. However, in seeking to first serve those far away, they will actually disservice those both near and far.

In the particular place where I live, I have certain persons as my neighbors, some relations and dependents. Naturally, they all feel, as they have a right to, that they have a claim on me, and look to me for help and support. Suppose now I leave them all at once, and set out to serve people in a distant place. My decision would throw my little world of neighbors and dependents out of gear; while my gratuitous knight-errantry would, more likely than not, disturb the atmosphere in the new place. Thus a culpable neglect of my immediate neighbors, and an unintended disservice to the people whom I wish to serve, would be the first fruits of my violation of the principle of Swadeshi.

Mahatma Gandhi, Yeravda Mandir, 36

Questions

• Who are your neighbors?
• What is your relationship with your neighbors? How do they look to you for help and support? How do you receive help and support from them?
• Are there any unaddressed needs, for your neighbors and/or yourself, that could be served?
• In what ways might you have ignored your neighbors for those far away, or for yourself? Is there any way you can adjust this “culpable neglect”?
• Many of us may feel disconnected from our immediate neighbors. What would it look like for you to either connect with or invite others into your local communities?
• How would your life or community change if you reoriented yourself towards local service?

Pairs Well With

• Christian teaching to love one’s neighbor
• Robin Wall Kimmerer’s focus on local and indigenous care practices
• Confucian emphasis on filial piety and social harmony

Possible Harmful Interactions

• Staunch individualism
• Peter Singer’s The Life You Can Save focuses on alleviating suffering globally, such as saving “the life of a child in a developing country” (18)

Context

• Chapter Six of Life Worth Living, “How Should We Live?”