Indivisible Whole: Planting Tree Farewell


March 30, 2015

Every week, we feature excerpts by Gandhi that lend insight into his values and personal practices.

In 1931 Gandhi stayed for twelve-weeks at East London, where he had the opportunity to see "the best side of human nature" and lent support to his belief "that at bottom there was neither East nor West". As a goodbye, he planted a tree in front of his residency(Kingsley Hall), and his parting message --as you can hear in the video-- was:


December 03, 1931

"Whatever the result of the mission that brought me to London, I know that I shall carry with me the pleasantest memories of my stay in the midst of the poor people of East London."

~ M.K. Gandhi    December 03, 1931.
Source: Footage Gandhi Serve Foundation. 

One can see the pragmatism in Gandhi's life, even in a farewell he was planting a tree in a marginalized neighborhood among seeds of goodwill, mutual understanding and love.

"My life is an indivisible whole, and all my activities run into one another; and they all have their rise in my insatiable love of humankind."

~ M.K. Gandhi  March 02, 1934. 
Source: Harijan, CWMG Vol. 63 p. 206
 

Be The Change

This week participate in an activity to green and beautify a materially poor neighborhood. Also, think in ways you can have farewells that could last a life-time.