This is the final stage of Erik Erikson’s eight stages of growth for humans. Those who are not able to achieve integrity at the last stage end up in despair. As I am in my own final stage I closely examine where I am; I do reflect and meditate a great deal about it not only in terms of my own self but also in view of humanity. One statement of a man, Mahatma Gandhi, knocked Richard Attenborough, an Englishman, off his feet. This sentence struck him so forcibly that there and then he committed to make a film, “Gandhi”, that involved 20 years of research on Gandhi using his own considerable financial resources. This statement uttered by Gandhi in South Africa when he was 23 is this: “It has always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves honoured by the humiliation of their fellow human beings”. This statement was made in the context of Gandhi’s witnessing Indians being forced to walk in the gutter so that whites could pass unimpeded along the sidewalk. I have watched the movie, Gandhi, about five times. The movie won the best picture Oscar award of the year besides many Oscars for the film. Needless to say, the film is very inspiring.
Walking in the gutters is nothing compared to the humiliations humanity goes through in different parts of the world every moment especially in the context of the senseless and horrible terrorism. Fear rather than hope is in the minds of most people involved in air travels. News of a steady menu of horror crimes on a daily basis lead to greater precautions and paralyzing fears. What does that mean for humanity’s stage of growth? Where are we after Buddha spreading non-violence about 2500 years ago? Where are we after Christ modeling a non-violent life about 2000 years ago? These are questions that any person of peace and good will anywhere needs to ponder. Humanity seems to be at the brink of despair especially when we look at electoral choices or referendum made in leading democracies in the world or when dictators are still ruling in the world unimpeded or when men with narrow selfish interests are elected to high offices.
When we are about to give way to despair, we cannot afford to forget the eternal words of Gandhi: “The force generated by nonviolence is infinitely greater than the force of all the arms invented by man’s (human’s) ingenuity.” Three other quotes of Gandhi specially brought to our attention by Attenborough through a calendar in 1985 may be helpful in these difficult times. “Strengths does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” “It is because we have at the present moment everybody claiming the right of conscience without going through any discipline whatsoever that there is so untruth being delivered to a bewildered world.” “I have not the shadow of a doubt that any man or woman can achieve what I have, if he or she would make the same effort and cultivate the same hope and faith”.
To end on a lighter and, perhaps, humorous note: Queen Elizabeth of UK completed her 90 years of age recently. At her marriage to Philip Mountbatten in 1947, Philip’s uncle, Louis Mountbatten, the last viceroy of India, under whom India got independence, and the first governor-general of India, got a piece of cloth made from yarn specially spun by Gandhi at the viceroy’s request to give to Philip, his nephew, as a special wedding gift. The queen’s mother was appalled as she thought the cloth was Gandhi’s under garment. That’s the way life is. Everything gets into the spice of life.
Swami Snehananda Jyoti
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