2-26-98 MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI

Considered the foremost spiritual and political leader of the twentieth century by some and as a non-original thinker and dangerous renegade by others, Mahat Gandhi became famous for his doctrine of "satyagraha," also known as civil disobedience.

Gandhi's method of relating with people was very motherly (his field of interpersonal relationships was governed by the Moon), This motherly quality even extended to his spiritual life and many deemed him to be a great Bhakti Yogi. In support of this idea, they point out the fact that Gandhi's beloved sacred mantra came to his lips (japa) even as he stumbled and died from an assassin's bullet.

This perception is only partially true. The principles of The Art of Multi-Dimensional Living confirm that Gandhi's spiritual nature was based in Tantra even though it took the channel of Bhakti Yoga as its primary mode of expression. Those of a Tantric nature do not have to be overt or conscious Tantrics like Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.. The essence of a Tantric nature is resistance towards any authority which seeks to limit individuality, freedom, iconoclasm or non-conventionality in any form. This was the essence of Gandhi's satyagraha. It also explains many other facets of Gandhi's overall action-oriented philosophy: improving the living conditions of "untouchables" and "sudras", attempting to dismantle the caste system, honoring the Jain idea that there are many different approaches to God, truth and reality, fighting for women's rights and greater economic justice for all, encouraging across-the-board, governmental decentralization, and constant experimentation (The Nodes of the Moon govern research) in matters related to health, self-development and community living.

The Nodes of the Moon are shadowy planets however, which means that they take on the qualities of the planets with which they are associated. In Gandhi's case, the major association was with the Moon and his Moon was also the governor of his life destiny! This meant that, regardless of his own conscious intentions, he was always being drawn into situations where he was required to act as a courageous, compassionate mother to India's children. The fact that, in the end, he was unable to keep India and all of her children harmoniously united was a great cross for him to carry.

Gandhi's career nature was governed by the planet Mars. This planet was also a "makara" or killer in his star configurations. Thus, it does not surprise us that, in the end, he is killed by an assassin for the way he carried out his professional duties and the results it brought to his motherland.

Gandhi had a sacred symbol in his star configurations which indicated a powerful descent of grace at some time during his life, which brings great benefit not only to himself, but also all of humanity. The reason Gandhi is dearly loved by so many people is because they recognize an ordinary man suddenly raised, by some mysterious process (the descent of grace), to the heights of greatness. They sense both his mortality and divinity and this inspires them that they too can, by some miracle, also be similarly transformed.