War and Peace in Modern Hindu Thought—Gandhi, Aurobindo, and Vivekananda in Conversation
Mohandas Gandhi (1869–1948) and Aurobindo Ghose (1872–1950) hold distinct, yet overlapping, positions on the topic of war and peace, violence and nonviolence, and how evil ought to best be confronted. To some extent, the overlaps in their views can be seen as an effect of them basing their respectiv...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Jeffery D. Long |
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| author_sort | Jeffery D. Long |
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| description | Mohandas Gandhi (1869–1948) and Aurobindo Ghose (1872–1950) hold distinct, yet overlapping, positions on the topic of war and peace, violence and nonviolence, and how evil ought to best be confronted. To some extent, the overlaps in their views can be seen as an effect of them basing their respective ideals on a shared foundation of Hindu teaching. More specifically, at least some portion of this overlap can potentially be seen as a function of the influence exerted upon both of these thinkers by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, who was an inspiration to many modern Hindu thinkers, including both Gandhi and Ghose, as both figures attest. This paper will argue, apart from any historical influence he may or may not have had upon them, that Gandhi’s and Ghose’s views both, in different senses, comport well with the teaching of Swami Vivekananda. Specifically, the argument will be what could be called the utopian and realist orientations of Gandhi and Ghose, respectively, regarding the topic of violence, and we can find a logical reconciliation in Vivekananda’s philosophy of karma yoga: the path to liberation through service to the suffering beings of the world. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e9d411a668bf43f8b945576045ba19f5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e9d411a668bf43f8b945576045ba19f52025-08-20T03:27:32ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-06-0116673410.3390/rel16060734War and Peace in Modern Hindu Thought—Gandhi, Aurobindo, and Vivekananda in ConversationJeffery D. Long0Religion and Asian Studies, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA 17022, USAMohandas Gandhi (1869–1948) and Aurobindo Ghose (1872–1950) hold distinct, yet overlapping, positions on the topic of war and peace, violence and nonviolence, and how evil ought to best be confronted. To some extent, the overlaps in their views can be seen as an effect of them basing their respective ideals on a shared foundation of Hindu teaching. More specifically, at least some portion of this overlap can potentially be seen as a function of the influence exerted upon both of these thinkers by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, who was an inspiration to many modern Hindu thinkers, including both Gandhi and Ghose, as both figures attest. This paper will argue, apart from any historical influence he may or may not have had upon them, that Gandhi’s and Ghose’s views both, in different senses, comport well with the teaching of Swami Vivekananda. Specifically, the argument will be what could be called the utopian and realist orientations of Gandhi and Ghose, respectively, regarding the topic of violence, and we can find a logical reconciliation in Vivekananda’s philosophy of karma yoga: the path to liberation through service to the suffering beings of the world.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/6/734HinduismHindu philosophymodern Hindu thoughtnonviolencejust war theoryGandhi |
| spellingShingle | Jeffery D. Long War and Peace in Modern Hindu Thought—Gandhi, Aurobindo, and Vivekananda in Conversation Religions Hinduism Hindu philosophy modern Hindu thought nonviolence just war theory Gandhi |
| title | War and Peace in Modern Hindu Thought—Gandhi, Aurobindo, and Vivekananda in Conversation |
| title_full | War and Peace in Modern Hindu Thought—Gandhi, Aurobindo, and Vivekananda in Conversation |
| title_fullStr | War and Peace in Modern Hindu Thought—Gandhi, Aurobindo, and Vivekananda in Conversation |
| title_full_unstemmed | War and Peace in Modern Hindu Thought—Gandhi, Aurobindo, and Vivekananda in Conversation |
| title_short | War and Peace in Modern Hindu Thought—Gandhi, Aurobindo, and Vivekananda in Conversation |
| title_sort | war and peace in modern hindu thought gandhi aurobindo and vivekananda in conversation |
| topic | Hinduism Hindu philosophy modern Hindu thought nonviolence just war theory Gandhi |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/6/734 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jefferydlong warandpeaceinmodernhinduthoughtgandhiaurobindoandvivekanandainconversation |