Gandhi, the celebrated Hindu nationalist leader, had decided that in order to be a leader, he would have to lead a life as independent as possible of physical comforts. But he was not long in realizing that he must continually defend himself against the ever increasing demands of nature. At the beginning, nature demanded very little, this little gradually increased until it reached alarming proportions.
We are like the solitary of the fable: with the intention of keeping the rats from his cell he got a cat; but what would he give the cat to drink? Where would he find milk? He got a cow, and finally ended by getting a man to take care of the cow. That was the end of his solitude.
This story holds a valuable lesson for us. Isn't that trifle which I want very insignificant in itself? Of course, but be careful; this trifle will induce me to acquire other trifles, and going from one thing to another I will end by having real riches. Would I then be practicing perfection in poverty?
What a contradiction! Here I am a proprietor, I possess riches, or rather they possess me. I am their slave.
During my retreat I made an inventory of all my little possessions, some very minor riches, which in spite of my vow of poverty, I have accumulated, making a little estate of them. Have I taken anything back since that time, and was I really sincere in getting rid of my useless possessions? Nothing means nothing. I must aim at having nothing.
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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
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