Simple Lesson

At the serene Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat, morning sunlight spilled over the mud walls and mango trees. A small crowd had gathered to witness the morning prayer and spinning session.

One of them was Arvind, a young teenager from Delhi who had come with his school. He was dubious of the austerity around him — the clay pots, the faded khadi, the lack of luxury he was used to.

In the middle sat Mahatma Gandhi, legs crossed in front of his charkha, spinning yarn with gentle, habitual movements. Next to him, Arvind was muttering, "Why do you live so miserably when the whole world hears you?"

Gandhi stopped spinning. He regarded the boy kindly and said,

"Because if I take more than is necessary, then someone else will have to do without.

On his way out, Arvind noticed a small girl sweeping the yard of the Ashram with utmost care. Her smile was worry-free, her happiness not attached to material things.

As Arvind stepped onto the bus before getting off, Arvind discreetly took off his branded watch and dropped it into the donation box in the Ashram. Gandhiji saw him and nodded softly, whispering, "The world changes one simple act at a time."

Moral:

Simplicity is true greatness. If we live simpler, other people might live with dignity. 

Inspiration:

"Live simply so that others may simply live." – Mahatma Gandhi