GANDHI's LETTER TO KASTURIBA
GANDHI's LETTER TO KASTURIBA:
When Gandhiji was in South Africa, he received the news that his wife Kastur Bhai was bid-ridden. As Gandhiji could not leave South Africa, he wrote a letter to his wife. Normally, a letter written by a husband to his diseased wife would convey his prayer for her speedy recovery but Gandhiji’s letter did not contain any such consolatory words.
He wrote: “You existed even before this body came into being, even now when your body is there, you exist and even if the body goes, you would exist. What exist always is your consciousness and not your body. If you are going to depend on this body, you would ruin. I do not want to say some words that might console you. That would be falsity. One who treads the path of truth would never deviate from his path. This body is a myth. One who relies on this body would perish either today or tomorrow. This body has come somewhere in between and it would disappear sometime later. Do not be under the impression that you are this body. Be aware that you are the ever-existent reality and always abide by this consciousness. My words may appear cruel to one who is looking for some soothing words but nothing is more compassionate than these words of truth.”
