In his emphasis on simplicity and non-possession, Gandhi was revealing a profound truth about the roots of our current crisis, and he was pointing toward the pathway to a more sustainable future.
In Hind Swaraj he described the quest for material goods and the endless multiplication of wants as “Satanic.” If India were to follow the industrialism and economic imperialism of the West, he warned, it would “strip the world bare like locusts.”
Gandhi’s critique of excessive materialism calls into question our constant striving and demand for more goods. Are we consuming too much? Have our wants out-stripped our needs?
David Cortwright. “Climate Action, Gandhian Ways: Remarks on Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th Birthday.” Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. Oct. 3, 2019.
David Cortright 