Mother and Child Summary and Analysis

Easwaran opens the chapter entitled Mother and Child by asking the question of how such a personal evolution could have come about, and how the evolution of a single person could effect such sweeping political and inter-personal change. When Gandhi was asked to explain in three words the secret of his life, he said "renounce and enjoy." Easwaran explains that he was quoting the Isha Upanishad from Hindu scripture. The idea was detachment from the result of one's actions, so that one's focus is on the spirit of his actions, and their results are laid at the feet of God. The Bhagavad Gita suggests that being caught up in the results of one's actions only leads to frustrated bursts of violence and despair. Detachment allows for peaceful focus on the goal, regardless of the difficulties in the...