Page:Mahatma Gandhi, his life, writings and speeches.djvu/353

 an ideal Indian, for Mr. Gandhi represents in this country the highest ideal of a Sannyasi, a man who has renounced everything including himself and lives only for service. Two forces of service are recognised in the great faith to which Mr. Gandhi belongs; one is the service of a little developed man who serves in order to learn, to whom the duty of more developed people is that they should associate with him, that they should help him to educate himself, to help him to grow in strength, in purity and in knowledge. That is the service which is involuntary because practically compelled. Nature has not yet developed in such men the power to do aught save learn by service. Whatever body they may be born in, they are undeveloped in a true humanity of the spirit. Then as evolution proceeds and humanity rises from step to step, at last having acquired experience and courage and wisdom and will-power, the whole of these are gathered up into a man who is touching perfection, and then asking nothing more from the world, desiring nothing that the world can live, having learnt what the world has to teach, and needing nothing more, then he takes that highest service which is voluntary, which is gladly given which consecrates him to the service of humanity so long as there are any who need his help, so long as there are any whom he can lift nearer to his own position. That is the, position of a Sannyasi—the