# Farewell explained — The Story of My Experiments with Truth

> Chapter companion for The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi.

## What happens

Gandhi concludes his narrative, reflecting on the difficulty of self-purification and the pursuit of Truth through Ahimsa. He explains his decision to end the autobiography due to the public nature of his later life and his ongoing experiments, emphasizing that perfect Truth can only be realized through complete nonviolence and selflessness.

## Themes in this chapter

### Truth and Self-Experimentation

Gandhi emphasizes that his life is a series of experiments with truth, and that the only means to realize Truth is through Ahimsa.

### Nonviolence and Satyagraha

Gandhi asserts that Ahimsa (nonviolence) is essential for self-purification and the realization of Truth, and that it must extend to all fields of life, including politics.

### Self-Discipline and Simplicity

Gandhi discusses the necessity of self-purification, conquering passions, and reducing oneself to zero as prerequisites for salvation and Ahimsa.

## Character check-ins

### Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Author and narrator, reflecting on his experiments with truth and ahimsa, and his decision to conclude the autobiography.

### Swami Shraddhanandji

Mentioned as a deceased Congress leader with whom Gandhi worked closely.

### Chittaranjan Das

Referred to as 'the Deshbandhu', a deceased Congress leader.

### Hakim Ajmal Khan

Mentioned as a deceased Congress leader ('Hakim Saheb').

## Key lines

> To conquer the subtle passions seems to me to be harder far than the physical conquest of the world by the force of arms.

Overcoming inner desires is more difficult than conquering the world through military force.

_Gandhi reflects on the challenge of self-mastery compared to external conquest._

> I must reduce myself to zero. So long as a man does not of his own free will put himself last among his fellow creatures, there is no salvation for him.

I must become completely selfless; salvation is impossible unless one willingly places oneself last among others.

_Gandhi emphasizes the importance of humility and selflessness in spiritual progress._

> To see the universal and all-pervading Spirit of Truth face to face one must be able to love the meanest of creation as oneself.

To truly perceive the universal Truth, one must love even the humblest being as oneself.

_Gandhi connects the realization of Truth with universal love and compassion._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-v-farewell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters