Gandhi: Through the Lens of Dharma Bums

In Union Square Park stands a bronze sculpture of Mohandas Gandhi. Its placement was precisely thought out, as the park is home to many, various protests. Gandhi is a symbol of freedom, of independence, of meditation and of nonviolent protest. He is seen standing, amid a garden, clenching a pole in his right hand, suggesting the notion that he is on a journey. One foot in front of the other, Gandhi appears both reflective and calm. The accompanying description reads “My optimism rests on my belief in the infinite possibilities of the individual to develop nonviolence… In a gentle way you can shake the world”. Gandhi’s quotation relates to the Dharma Bums, in that Ray Smith (and Jack Kerouac), attempt to “shake the world”, specifically America by subtly commenting on America and its looming police state, although not necessarily making a distinct effort to provoke any action. Ray’s agenda is quite different from Gandhi’s, and some may argue less crucial and more obscure. Ray wishes to enact and revert back to a time period where hobo’s, seekers, and other travellers are not perceived as threats, but rather as autonomous and self-reliant individuals, free to go about in the world as they please. Madeleine Leininger wrote, “Gandhi is remembered as saying that almost anything you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.” (32) Gandhi’s statement relates to Ray Smith, in that although Ray did not necessarily change the ways of life of others, he did find for himself, a way to live his life and a philosophy of his own that would guide him in his future endeavors.

Through the lens of Dharma Bums, Ray can be imagined as standing where Gandhi stands, in the midst of nature. Although, obviously Ray is not as prominent and recognized, and a statue of him would not be placed in the middle of Union Square Park, the image of Gandhi reminds me of how I pictured Ray throughout the novel. Ray is consistently portrayed as a soul yearning for liberation and as being on a quest to seek that release. When he is travelling on the mountains with Japhy, I picture him peacefully moving upwards, stick in hand, contemplating the perplexities of life. Both exhibit simple ways of living; Gandhi in his dhoti, and Ray with his pack.

Gandhi is portrayed as being off the path, literally in this installation. There is a trail of rocks beside him implying that there are many paths one can take to achieve one’s goals. It seems as if both Gandhi’s and the actual trail both lead to the same destination, though. Ray Smith is also on a very different path than the society he is surrounded by; most people are not seekers, nor following the meditation tradition that he obeys so strictly. Also, even Japhy and him differ in the routes they choose within the same tradition – “We were two strange dissimilar monks on the same path.” (Kerouac, 176) Looking at it from the bigger picture, they are both on the same path towards enlightenment or Truth, (by adhering to Buddhism) but, they are taking different routes to get there. Ray practices “do-nothing”, while Japhy’s Buddhism is activity. The path that Gandhi is on and the path that is cut out near him, could represent the different paths that both Japhy and Ray are taking towards the Truth. Gandhi, also a believer in Buddhism, as for him, it was not a new and separate religion from Hinduism, is also portrayed on a different path because of the endless possibilities that Buddhism offers, and as mentioned in the description, because of the “infinite possibilities of the individual to develop nonviolence”. There is no one or right way to achieve enlightenment; the tracks are infinite.

Although Gandhi is better known for his contribution to India’s independence, he is also a representation of the power of meditation, drawing from his spiritual strength to liberate India. Ray also draws his strength from his spiritual life, but not towards such a goal as Gandhi had in mind, but rather for personal insight. He explores both Buddhism and Christianity and attempts to merge the two as non-competing forces and philosophies for his life. Imagining Ray in Gandhi’s statue position, the path where Gandhi is standing and the actual path made of rocks could be understood to characterize the paths of Buddhism and of Christianity, in which both ultimately lead to the same destination. Though they are separate, they could potentially become united farther down the road, which is what Ray struggles with throughout the Dharma Bums. The unification between Buddhism and Christianity is what Ray seeks for, while Gandhi sought to unify India and break from England.

Kerouac, Jack. The Dharma Bums. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

Leininger, Madeleine M. Ethical and Moral Dimensions of Care. Detroit: Wayne State UP, 

          1990. Print.