Lead Kindly Light

In memory of Mahatma Gandhi who laid down in his life 61 years ago on 30th Jan 1948

Best wishes


B.M.N.Murthy, Saturday 31st Jan 2009

LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT
--Mahatma Gandhi’s Favourite Hymn

Paying an eloquent testimony to faith in the Divine Grace, the ‘British Medical Journal ‘of England, one of the most influential medical journals in the beginning of the 20th Century which moulded medical opinion, wrote in one of its issues about a hundred year ago:
“Nothing in life is more wonderful than Divine Faith, the one great moving force which we can neither weigh in the balance nor test in the crucible. Intangible as ether, ineluctable as gravitation, the radium of moral and mental spheres, mysterious, indefinable, known only by its effects, faith in the Divine pours out an unfailing stream of energy. Faith in the Divine is indeed one of the miracles of human life which science as ready to accept as it is to study its effects”

In times of adversity when there is no ray of hope, our worst apprehensions and fears require our stalwart, unwavering faith in a higher Being. This is the meaning of the word ‘Sharanagathi’ commonly used in Vedanta which only means ‘placing oneself at the hands of God’. Gandhiji’s purity of mind and faith in God proved his triumphs even in the midst of mounting opposition. His utter reliance on God to ‘Lead kindly on’ his soul strengthened his mind and resolve. He did not allow any duty or difficulty to come in the way of his spiritual life. All our sages and saints have testified that the power of thought guided them to experience their own divinity while living in the world.

For spiritual conviction born of deep faith in the divinity, John Henry Newman [1801-1890] is a classic exemplar. He lived early in the 19th century in England and was a prominent member of the Church of England. As mere religious rituals and church functions did not satisfy him, he felt compelled to seek a deeper religious life and journeyed to Italy to have discussions with the papal authorities in the papal headquarters at Rome. During this travel he endured storms, an earthquake and finally succumbed fatally to an epidemic in Sicily. A feverish delirium made him painfully aware of the ‘utter hollowness’ of his religious belief. They did not provide the inner strength and reliable help he needed in his difficulties and increased his doubts. He felt no relief after slight recovery. He felt only guilt and remorse. After a month of convalescence in Italy, he was still sick both psychologically and physically.

Newman’s meeting with the Vatican priests made him neither wiser nor was it anyway helpful. It was a bit of a disappointment to him. He was, however, thankful to God for having saved him miraculously from the clutches of the epidemic in Italy which had killed so many people. He decided to return to England.

During the summer of 1883 when he was 32 years old, Newman returned to England by ship. During the voyage through the Mediterranean Sea, the ship was stranded midstream for about a week between Corsica and Sardinian due to heavy fog. The ship drifted aimlessly in the Strait for a week. During this misfortune it dawned on Newman that the same hand of Providence that had now struck him down in the mid-seas had also lifted him during the epidemic in Italy. The ship’s impending calamity had caused confusion, panic and fear in the crew and other passengers in the ship but Newman remained completely indrawn and calm. How was such a calmness of mind possible in the midst of turbulence all around? It was his innately spiritual attitude united with the recent setbacks that had made him introspective and contemplative. This event gave new meaning and purpose to his life.

He opened the Bible and took out Psalm 27.11 which read “Lead me, O Lord! I need your help and guidance. I cannot see the way—Lead, Kindly Light”. These words soothed his soul and seemed to stir the ocean back to calmness. A gentle breeze came up suddenly and filled the sails, allowing the ship to resume its journey. Newman noticed none of these. His aroused spirit was struggling to express itself with his thoughts steeped in Divine Grace. It is then that these lines came out spontaneously from within which he wrote down “Lead, Kindly Light” before the ship left the Strait
Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home-
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene—one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, not prayed that thou
Shouldst lead me on:
I loved to choose and see my path; But now
Lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will; remember not past years.

So long thy power has blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on;
O’er moor and fen, O’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.


This hymn was a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi and is sung by countless people around the world.



Antarjyotihi Bahirjyotihi
Pratyagyotihi Paratparaha
Jyothirjyothihi Swayamjyotihi
Atmajyotihi Shivosmyaham
Acharya Shankara

“The Light within, the Light without,
The Light in each yet transcendent
The Light of Lights, self-luminous
The Light of Self, Shiva Himself”

B.M.N.Murthy
ARTCLE NO. 487---LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT
Friday, January 30, 2009 8:36 PM