C2 Office...Synopsis
Gandhi believed, as Bill Wilson believed that misuse of sex was the primary grounding from which other disease springs.
In Bill’s view, the misuse of the three instincts for “sex, security and society” (p. 50 AA 12x12) lead to character defects, which led to drinking.
In Gandhi’s view, sex was designed for one purpose only, “To create children”. He believed that the seminal power, when used, leaves the body vulnerable.
In truth though, Bill cheated on his wife virtually all his life and Gandhi was perfectly faithful.
The Body
As with the body, so with the Universe.
A man dissipates his physical strength through ordinary incontinence.
How foolish it is intentionally to dissipate vital energy in sensual enjoyment! It is a grave misuse to fritter away for physical gratification that which is given to man and woman for full development of their bodily and mental powers. Such misuse is the root cause of many a disease.
Men and women who indulge in lascivious looks at one's own, or another's wife, or to touch her in the same manner deceive themselves and the world, and growing weaker day by day, making themselves easily susceptible to disease.
Gandhi and Bill Wilson both believed in the immortal soul. (See the last line in the AA 12x12 Step Eleven)
The Soul
The soul exists, and is distinct from the body.
The soul is imperishable.
While AA warns us not to “Rest on our laurels”, Gandhi says that their are two stages of enlightenment: Action and Repose. But, he proposes a unique idea, contrary to the Hindu religion that he was so faithful to. Once you attain enlightenment, you are supposed to live one more life (Hindus believe in reincarnation) and this time “Enjoy your successes” …minus the addictions.
Enlightenment
For the man who seeks to scale the heights of spirituality, action is said to be the means. For the same man, when he has scaled those heights, repose is said to be the means.
For the man who aspires to master himself, the only means is work. If a person lets himself be beaten for a long time on the anvil of work, someday he may be enlightened. For him who has established himself in self-actualization, the right means of continuing in this state is repose.
After attaining freedom, one has one step further to go...To enjoy embodied existence as a consequence of one's good deeds as well.
12 Step learned that if you first surrendered your alcohol, it made alcoholics more like to be available to connect with God. Then, they found that that was true about controlling relationsips in Al-Anon in 1951. Then, the floodgates opened and people found that particular dynamic of surrender worked with gambling, food, sex, debting, smoking, etc.
Self-Restraint
For all restraint, whatever prompts it, is wholesome for men.
Morally, I have no doubt that all self-denial is good for the soul.
Many aspirants after celibacy fail, because in the use of their other senses, they want to carry on like those who are not celibates.
An aspirant after celibacy will always be conscious of his shortcomings, will seek out the passions lingering in the innermost recesses of his heart, and will incessantly strive to get rid of them.
Gandhi and Bill Wilson both believed, and both practiced, service as the most guaranteed, money-back, sure-fire way to find God.
Religion is good. Therapy is good. But unselfish, humble service is something that makes all women and men able to, not only perceive God…but to feel God.
Service
A life of service must be one of humility.
Service is the only thing worth doing...all else is rubbish.
It became my conviction that procreation and the consequent care of children were inconsistent with public service.
If I wanted to devote myself to the service of the community in this manner, I must relinquish the desire for children and wealth.
Those who want to perform national service, or those want to have a glimpse of the real religious life, must lead a celibate life, no matter if married or unmarried.
Gandhi was probably the meekest man since Moses, and when you were in his light you couldn’t help but get better in your relationships because you were seeing, with your own eyes, how that was done.
Relationships
Tolstoy said, "If we would get off the backs of our neighbors the world would be quite alright without our help."
I greatly value those who abuse me. For they are candid and if I can convince them, they work wonders.
The best attraction is not promotion, but for each one of us to live as we would have the world live.
It is possible and necessary to treat human beings on terms of equality, but this can never apply to their morals. One must not put saintliness and rascality on the same level.
Do good deeds, have compassion for all living things, and live in truth to achieve freedom.
My method is conversion, not coercion.
Gandhi believed, incredibly simply, that “God is Truth”. Bill Wilson taught us that you could get to God by simply being honest.
God
God is the hardest taskmaster on this earth. He tries you through and through. And when you find that your faith is failing, he comes to your assistance and proves that he is always with you, but on his terms, not yours.
I believe in both Gods, the one that serves us and the one that we serve. It cannot be that we should render service and should not receive service of any kind.
Gandhi was tough on religion and tougher on Atheists. Bill was more tolerant, forbearing and patient.
Religion
The priest has ever sacrificed the prophet.
Religion and art have the identical aims...moral and spiritual elevation.
Atheism is merely a pose.
This next gift is not a 12 step tool, but it is very effective in stopping lust, which if done moderately and with the help of an experienced sponsor, can be very helpful to a sex addict. Gandhi was the first person that I have ever read who connected these two dots.
Fasting
Those who make light of dietetic restrictions and fasting are as much in error as those who stake their all on them.
At that time I did not understand, or nor did I believe in, the efficacy of fasting.
The observance of celibacy has been found, from experience, to be extremely difficult so long as one is not acquired mastery over taste. Control of the palate has, therefore, been placed as a principle by itself.
Vows are completely contrary to 12 step belief and practice. We simply can’t think beyond today, or, as we have found, the next three hours.
Personally, I have only taken two vows in my life. One, having done my childhood abuse work, I decided to be one of the 9% of people who break off all relations with their family of origin, because it is simply too unsafe. I took a vow never to see my mother again and I took one never to see my father again. It was the right thing for me to do.
Vows
A life without vows is like a ship without anchor.
A vow imports stability, ballast and firmness to one's character. What reliance can be placed on a person who lacks these essential qualities?
It goes without saying that moderation and sobriety are of the very essence of vow taking.
The taking of vows that are not feasible or that are beyond one's capacity would betray thoughtlessness and want of balance.
The essence of a vow does not consist of the difficulty of its performance but in the determination behind it unflinchingly to stick to it in the teeth of difficulties.
The more or less successful practice of self-control had been going on since 1901, but the freedom and joy that came after taking the vow had never been experienced before 1906.
In about a month of my (taking the vow) the foundation of nonviolent non-cooperation was laid.
As though unknown to me, the vow had been preparing me for it. Nonviolent noncooperation had not been a preconceived plan. It came on spontaneously, without my having willed it. But I could see that all my previous steps had led up to that goal.
Events were so shaping themselves as to make this self-purification on my part a preliminary, as it were, to nonviolent noncooperation. I can now see that all the principal events of my life, culminating in the vow of celibacy, were secretly preparing me for it.
Up to this time I had not met with success because the will have been lacking, because I had no faith in myself, no faith in the grace of God, and therefore, my mind had been tossed on the boisterous sea of doubt.
The taking of a vow does not mean that we are able to observe it completely from the very beginning; it does mean constant and honest effort in thought, word and deed for with a view to its fulfillment.
It is not hypocrisy if, despite one's best efforts, one does not succeed in always remaining vigilant, for the evil habit has had a long hold over us.
Vows...I am able to testify that they have also served as my shield. I am of the opinion that they have added a few years to my life and saved me from many an illness.