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Breaking Someone’s Sugar Habit – Gandhi’s Story
Photo Courtesy of angstdei
Be The Change You Want To See In This World – Mahatma Gandhi
During 1930′s, a young boy had become obsessed with eating sugar. His mother was very upset with this. But no matter how much she scolded him and tried to break his habit, he continued to satisfy his sweet tooth. Totally frustrated, she decided to take her son to see his idol – Mahatma Gandhi; perhaps her son would listen to him.
She walked miles, for hours under scorching sun to finally reach Gandhi’s ashram. There, she shared with Gandhi her predicament. -
“Bapu, my son eats too much sugar. It is not good for his health. Would you please advise him to stop eating it?”
Gandhi listened to the woman carefully, thought for a while and replied,
“Please come back after two weeks. I will talk to your son.”
The woman looked perplexed and wondered why had he not asked the boy to stop eating sugar right away. She took the boy by the hand and went home.
Two weeks later they revisited Gandhi. Gandhi looked directly at the boy and said,
“Boy, you should stop eating sugar. It is not good for your health.”
The boy nodded and promised he would not continue this habit any longer. The boy’s mother was puzzled. She turned to Gandhi and asked,
“Bapu, Why didn’t you tell him that two weeks ago when I brought him here to see you?”
Gandhi smiled,
“Mother, two weeks ago I was eating a lot of sugar myself.”
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That is a good one, read it laughed, then thought, one should really check themselves before they pass judgment or give advise. Thanks
-Tabs
Hi Avani – I love that Gandhi quote and this story made me laugh. Yet so many people give out advice that actually conflicts with what they do themselves, don’t they?
A short but SWEET story about integrity. I love it.
Be the change!
John
John Rocheleau – Zen-Moments’s last blog post..3 Reasons and 7 Ways to Live in Creative Joy
What a lovely story!! You sure have a way of digging up stories of the past to share them. It’s nice to be reminded of these timeless classics. I may have heard this story before, but I laughed when I read it again here! Thanks!!
Evelyn Lim’s last blog post..How To Build Intuitive Awareness For Inspired Actions
Avani – Gandhi is an inspiration to me all my life. I’ve read about his life extensively. I really enjoyed this story of utmost honesty and integrity of a man I consider my idol.
Shilpan
Shilpan | successsoul.com’s last blog post..Mark Twain’s Thoughts on 3 Topics You’d Rather Not Discuss
So, this is the opposite of “do as I say, not as I do”.
A fabulous story with an important message!
That’s good Avani!
I think the tricky part for most people is identifying when they are wanting someone else to stop doing something – when they themselves are doing it. For example, not reaching their potential, or having self-sabotaging behaviour.
Robin’s last blog post..Letting Creativity Just Slip In
Funny!! That will make your think! I love that quote.
Jennifer’s last blog post..Change Your Life – One Thought at a Time – Part 1
haha I didn’t expect that ending.
Thanks for sharing it Avani
Glen Allsopp’s last blog post..What Message would you Leave before you Die?
I loved it Avani, I hadn’t heard it before. I guess it’s like saying that you should sweep your own doorstep before commenting on the cleanliness of other people’s doorsteps.
Marelisa’s last blog post..Slow Down – 32 Ways to Start Now
I have heard this story, but told with slight variations. My father always told stories like this.
Karn Patel’s last blog post..How to Increase Your Intelligence
Oh, good one. I didn’t see that punchline coming. And so many messages. A) being receptive to change based on someone else’s desire for change and b) only give out advice if your own yard doesn’t need cleaning up.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..The beginning of the end
Enlightening and seemingly simple….
Avani,
I love how this post talks about integrity without mentioning it once.
What a powerful way to convey a message a story is!
Where did you read this story? I’m curious to know more!
Thanks for this inspiring story!
Luciano Passuello’s last blog post..Brainwriting is Brainstorming on Steroids
Avani -
The quote at the start goes along with this story perfectly. We have to be the change before we can ask others to change. How often do we not do that? At first blush, this seems like a funny story. But the deeper meaning is there – once we see it.
Lance’s last blog post..Maintenance, Do You Do It?
@Luciano: My husband shared this story with me. He heard it in a Anthony Robbins interview he was listening to.
I didn’t see this punchline coming either! Now, that is definitely illustrating the phrase “Walk your talk.”
Davina’s last blog post..I Dreamt I Died
@Avani: interesting that you should mention Anthony Robbins… I’ve been listening to quite a few of his videos lately.
The story you hi-lighted was not only funny but it emphasized a very important point! Tabs & Cath captured that well in their comments
Ricardo Bueno’s last blog post..What’s Stopping You?
Hello. I’d like to hear Tony Robbins tell this story do you happen to know what CD, video it was on? Thank you!
Hi Avani,
That was a great story. I’m still laughing.
I heard this story before but this time I realized what a GREAT personality Gandhi ji was.
That’s a funny one. Imagine how many fewer blog posts there would be if bloggers behaved like Ghandi.
Bill Kanapaux’s last blog post..Altered states 1: Your world on the brink
Wonderful story. I must say I have a sweet tooth myself. I need to cut it out.
Rachel’s last blog post..Losing Weight and Nursing
Cool Story, I am truly amazed… We need to keep in mind of this before we advise others.. That’s Y we call him MAHATMA (The Great Soul)
Very nice, correct yourself, then correct others, i need to follow this myself.
I’ve always really enjoyed this story – it really gets to the heart of the matter in a simple, practical, and concise manner. I have a much shorter version on my website that I originally read in Passionate Presence by Catherine Ingram.
Hi,
i do not know if this story really happened or not, and we can say it doesn’t matter much real or not, but i would like to inform anyway. This story is in fact a true story but main actor is not Gandhi.
in muslim religion this is a long told story. and main actor is Al-Imam al-A’zam lived 699-767.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Hanifa_an-Nu%E2%80%98man
And here is the same story in Turkish:
http://www.haznevi.net/icerikoku.aspx?KID=5653&BID=65
laughed after reading it, but its true we should think twice before passing any comment over others..
nice post.
What a great story! The Bible teaches a very similar truth …
“How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:4-5 NIV)
ru4real?´s last blog post..7 Super Helpful Bible Study Tools
I loved this, wonderful story about integrity.
Aaron´s last blog post..Moral Values – Truth
haha…great story. Practice what you preach
AJ Kumar´s last blog post..Courage. Do You Have it or Do You Want it?
hello Avani, I am a new follower of your blogs! I really enjoyed this story, it made me smile!
a lot of truth that comes through in parable scenarios! stories stick! 
blessings, Jen/Sharmila
I hope that you are feeling re-aligned again since that time!
p.s. I also enjoyed your ‘Following My Heart’ blog; I think it takes a lot of courage to be still and not speak rather then to express anything at whim; keeping to our highest truth. Often it is after we rest up, that the best ideas and quiet revelations emerge!
You are welcome to stop by and check out my blogs that focus on living truthfully!
Jen´s last blog ..Progressive Healing; Marshmallow & Sacred Spaces…
I am somewhat intrigued by the story you have posted about sugar and Gandhi. An exactly similar story with Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, has been well-known for at least the last 14 centuries, with authentic citations of narrators. It is possible that Gandhi, a person who had studied the life of the Prophet of Islam very thoroughly and was a great admirer, might have followed the Prophet’s example before advising the little boy.
Habib,
You are the second person who told me that a similar story is quoted in Prophet Muhammad’s life as well. Whether Gandhi followed Prophet’s example … quite possible but I guess only Gandhi can answer that