Spirituality in Yayati Madan G Gandhi's The Rhyme of The Mystic Mariner

Abstract

The present paper studies the concept of spirituality in Gandhi's selected poems entitled The rhyme of the mystic mariner (2017). The paper focuses on spiritual qualities and pragmatics as conceptualized in some of the poems. Spirituality is presented mostly in metaphors and personifications throughout the poems. The adopted methodology is both analytic and interpretive. Spirituality is treated on the three levels of trait, goal, and emotion. It blends Elkins' spiritual qualities with Beck's pragmatics of spirituality. The analysis of these concepts helps one detect a processual pattern. It is argued in addition to universality, phenomenology, mysterious energy, and compassion, Gandhi accentuates eternity (universal timelessness), oneness, love, and harmony. Love is the foremost spiritual emotion that accords one perspective, insight, and awareness. It ends in Zen or contemplation, the pragmatic act that Gandhi's poetry highlights in the spiritual process. The paper concludes for Gandhi the Ultimate truth is harmony, the Ultimate state is silence (peace), and the Ultimate act is contemplation.

key words : Gandhi spirituality love poetry harmony