How did Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas about simplicity affect his lifestyle?

Mahatma Gandhi’s commitment to simplicity was deeply rooted in his spiritual philosophy, particularly the Hindu concept of aparigraha (nonpossession), which encouraged individuals to discard material goods that hinder spiritual growth. This belief transformed his lifestyle from a successful lawyer into one defined by manual labor, austerity, and community living.1

His pursuit of simplicity manifested in several key ways:

• Settlement Living: Influenced by John Ruskin’s critique of capitalism, Gandhi established communal settlements like the Phoenix Settlement and Tolstoy Farm, where he and his associates lived by the "sweat of their brow". These later evolved into ashrams in India, such as those at Sabarmati and Sevagram.12
• Economic Self-Reliance: Gandhi promoted the use of the spinning wheel to produce khadi, a coarse cotton fabric, as part of his "constructive programme" to support rural India and encourage economic self-reliance.23
• Rejection of Materialism: He intentionally distanced himself from wealth and comfort, focusing instead on social and economic uplift, which made him a formidable leader who could not be swayed by traditional incentives like riches or promotion.1