Leo Tolstoy

Paper Summary:

This paper describes the about face Leo Tolstoy had regarding his views on morality, religion and spirituality. The paper discusses the change in Tolstoy's views about how we should conduct our lives and his search for a morally righteous life. The paper further explains that, although Tolstoy was able to write about the spirituality within all of us and was able to reach and influence millions of people through his writings, he was never able to achieve for himself the peace and tranquility that spiritual enlightenment should bring.

From the Paper:

"The most significant and lasting outcome of his change in world viewpoint was the influence his future writings had upon Mohandas Gandhi. Out of Tolstoy's demand that people be morally just and follow a path of non- resistance to evil, came Gandhi's strict adherence to this latter principle. Gandhi described himself as a "humble follower of Tolstoy's" (Rowe, p. 1), thus ultimately Tolstoy's belief in non- resistance fostered the most successful peaceful revolution in the world. As Tolstoy's change became more solidified in his own mind, he began to enlarge his realm of influence and his social categories in need of reform. His most admirable characteristic is that he truly tried to set an example for others by living his principles in his own life. He worked beside the peasants, shunned the success of his prior writings, gave away his wealth, maintained a degree of self- sufficiency, and tried to live by the "five commandments" he derived from Christ's teachings (Garrod, p. 3). Unfortunately this lifestyle enlarged the void within his family that was never breached."

More papers on Leo Tolstoy:

• Book Review # 107291 : "Leo Tolstoy and Deathbed Conversions"
• Book Review # 110885 : "Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace"
• Essay # 55500 : "Leo Tolstoy's Works"

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