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♦ A Mother woke her twelve-year-old daughter early one morning and set out on a walk of many miles to see the revered teacher Mohandas Gandhi. The mother was concerned about her daughter who had developed an insatiable fondness for sweets. Unable to get her daughter to control her craving for candy and sugary delights, she decided to seek out the wise man’s help.

Arriving at the ashram she asked if she might be able to speak with Gandhiji. After waiting, the teacher appeared, greeted her, and invited her into a room to speak with him.

“Gandhiji, I am worried sick about my daughter. I think she is addicted to sweets and I am concerned about her health. Even if I don’t give her candy, she seems to find her way to it. Would you please speak to her?”
Gandhiji said, “Go home before the sun gets any lower and come back and see me in three weeks.”

Somewhat disappointed, the mother left with her daughter and returned home. Three weeks later the mother came back to the ashram with her daughter. After a brief wait, the teacher appeared, greeted the mother and the daughter, and invited the young girl into another room. The two sat down and talked and after a few minutes the daughter came out to her encouraged mother.

“What did Gandhiji say to you?” the mother asked.
“He told me that I should stop eating so many sweets and sugary goodies,” the girl said. “He said they were not good for me and that if I wanted to grow up and be healthy, I should learn to control my sweet tooth.”
“That’s all?” the mother asked, dismayed.
“Yes,” said the daughter. “That’s what he said.”

Just then the wise man came out and when the mother saw him she stepped away from her daughter and walked over to him.

“Gandhiji, my daughter said all you told her was that candies are bad for her and if she wanted to grow up and be well she should stop eating so many sweets.”
“Yes,” said Gandhi, “that is what I told her. She will be fine. She’s a good girl.”

Surprised, the mother shook her head confused. Then she said, “Gandhiji, I don’t understand. If all you did was tell her to stop eating sweets, why didn’t you just say that three weeks ago when we came to see you?”
“Because three weeks ago,” said Gandhi, “I was still addicted to sweets.”

♦This is a story I have told for years. I believe I first read a less embellished version of it in the Introduction to Donald Nicholl’s book Holiness.