A Letter to a Hindu

In A Letter to a Hindu Leo Tolstoy addresses a Hindu scholar M. L. A. S. Sastri in response to a letter that had challenged his views on nonviolence and social reform. The letter serves as Tolstoy’s philosophical meditation on the principles of love nonviolence and spiritual awakening. He discusses his deep admiration for the teachings of Jesus Christ especially his doctrine of love and forgiveness and argues that these ideas align closely with the spiritual teachings of Hinduism.Tolstoy critiques Western civilization which he believes has lost sight of moral and spiritual values and contrasts it with the simplicity and purity he perceives in the Hindu philosophy of nonviolent resistance to evil. The letter also emphasizes the importance of self-realization and compassion in creating a just society offering a call to action for people to live according to higher ethical and spiritual principles. It is a profound work that reflects Tolstoy’s commitment to peace and his interest in Eastern spirituality.