ABSTRACT
Before coming to the third phase, or the Mahatma's third life, let us look at the extraordinary correspondence between him and Leo Tolstoy a year before the latter's death. After his discovery of The Kingdom of God Is Within You at the end of the 19th century, Gandhi devoured the works of the great Russian novelist. This conclusion is typical of Gandhi, explaining to Tolstoy what is faith and what the Hindus' faith in reincarnation means, particularly when he himself does not really believe in reincarnation and certainly does not wish it for himself. Although Tolstoy and Romain Rolland believed in Christianity, particularly the teachings of Jesus on love, they were nonetheless critical of the institution, much like Gandhi was of orthodox Hinduism and the Brahmins. Tolstoy then writes about a religious instruction class where the bishop questioned the school girls about the Sixth Commandment: 'You will not kill'.
