The Gospel According to Leo Tolstoy

Preface - Not only is Leo Tolstoy considered one of the greatest writers in history he was also a mentor to Gandhi. Leo Tolstoy's writings, especially "The Kingdom of God is Within You" were a primary inspiration for Gandhi.

After a life of hard partying, wine, women and fortune Tolstoy had a breakdown and eventually became a follower of Jesus. The gospel according to Leo Tolstoy was recorded in his book The Gospel In Brief.

I was led to Christianity neither by theological nor historical investigations but by this-that when I was fifty years old, having asked myself and all the learned men around me what I am and what is the meaning of my life, and received the answer that I am a fortuitous concatenation of atoms and that life has no meaning but is itself an evil, I fell into despair and wanted to put an end to my life; but remembered that formerly in childhood when I believed, life had a meaning for me, and that for the great mass of men about me who believe and are not corrupted by riches life has a meaning; and I doubted the validity of the reply given me by the learned men of my circle and I tried to understand the reply Christianity gives to those who live a real life. And I began to seek Christianity in the Christian teaching that guides such men's lives. I began to study the Christianity which I saw applied in life and to compare that applied Christianity with its source.

The source of Christian teaching is the Gospels, and in them I found the explanation of the spirit which guides the life of all who really live.