Written between 1916 and 1932, the four works that make up Vows and Observances were written for Satyagraha Ashram, the religious community Mahatma Gandhi founded. In four parts addressing such fundamental questions of life as truth, love, work, and poverty, the writings are as relevant to modern western readers as they were to their original audiences. His discussion of swadeshi, a principle of commitment to local economic activity with roots in ancient India, strikes an important contemporary chord as the world moves toward globalization.