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Both these stalwarts had woven into their lives the three virtues indispensible to an effective personality - Commitment to duty, putity and truth. 'Swami Vivekananda declared : 1 shall work incessantly till l die and even after my death, I shall work for the good of the world'. These words are clearly indicative of the Indian culture. As far as Virchandbhai is concerned, it is a fact that his untimely death was the result of his devotion to work. So there is no doubt about his commitment to action. Swamiji, being a Sannyasi was pure(in body and mind). He considered as a real man only that person who possessed putity of the heart. Virchandbhai was a man of the world. In spite of being a Shravaka and not a Sannyasi, he looked upon the world with detachment. Even in America his ways were those of a devout Jain. He was always a strict vegetarian. This was a challenge to the then prevelant belief that one who goes abroad violated the norms of his religion. The Western scholars have freely praised his devoutness. Like Swami Vivekananda, Virchandbhai too, never hesitated to speak out what he felt to be the truth - no matter who attacked him for his outspokenness. In the face of caste - bonds, short sighted approach of the society and objections to a trip abroad, both these great men crossed the ocean in order to preach their Darshans. What better ideals of service can we find?
Both were deeply learned in philosophy, both possessed a capacity of comparitive study, both had a clear vision that could see ahead of their times. Both were experts in yoga and both took great pains to teach the westerner, the process of yoga, through which they could enlighten them about the Aryan culture. While in the western countries, they were complimentary to each other. Swami Vivekananda had great faith in Virchandbhai's ability. He says in a letter :
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