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* The Jaina Philosophy It is possible that what I now say for my own people on this subject will surprise a few of my hearers, but I am proud and honored to be able, to say that this prime requisite of human progress, the education of the masses, is a doctrine held and taught and enforced, and practiced by the Jaina community to which I belong, from the very beginning, it is proved by our history, and without interruption. In respect of my Hindu people other than Jainas, including the Brahmans and the believers in the veads, candor requires that I should say that with the exception of particular schools for the education of Brahmans only, this doctrine has not obtained since the innovation of priestly exclusiveness, which made the privilege of education the right of one class only.
This admission, which I freely make, ought not to weaken what I have said on this subject on behalf of the Jaina community. It was a member of the Jaina community who contributed 400,000 rupees for the purpose of erecting a university building and the creation of a library in the same, in the city of Bombay; this same gentleman endowed the University of Calcutta for purposes of scholarship with 200,000 rupees. The munificence on the part of this same gentleman and many others of one community, has established schools in different parts of our country for the education of girls as well as boys, which education is also free. It is the hope which has been bequeathed to us by our forefathers and which is also a factor in our civilization and it is our purpose also, to extend the work of education with all of our abilities with or without governmental aid, on that principle which is found in your Christian Scriptures, that "a little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump." Time must elapse before we shall realize the great consummation, but patience and perseverance, with the encouragement of all enlightened people and especially of you, the liberal Americans, will eventually triumph. What I have learned of your great system of education of the masses, which I admit cannot be very great or particular for the reason that my
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Jain Education International
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| SR No. | 006901 |
| Book Title | Jaina Philosophy |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Virchand R Gandhi, Kumarpal Desai |
| Publisher | World Jain Confederation |
| Publication Year | 2009 |
| Total Pages | 298 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 5 MB |