Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 006901
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

Page 45

- The Jaina Philosophy is very high and the Hindus lay great emphasis on justice, truth, purity, and on leading morally upright life. These are the qualities which are reflected in their daily routine. He say:
"Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not covet, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not lie”, are commandments with us as with you, and thou shalt practice virtue, good will, right conduct, not toward men only, but toward all living beings', are also parts of our moral code, which no Hindu can forget or deny without bringing down upon him corresponding evils and retribution". (p. 312)
The sheer ignorance about India and its people is the convenient target of Gandhi's barbs. At times he speaks as a Jain, at times as a Hindu, but all the while he is an Indian to the core. India, he tells the Americans, offers you 'old sweet life', 'old hospitality' and 'dear old mother's unbounded, unselfish love.'
His 'Jain Philosophy holds mirror not only to Jaina philosophy but to the pride and glory of India, the incredible India. His lectures were not stuffed with mere facts but were instructive, illuminating and elevating. They were replete with illustrations from Brahmin, Jaina and Buddhist scriptures and for him basic Indian culture was neither Vedic, nor Jaina or Buddhist but it is pure Indian. He, at times, interpreted the word 'Hindu' in the sense of being Indian. He ranges far and wide from moksha to soul, compassion to other noble and sublime concepts of Jaina and Hindu philosophy.
Virchand Gandhi faced two problems while addressing the Americans: his audience was ignorant of the subject and secondly the subject itself was so abstruse that it required use of specific terminology. But he succeeded eminently and presented his views in a lucid manner. He emphasized the study of Sanskrit and said it was necessary to understand ancient India. He criticized the activities of the missionaries and at the same time praised what
26