Comtemporary Jain Legends

SR No.: 007736
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram
Publication Year: 2015
Total Pages: 183
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, N000, & N025
File Size: 1 MB

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Unity of Sangh:
Acharya Shri Vijay Vallabh Sooriji was a broad-hearted personality. He did not discriminate much between Jains and non-Jains. In this case, how can he accept the barriers of Gachchha, Matas, and Vadas-i.e. different sections in Jain community? And for this purpose he offered special contributions at the conferences of Moonis and mendicants held at Vadodara in 1912 and at Ahmedabad in 1934. He preached to avoid and shun differences of sects in Jainism wherever he went and arranged meetings and lectures for this purpose. All the followers of Lord Mahavir must be one on the name of Lord Mahavir, said he to everyone. Everyone may make prayers and meditation in his own way but the ultimate goal of all such rites is to secure holiness of soul.
Reforms in Society:
AcharyaShri was an activist Yogi and so he is known as a Reformer of Samyagna. He was an exceptional great man to impress for co-ordination of three subjects: Dharm, Darshan and Society, i.e. the Religion, the Scriptures and the people at large. He used to say that if any Jain institution keeps itself away from Shravaks and treats the society and Sangh as untouchable; it will not be good for it. Every institution may contribute for the development of the society and make it free from undeserving addictions and other evils like non-vegetarian food etc. These institutions must awaken the ignorant society and make it full of virtues, disciplined and also learned. If this is not done, the institution itself will die. If the society is weak, illiterate, poor and frustrated it will be lead to blind faith and it will not give rise to great saints, judges, advocates, doctors, ministers, administrators, engineers, social workers, artists, historians, scientists, intellectuals, rich, industrialists, patriots, leaders, poets writers or outstanding players, he desired for strong, united, educated and awakened society where men and women are treated equally. He, therefore, took service to society as one of his important activities.
⚫ He advocated being free from evil habits and keeping away from non-vegetarian food, wine, hunting etc. he pressed for education of poor and ignorant tribal people. He wanted that even the kings and rich people also should avoid wine, meat, hunting etc.
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Loving behavior: wherever he saw differences and conflicts, he intervened and established peace and love. He said to all Jains that they had One god, One holy stanza-Mantra and One way and hence they should not dispute on petty and trifling matters. He asked them to be peace loving and co-operative. Religion is to connect the hearts, not to disunite them. It is no religion with creates enmity and conflicts.
Development of Middle Class: He did not like that a few persons in society be rich enjoying all happiness of life and others remain without food, cloth, shelter and education. He preferred to give work instead of money to the poor. He established workshops at Bikaner, Palitana, Khambhat, and Bombay and at other places were weaker section of the people would go and learn to do some work. He arranged for free training, food and clothing and even free books for the poor at these places. He tried for the uplift of poor and middle class persons. He firmly believed that excessive wealth keeps the man out away from religious thoughts and impressions and therefore, such people should come forward to help the poor and the needy. Change of direction of charity: He believed as the Jain temples are necessary to maintain religious culture, so the Pathshalas (schools for religious learning) and educational institutions are necessary for the development of society. He, therefore, inspired rich people to make charity in this direction so that charity to gods may not remain confide to temples only but may be used for education and development of the society. This was better way of making charity and must be adopted by the rich.
A bridge between old and generations: He said very clearly in all his lectures and eveningdiscussions that the youth should not be ridiculed as atheists. He advised the youth that they should not laugh out elders as hypocrites or orthodox. They must respect all elders. The young as well as old have work jointly for the up-lift of society. He advised the family-holders not to remain engaged in untruthful social practices, false beliefs, bad doubts and evil
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