________________
17
18
19
20
CWMG, XXXII,2,6,7 cited in J.T.F. Jordens, op. cit., p.108.
J.T.F. Jordens, in his paper on Gandhi's Gita in the book Modern Interpreters of Gita op. cit., p. 108
Stephen N. Hay, in his paper "Jain influences on Gandhi's early thought" op. cit., p. 35
CWMG, 13:143-4, Speech at Rajchandra Birth Anniversary, Ahmedabad, 21.11.1915, The Bombay Chronicle (23.11.1915). "At a public meeting held at the Premabhai Hall, Ahmedabad, on November 21, 1915, to celebrate the birthday of the famous philosopher of Gujarat, Shrimad Rajchandra [Son-in-law of Revashanker Jagjivan Mehta, elder brother of Gandhiji's life-long friend and supporter, Dr. Pranjivan Mehta. Gandhiji first met him in 1891 at the suggestion of Dr. Mehta. A business man and an expert jeweller, he lived his life in the spirit of karmayoga. His was the first profound influence on Gandhiji in his mature years, comparable to that of Ruskin and Tolstoy later; vide An Autobiography, Part II, Ch. I], Gandhiji, who occupied the chair, dwelt in the course of his opening remarks on the appropriateness of the celebration of the great philosopher's birthday.
Dealing with the life of Rajchandra, Mr. Gandhi mentioned that he had come in close personal contact with him and, so far as he was competent to judge, he declared it to be his deliberate opinion that the deceased was one of the best religious philosophers of modern times in India. He was incomparable in true perception, he was free from attachment, and had true vairagya in him. [Gujarati, 2811-1915), "He had gyana, vairagya and bhakti] He followed no narrow creed.
He was a universalist and had no quarrel with any religion in the world. In the West, the speaker had found Tolstoy and Ruskin among the best philosophers and he did not hesitate to put the deceased above both of them. The deceased outdid them in religious experience. The faith of the deceased was a robust faith, such as could only be based upon the true realisation of the self. Upon the speaker's own life, the deceased had exercised a very powerful influence. There was a suitable and certain sublimity and genuineness about the writings of the deceased, which gave them
Gandhi & Jainism | Pg.209