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An Appreciation. not in any way sufficient educational institutions and libraries due to his efforts and all--pervading influence.
Shri Vijayanandsuri was totally modern in his outlook and did not like the evil customs of his day. May we take heed and act according to his advice and get rid of our social corruptions that are eating into our vitals. He wished that the Jain society should march along with the time, it should educate itself, organise itself and act and preach the doctrine of Ahimsa to every person. Who else could prepare Shriyut Virchand Raghavji Gandhi to go to America and at Chicago to explain to the whole religious world the Jain philosophy. But for his efforts Jainism would have been little known to the other religiousminded people of the world. Now Western scholars come to India to study Jainism. Could we establish a grand research library, where these foreigners and our own scholars may be able to dip deep into the ocean of our ancient literature and bring out for the world pearls of purest ray serene.
The great Guru little cared for what the other people thought of him and always bravely spoke out his mind. He was physically, intellectually and spritually above par. He had strength of character that other sadhus should copy. He had no mouselike fear of the capitalists. He had hypnotic influence over the rich and the poor alike. He fully believed that the principle of Ahimsa can not be observed by the weak. It requires sacrifice without grumbling and that can be done only by those who are spiritually strong.
Now when we are celebrating his centenary, it becomes us to act according to the dictates of our great Guru not blindly but after understanding and realising fully what he has said there and following him. He never said or did what he did not believe to be true. He never felt weak and hence never miserable.
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