Book Title: Aryikaratna Gyanmati Abhivandan Granth
Author(s): Ravindra Jain
Publisher: Digambar Jain Trilok Shodh Sansthan

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Page 410
________________ 38] वीर ज्ञानोदय ग्रन्थमाला for Jinistic glorification. This process results in continuation of secetic and Aryika traditions. (f) Sermons among Non-Jains Hastinapur has become now a tourist place besides a holy place for all Indians and foreigners. Many people and groups come to visit Jambudvip structure. Ganiniji has to sermonise before them in addition to nearby communities who throng now and then. This results in many of them renouncing bad habits like drinks, meat-eating, night-eating etc.. They have expressed better lives than before. She feels pleasure in addressing such non-Jain gatherings. Her sermons have been attended by many figures from all walks of life from time to time. This has resulted in creating a good atmosphere around the area about Jainism. People have begun appreciating it. (g) Canonism versus Modernism Twentieth century faces many problems which were unknown in the past. Many of them refer to some theoretical and practical issues. In a number of cases, she has preferred to be canonical, follows earlier opinions without involving her own thoughts. The question of 12-yearly holy death system assumes validity only until longevity is ascertained. Conditional following may be exceptional. She prefers older versions of Namokar Mantra in preference to modified version of later date. Secondly, she would prefer litanic repeatitions or recitations to be done with due physical and mental purity. She may not support its public tuning. It is observed that there are many contradictory statements in many texts for which many commentators like Virsen and Aparajitsuri have traditional reply to accept all of them on faith as there are no omniscient lords in this age. She also concurs with their opinion. These contradictory points are also the source of erosion of faith in courrent generation. Her literature has nothing to say about many issues facing the scientific facts and canonical opinions regarding the physical world. Per chance, she believes religion is more a spiritual or psychological phenomenon rather than that of life in totality. She is always etaploring scriptures and finds new ideas from them for practicing currently. For example, she has initiated a 5-yearly intro spective confession system. She seems to be traditional but she is not too rigid about in many practical matters. She accepts things on reasonable grounds too. For example, she has satrted taking salt in her diet when she found that it would be unwise to renounce it for all. She also realised at one point that a privately taken vow is not valid and it must be taken through a preceptor. She has been quite liberal in meeting an inviting monks of different orders and discussing theoretical problems with them. She is always pleased in the company of senior monks or precaptors. This partial modernism is one of the keys for her success. Future Prospects of Jain Asceticism Ganiniji feels Digambara ascetism to be a harsh one. Still she has a fancy to follow it as it teaches fearlessness towards most dreadful reality of death and preaches highest attainment with own efforts. Canons suggest its glorious existence to continue for the coming 18,000 years. This leads her a high optimism for this institution. The community has highest regards for the ascetics to guide the society towards the goal of self-realisation. It is hoped that Ganiniji will encourage our pace to faster towards the goal of individual inner happiness and social prosperity through her sermons and observances. She hopes that the world will ultimately be peaceful by following the jain path. May her dynamism accelerate the glory of Jainism. Jain Educationa international For Personal and Private Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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