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SHRI ATMARAMJI MAHARAI
and
HIS MISSION
Jainism is truth, absolute truth. Its main principles of Life are eternal, true for all ages and countries. Jineshwar (Jin-conqueror, Eshwar-Lord) the chief among those who acquired complete victory over lust, greed and passion, is one who has exemplified in his life the applications of these main principles which may be summed up into one phrase, Live and let Live' or 'Be good and do good'. Thus Jainism is not a visionary revelation set out in a Sealed Book by an unknown eternal, sometimes in one form and sometimes in another. Absolute Truth is one and unchangeable. It is its application to practical life which gives different forms to it varying according to the condition cf the living being (one who is living) based on his circumstances, environments, atmosphere he breathes in and the society in which he lives. Thus the so-called revelation is in fact a practical application of the Eternal Truth to local circumstances suited to the people for whom it is meant.
Chaitandas
Just after the Lord-master or even in his presence his disciples prepare a Code of rules of Conduct both for laymen and monks. These vary according to the mentality of the writer. Christ did not write the Bible. The Gospel Texts as written by his disciples enjoyed little authority during the first Century after Christ. Renan in his famous work Life of Jesus' says that there was no Scruple in inserting additions, in variously combining them and in completing some by others. Hence Gospel Texts differ and there are more than one hundred sects in Christianity.
The same thing has been with the Arya Samaj. The first Satyarth Prakash was in many respects different form what it is to-day. Every edition has undergone a change.
Shatabdi Granth ]
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