Atmanandji Jainacharya Janmashatabdi Smarakgranth

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Atmanand Janma Shatabdi Smarak Trust

Page 209

Suman-Sanchaya
Thousands of our people would flock to relish with gusto the dainty dishes at the common dinners but they would rather sleep over the matter of preservation of the old literature and of spreading of real education.
The purport of our writing this is only that, with mutual co-operation and united effort, Jains should reclaim the ancient 'Bhandars' like those in Patan, Jaisalmer and Khambhat and should by opening educatinal institutions at prominent towns, provide for the spiritual and temporal education of their children and make them capable citizens."'$
(Quotation in 'Saraswati' Fel, 1915) "Q. What are the duties of a man towards God ? A. He should augment the 'Bhagwat Mahima' as far as may be.
He should widen the fold of the religion of the Lord by religious celebrations that would evoke admiration for Jainism in the public. He should also spread the religion of the Lord Omniscient in this country and abroad by religious discourses and publication of its literature. "
(Chicago Prashnottar P. 81 ) "Q. Where is the need for studying the various Shastras ?
$ What noble thoughts of a leader whose every pore is inbued with the spirit of reform and awakening! What a farsightedness!
Gururaj! The 'Samaj' needs the fearless reformers like you. It is de pressing to find that some of your own disciples who had the fortune of learning at your feet, deliberately ignore your advanced spirit and are perversely engaged today in dragging the society into the old ruts.
The Jain Shravaks consider that the task of carrying the torch of the religion is a duty peculiar to the Sadhus and have left it over to them. The Sadhus, on the contrary are happy to escamp at places where there is facility for Ahara (food) and where physical comforts are handy. They are filled with a sense of complacency on their morning discourses addressed within the premises of the
Upashraya' to a few devoted Shravaks wagging their chins in a stupid manner. This is the limit of their sense of the 'Dharma Prachar.'
The idea of going about from place to place and from country to country under great odds, to carry the noble massage of 'Ahimsa' to the hearts that are devoid of it, is loathsome to them.
.: 128 ::
[Shree Atmaramji