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DISCOURSE XLIII
'RIGHT FAITH'
Gentlemen,
We are dealing with sixty-seven varieties of 'right faith' which is considered the abode of unrivalled merits, the very seed of all bliss, the boat to cross over the worldly existence characterised by birth and death, the axe to split up the tree of sins, and the very characteristic of sublime soul. We have dealt with the nature of faith held by the persons of 'right conviction, characteristics of a person with right conviction, persons to be respected by them, purities to be maintained by them and faults to be avoided by them. Now we shall deal with eight propagators to continue the order laid down by
us.
EIGHT PROPAGATORS
Those great men are called propagators who are capable of propagating the importance of 'Right faith'. Such propagators have flourished numberless as Jainism is in existence since the times immemorial. These propagators are classified into eight types. They are (1) Delivering discourses (2) Discussing religion (3) Debattors (4) Astrologers (5) Ascetics (6) Scholars (7) Accomplished. (8) Poets.
The first kind of propagators are those who propagate Jainism, having mastered the Jain scriptures; e.g. Shri Haribhadra Surishwarjee Maharaj.
Those great men who possess remarkable faculty of narrating religious matters and inspire religious spirit into others are called 'Dharma Kathi'-propagators, e.g. Maharshi Nandisen.
In Jain religion three propagators named Nandisen are popular. One of them rendered highly laudable services of the monks, the second Nandisen was the author of Shri Ajit Shanti and the third was 'Dharma-Kathi'-propagator of religion. This last one was the son of king Shrenika and was enlightened on hearing the preachings of Lord Mahavira. He had performed austere penances
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