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Dr. Charlotte Krause: Her Life & Literature
ing it; namely they eagerly propagate education on broad and modern lines, encourage and deepen the knowledge of the Sacred Writings, popularize Jaina literature not only in India, but even in the West, show how to separate the true essence of the Jaina religion from the profusion of traditional observances and conventions, by which its true nature is being concealed, improve the social position of women, propagate tolerance and sympathy everywhere, and last but not least try to create unity within the camp of Jaina sectarianism itself. The measures taken are no doubt useful ones, for with the progress of education, the conviction of the necessity of openly doing away with those caste regulations must arise in a daily increasing number of individuals. And on the other hand a closer union and collaboration amongst the different sects must needs create a more vivid feeling of responsibility, and strengthen the fighting lines.
At present, it is true, this aim is still far from being reached, the two chief confessions, the Śvetambaras and the Digambaras being still engaged in furious mutual quarrels about the possession of certain places of pilgrimage, such as Antarikṣa ( near Akola ), Päväpuri Rājagṛhī, and Sametśikhara ( all three near Patna ), Kesariāji (near Udaipur ), Makṣi ( near Ujjain ), and others, and millions have been spent and are being spent in those fruitless strifes. And on the other hand, the idolatrous sect of he Śvetāmbaras, and the two non-idolatrous Śvetambara sect, viz., the Sthānakavāsīs and Terapanthis, are still violently fighting each other about insignificant dogmatic discrepancies, whereas the Digambara party too has its own internal troubles. Within the aforesaid sects, there are again sub-sects, parties and schools of opinions, which cannot keep peace with one another, but often enough cross each others schemes, the one spoiling what positive work the other may have achieved. So there can be no doubt that by stopping all these fruitless strifes many powers would become free to engage in the necessary work of caste reform and general uplift.
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