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Hamsānanda* and other students who had visited India at. that time on a spiritual quest.
The theme of the Conference was 'The Practical Requirements for World Peace.' Gurudev's turn to speak on this question came on the second day.
How to speak to these distinguished scholars and religionists in English? My English is so limited and I have never spoken at great length in English before. Let me forget all this and turte myself to Mahavir and his living message.
He closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and tuned to the light and love of Mahavlr. From deep within, the words in English welled forth. He began by saying, “I believe in the practice of non-violence more than in the preaching. I would share with everyone what I have experienced through practice. Friendliness to life, this is my message, for with friendliness, one cannot harbor hatred. And without hatred, how can there be room for war and conflict and killing?"
He spoke directly to the topic of peace, "Self-hatred sows the seeds of war. How to stop them? The Jain solution is to sow the seeds of peace, to transform one's emotions and channel them into the river of devotion to life and reverence for all, including oneself. By living a life which reveres the sanctity of animal and bird life as well as human life, one cultivates an attitude of non-harming, for anyone who would refuse to harm a helpless creature would also naturally refuse to participate in war." Gurudev singled out women who, as mothers, “can shape the future generations by inspiring in
*Monsieur Gilbert, as he was then called, stayed at some ashrams, but as sometimes happens, fell into the hands of someone who took advantage of him and relieved him of his modest means with which to travel back home. Gilbert was left quite shaken, but when he came across Gurudev in the Nemināth Temple of Bombay, his faith in the innate goodness of man and in meditation was reignited. Gurudev arranged for The Divine Knowledge Society to lend him the money needed for the return journey. Once in France, Gilbert sent back the amount he had borrowed and spent some time in caves and mountains training body and mind, and ruminating the insights received from Gurudev. At the end of this period, he was inspired to open several ashrams in Southern France where kindred souls might benefit by his guidance and discover themselves in the peaceful solitude of the moun tains.
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