Book Title: Gandhi And Jainism
Author(s): Shugan C Jain
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

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Page 229
________________ writer would not be criticized for adopting a similar form. Jainism stated the truth logically and unpoetically and, therefore, coldly, and said that there was no God who might be described as Creator of the world. It is not wrong to say this, but the ordinary mass of people do not respond to cold logic. They always crave for poetry. That is why even the rationalism of the Jains felt the need for temples, images and similar aids, for which pure nyaya [Logic] should have no use." [Letter to Purushottam Gandhi, 18.4.1932,). See Appendix II Rajchandra for details; also in Stephen N. Hay, op. cit., p. 31 “Rajchandra and Gandhi had much in common. Rajchandra was only a year older than Gandhi. They conversed of course in their mother tongue, Gujarati. Both had come from the Kathiawad peninsula to work in Bombay: they were up-country boys in the big city. Rajchandra was, like Gandhi, the son of Vaishnava father, but his mother was a Jain. When Gandhi met him he was a convinced Jain, a trusted partner in his Jain father-inlaw's jeweller's shop, and an accomplished religious poet. Gandhi, then a brief less barrister', was equally impressed by Rajchandra's efficiency as a businessman and by his spiritual insight: "I found his talk of absorbing interest.... His words went straight home to me. His intellect compelled as great a regard from me as his moral earnestness....... In my moments of spiritual crisis, therefore, he was my refuge." Jain story literature is full of life sketches of Jains going overseas to acquire wealth and then return to India for establishing their families and practice dharma to attain liberation. CWMG 32:1-13, “I entered into correspondence with every person in India in whom I had some trust, Raychandbhai being the chief among them. [Vide "Gandhiji's Q.s to Rajchandra and his Replies", CWMG 32:593-602, letter accompanying Rajchandra's replies is dt. 20.10.1894.] I had already been introduced to him and a close bond had grown between us. I had respect for him, and so I decided to get from him everything he could give. The result was that I gained peace of mind. I felt reassured that Hinduism could give me what I needed. The reader will have some idea of how much my respect for Raychandbhai must have increased because of his being responsible for this result. Nevertheless, I have not Pg.206 Gandhi & Jainism

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