Gandhis Teachers Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta

Author(s): Satish Sharma
Publisher: Gujarat Vidyapith Ahmedabad

Page 75

Gandhi and Rajchandra: Question and Answers
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we may grant a still greater antiquity to them. But this fact alone does not establish the suggested proposition because time and truth do not go hand-in-hand. There is no logic in saying that whatever is antique is perfect and true and whatever is new is imperfect and untrue. As a matter of fact, everything in its essence is eternal but subject to modification. There is nothing which is absolutely destructible or absolutely producible. Thus there can be no objection in admitting that the principles enunciated by the Vedic, Jain, and all other faiths are eternal, but this much alone does not serve our purpose. We still have to find which of these principles are strong and sound to make us achieve our aspirations of life.34
Q. 9 Who composed the Vedas? Are they eternal? If eternal, what does eternal mean?
A. (1) It seems the Vedas are an old composition.
(2) Any scripture in the shape of a book cannot be eternal. But of course if taken by the teachings, every scripture is eternal because there is not a single teaching which has not been propounded by different people in different ways. Himsa doctrine is as old as the doctrine of ahimsa. The point worth consideration is its value, i.e. how far it is useful for the living beings. Undoubtedly both are eternal, truth as well as untruth, but sometimes untruth takes upper hand and at others truth comes out triumphant.
Q. 10 Who composed Gita? It does not appear to be composed by God. What is the proof of its being composed by God?
A. (1) The above answer will be somewhat helpful in resolving these questions provided "God" is taken to mean an all-wise and all-knowing Being. But if the conception of God is taken to mean an eternai, inactive, and all-pervading entity like space, then of course it becomes quite impossible to conceive that such a God ever composed any book, because an act like the composition of a book has a beginning and whatever has a beginning cannot be said to be eternal.
(2) It is said that Gita was composed by Veda Vyasa)" and because it deals with the lessons given by Lord Krishna to