Gandhis Teachers Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta

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

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Gandhi's Teachers: Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta
Arjuna, so primarily Lord Krishna is said to be its author and that is all probable. This scripture is certainly very nice and whatever teachings are contained in it those come down to us from eternity. But it does not imply that its shlokas are also eternal, nor is it possible to say that these shlokas were composed by an inactive God. An active embodied being alone can possibly be conceived to be their composer. In light of the above discussion, there is no harm in believing that God is an all-wise, all-knowing Being and the scriptures containing lessons taught by him are "God's Book" or ishvariya-shastra.
Q. 11 Is there any merit in performing bloody sacrifice?3? A. Man only acquires demerit by slaughtering, sacrificing, or causing slightest pain to animals. It matters little whether the animal is killed for sacrifice or for the sake of God in a temple. It is true that alms are given at the time of sacrifice which are a source of gaining merit, but being associated with himsa, i.e. injury to animals, this sort of alms-giving also should not be consented to.
Q. 12 When it is said that a particular dharma or religion is the highest, then is there any harm in checking validity and asking reasons for the superiority?
A. To declare validity and superiority of the teachings of a particular dharma without considering the reasons thereof is undoubtedly very harmful, for it would give rise to propagation of all sorts of things good and bad, meritorious and demeritorious. Validity or non-validity, superiority or otherwise of anything can only be established by cogent and potent reasons. I think only those teachings of a dharma are best which prove themselves to be strong and sound in destroying the cycle of births and deaths and in realizing pure and peaceful state of life.38
Q.13 Do you know anything about Christianity? If so, what do you think about it?
A. I have ordinary information about Christianity. But it is common knowledge that the methods of thought and achievement of Indian sages are different from those of the foreigners. In Christianity, soul is always believed to be