Book Title: Half Hour With Jain Muni
Author(s): Abdul Hamiz A Baakza
Publisher: Jaico Publishing House Bombay

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Page 23
________________ 'But what was in the man which called them away from these consecrated hours”, I wondered But before I could frame some plausible answer to this question, he was there, correct to the minute. All rose and gave him passage through the closepacked rows He walked down to the Asan or Pulpit with his usual light, quick step, and assumed the Ardha Padmasan, his cross-legged lotus posture He chose some text from the Jain Scriptures and began to expound He set forth in the simplest possible way the deepest meaning of the text It seemed to me he was not so much interested in the metaphysical analysis as in its spiritual message and direct application to modern life He is tremendously interested in people and their doings His interest lies in the world of reality in which we live He wants us to solve the problems of the day with the help which our religion or religous outlook can lend It soon becomes apparent as he proceeds with the exposition of his text that it is not religion with any particular brand or theological dogma or philosophical crotchet that he is interested in No, what he wants, and earnestly wants, is to induce people to have religious outlook in life Just as an ass carries a load of sandalwood but has no share in its fragrance and coolness, in the same way a learned man without good actions obtains the load of learning but not salvation 3

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