Book Title: Jain Philosophy
Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Agamoday Samiti

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Page 312
________________ 283 she is, is her home, with all that the word implies, son long as she lives, and it is the duty and the sacred pleasure of the members of the family to provide for her, to love her and protect her just the same as if her husband were by her side. I do not mean to say that under no circumstances is remarriage permissible. On the contrary there are certain classes of people and religious communities who live on the lowest plane of spirituality whose widows do remarry but we say that the reasons for that remarriage are unworthy and pertain entirely to that nature which we oll "animal." I do not pass ju igment on either of these modes of life at this time. What I desire to do is to present the contrast which will account for the unfavourable impressions which your system has made upon me. It may be that your philosophers and socialists can present many reasons for this state of things and many arguments in its defence, but to the Hindu mind, the basic principle of the family and the ties which bind into unity its several members, are violated by you, and that for this reason it must be imppossible for you to attain the highest social state. Another thing that I have learned is that divorce is a common and sometimes a coveted feature in your social civilization. I will say that this feature also impresses ine unfavorably. It would seem that there is a lack of something--you may call it wisdom, love power of selection, or what you will-lying at the Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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