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

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Page 330
________________ 301 TE cause the method of English correspondence quired this distinction. My own tent Was daily castes and positions in life, apartments of the notables thronged by men of all and my visits to the male was considerered an honor, and yet of all outcastes the European is the worst, as he asserts his right to eat both beef and pork. Thus, professors of different castes mingle in social life without any unpleasant friction: each man respects his neighbor; he has no wish, indeed, to intermarry with the family of his neighbor, or share the cup and platter of his neighbor, but he does not consider himself in the least superior or inferior." In one sense, and in one sense only, caste may be said to be religious. All that remains to the nonMahomedan population of the religious idea and instinct, has centuries ago shrunk into the notion of caste, just as in Europe in the Middle Ages, all that to many men remained of religion, was a keen sense of personal honor. Now, both caste and honor restrain a man's actions from what is contrary to the rules of brotherhood, is dishonorable, and often from crime, in a way, in which nothing else will restrain them, and in that sense caste and honor may be said to be religious sanctions, but in no other. No wise legislator would venture to do aught to weaken such sanctions, the existence of which marks a certain progress in civilization, until other higher sanctions have been substituted. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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