Jain Shwetambar Conference Herald 1911 Book 07

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Jain Shwetambar Conference

Page 107

902]
જન કોન્ફરન્સ હેરલ્ડ.
[ 21314
enthusiasm without going to the root of the question, and want of propet religious education worked up all and one in the same direction and the gulf instead of beiug bridged grew wide and wide. It lies upon the present generation to try to bridge this gulf without disturbing the equilibrium. The task is stupendous but if adopted in a spirit of harmony, sympathy and co-operation, one is quite sure to achive something and contribute his quota towards the same.
And this leads me to the modes of effecting the same assimilation. Here also differences are likely to exist. First thing to be borne is mind is the fact that we should not forget or give go-bye to stern fact by which we are surrounded. The differences though heartrending do exist and manifest themselves on their turn fromı time to time. Some of my friends would try to rush headlong into the matter and go on preaching the doctrine of assimilation without caring to know the spirit in which his vituperation is received and welcomed. He would even go to the length of branding and bragging the persons who are holding contrary opinions. Some of my friends would give up the task thinking it as hope less under the present circumstances. I may be wrong but I would do neither. I should like to prefer a milder course, to work out the brethren step by step keeping the goal always in sight but for the time being going on with the present generation and contributing one step-two steps-more steps towards the attainment of the goal. If once a man is out of the circle in which it is his destiny to move and work, he is lost to his cherished desires and goals for ever and his life-work terminates leaving a sad effect on his heart to the great detriment of the cause he is advocating. I am quite aware this last method will not be palatable to most of my friends as the onward progress in that method is always very slow, tardy and sometimes tideous. But after some study of the good many characteristics of our