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THE JAINA GAZETTE
to the goal, His Highness the Maharaja's opening speech at the AllIndia Jain Conference comes as a clarion call to the Juins asking them to gird up their loins and be prepared for organised action. The momen'ous address of His Highness delivered on that memorable occasion is a veritable rosary presented to the entire Jaina community, containing priceless pearls of practical wisdom, gems of mature guidance and the richest diamonds of weighty and loving words of advice. That the whole speech was heard with rapt attention, eagerness and joy is proof positive of the invaluable importance of that gracious utterance. It is not only the vast erudition and eloquence which gained for His Highness the ready and respectable admiration of the audience and the public but the powerful spirituality which underlies his unique pronouncement, and coming from a pure and lufty soul the speech thrilled and magnetised the audience by the magic of enthusiasm and sincerity. Verily this is an epoch making speech, a speech of which we are very proud and justly too, a speech which marks the dawn of a better era for the Jaina Community. We hope the Jains will take to their hearts the words of wisdom and inspiration which His Highness has very graciously given expression to.
What is more emphatic and thought-stimulating than the following on the services rendered by Jainism :
" It is not merely that Jainism has aimed at carrying Ahimsa to its logical conclusion undeterred by the practicalities of the world; it is not only that Jainism has atteinpted to perfect the doctrine of the spiritual conquest of Matter in its doctrine of the Jina,- what is unique in Jainism among Indian religions and philosophical systems is that it has sought Emancipation in an upward movement of the Spirit towar's the realm of Infinitude and Transcen. dence, -and that it has male Power, W.II. Character. in one wo d Chiritra. an integral elemen of Perfect on side by side with Knowledge and Faith. And Jainism has sought a harmony of all religions and of all philosophical and dialecticat standpoints, in its Sarvadharma and its Anekantavada."
His Highness recalls to our memory the glory and prestige enjoyed by the Jains in ancient days which automatically reminds us of our present state of affairs. It has to be sadly acknowledged that the Jains are miserably wanting in a central organisation to press their claims in social, educational and political matters. Most of the leading Jains whose duty it is to guide the Jaina public Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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