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Jainism has presented mankind with this unique gift in the form of SAMVARA and NIRJARA (explained above) and this gift means the gift of the pathway to become the supreme self from an individual self. I will just narrate an instance of how some western writers have been extremely attracted towards and fascinated by this gift of Jainism. This story was published in the Hindustan Times several years ago.
We have all heard about Bernard Shaw, the famous author and playwright of the English language. Once it so happened that Sri Devdas Gandhi, the son of Mahatma Gandhi,was paying a visit to him. During his visit, in the course of a casual discussion, Shri Devdas Gandhi asked Bernard Shaw if he believed in rebirth. To this,Shaw replied that he found it worth believing in. Thereupon, Shri Devdas Gandhi wanted to know if Shaw believed in the next birth, and if he did, then, in that case, what he would like to become in the next birth. Bernard Shaw replied by saying that he wanted to become a Jain in the next birth. Devdas Gandhi was surprised and sought a clarification from Shaw as to why he chose to become a Jain who constitute only a tiny minority among the 30 crores of Hindus of India who all believed in rebirth. Bernard Shaw explained that while the other Hindus have attributed the status of the Supreme Soul to one God only, Jainism has allowed every single soul to become the supreme soul. Jainism declares that till now numberless supreme souls have taken place and still innumerable supreme souls will take place. One
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