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1901
Monks' Dilemma
householders and not irresponsible escapist monks. It symbolises universal brotherhood without any discrimination on the basis of caste and rank."
Deepti, "Of course the gurus were ideal icons. But the followers are concerned mainly with external symbols and by and large not in imbibing and following the teachings of gurus. Mere obeisance to Guru Granth Sahib is of no consequence if the teachings enshrined are not imbibed and followed. Majority of followers are non vegetarian and take alcohol. A class of gyanis and ragis has also come up who are dependent on donations by householders."
Shree announced the end of the session and requested all the delegates to take their evening meals and to come the next day in time at 11.a.m. to participate in remaining sessions
Monks' Dilemma
| 191 the briefs of the proceedings and video clippings and mailed to all important newspapers, broadcasting and T.V. channels. Their efforts were successful and it was reported on the front page of prominent news papers and was broadcast on all important channels at prime time. The impact was much more than expected. They were flooded with phone calls and Emails congratulating them and giving the feedback that it had created a tsunami in religious, social and political circles. Rationalists were planning to file PIL to get the parasitic institutions of monks, mahants, priests, pundits and astrologers banned by law in the same way as the quakes. They were also trying to build pressure on legislators to bring an appropriate law in parliament and assemblies.
The delegates who did not attend the second session of the conference and the rest also met to chalk out their strategy. They planned to consult Acharya Vinay also and met him secretly. They did not go to his place in groups but one by one and took the precaution to avoid notice by parking their vehicles at a distance separately. Acharya Vinay was also in a predicament and wanted to meet them. He spoke, "I was also keen to discuss the proceedings of the conference with you all. I want to clarify my position and circumstances under which I was forced to organise the conference. I could not even imagine that the arguments of rationalists will be so strong, logical, emphatic and convincing that the other side would not be able to counter them effectively. I was pained to see most of you absenting from the second session as if you felt defeated. This weakened our case. Anyway we should now decide our next step before the damage is done. We should do something concrete and pre-emptive."
Next day the delegates who came kept waiting outside the conference hall but the doors were not opened till ten minutes past 11.a.m. Shree saw a small piece of paper pasted on the door and the inscription written on it, "The further sessions of the Conference are cancelled by order of Acharya Vinay." She ran towards the room of the Acharya, Deepak, Deepti and others followed. There was another notice pasted on the door here, "Visitors not allowed. The Acharya is unwell." Shree enquired from attendants and other monks and got only one reply that doctors have advised complete rest to the Acharya.
There was no option left and all delegates dispersed and returned to their respective places. Deepak and Deepti smelt a rat and concluded that there was something fishy and it was all deliberate. They devised their own strategy. They prepared
