Religious Problem in India

Author(s): Annie Besant
Publisher: Theosophist Office Adyar

Page 67

JAINISM
59
that here in India we must build onr nation out of the men of many faiths. With the Jainas no difficulty can well arise, save by the bigotry that we find alike among the less instructed of every creed, which it is the duty of the wiser, the more thoughtful, the more religions, the more spiritual, to graçlually lessen. Let every man in his own faith teach the ignorant to love and not to hate. Let him lay stress on the points that unite ns, and not on the points that separate us. Let every man in his daily life speak never a word of harshness for any faith, but words of love to all. For in this doing we are not only serving God, but also serving man; we are not only serving religion, we are also serving India, the common Motherland of all; all are Indians, all are children of India, all must have their places in the Indian nation of the future. Then let ns, my brothers, strive to do onr part in the building, if it be but by bringing one small brick of love to the mighty edifice of brotherhood ; and let no man who takes the name of a Theosophist, a lover of the Divine Wisdom, ever dare to say one word of harshness as regards one faith that God has given to mai, for they all come from Him, to Ilim they all return, and what have we to do with quarreling by the way!