Santbal A Saint with a Difference

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: Navjivan Prakashan Mandir

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CHAPTER 5
Start of a New Life and
Its Justification
Issued by Santbalji in 1937 A.D., statement after coming out of the period of total silence created shock waves in the orthodox society of Jains. This statement is not repeated here as it is referred to in details in my Introduction to this Book. Reference to it will show that most of the aspects touched therein by Santbalji were peripheral and related to external practices and not to the essence of Jain philosophy. Throughout his life he has remained a very strict and meticulous follower of Jain doctrines and his ethical approach to life and its problems was obviously more sophisticated than his critics of those days. There was, however, one part of his statement which invited a serious debate about the functional duties of spiritual leaders of the Society.
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Question was and is, how you should function as an avowed Jain Saint in the Society after you enter into the saintly order. Should you be confined only to the spiritual progress of your own soul and renounce all activities which may aim at disinterested service to the afflicted humanity or should you be socially helpful by taking active interest in social welfare with no expectation of any type of personal benefit, and with a mind completely detached. Conservatives took the former view and thought that a Jain Saint having renounced all worldly affairs should not feel concerned about social problems, as taking interest in social
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