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SOMETHING ABOUT V. R. GANDHI
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jects. Jaina Yoga (mysticism), Jaina Philosophy and Jaina Karma doctrine are the three subjects which Gandhi presented in English with depth and clarity. If at least some solitary ascetic or monk had studied these works, then he would have made a considerable contribution to the fund of knowledge in possession of the Jainas, would have translated or got translated them into Hindi, Gujarati and other Indian languages and thus would have finally helped us in giving a new mould to the curriculum of the Pathaśālās (institutions conducting classes of Religion and Philosophy) conducted by Jaina tradition.
Were I to tell my own story, I should say that I heard the name of Shri V. R. Gandhi from no Pannyāsa, no scholar and no Acārya except the late Vijayavallabhasuriji, who belonged to idol-worshipping Svetāmbara tradition. When they knew not even the name of Shri V. R. Gandhi then what to talk of his works !
Today this narrow-mindedness has almost disappeared. So first I suggest that the faithful translation of all the three works into Hindi, Gujarati and other Indian languages should be published without delay. And they should be included in the curriculum of the classes of Religion and Philosophy, conducted by the Jaina tradition. Only then the mind of the new generation would become broad-based instead of becoming narrow as also the student of the neglected Pāțhaśālās will assume some lustre resulting from this knowledge.
This publication embodying a collection of lectures on six systems of Indian Philosophy is really important not only for the Jaina scholars but also for other Indian and non-Indian scholars. It is important for three reasons: first, they were addressed to the educated common people of America by a representative of Jaina tradition, who was above all sectarian spirit. Secondly, they reveal the author's deep and extensive study of the subject; and their presentation is natural. Thirdly,
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