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a new definition. All ancient standards of discipline stand altered. The prestige enjoyed by the guru and discipline in olden times is fast dwindling. The idea of practising sadhana in a gurukul for years together now seems impossible. Because, a gurukul has its own traditions which the residents must observe wholeheartedly. If the tradition is not so observed, it becomes a burden. In the atmosphere prevailing today, the utility of the gurukul institution has become questionable. But an alternative to the gurukul tradition exists—which is shivir-sadhana. Indeed, shivirsystem is the new method of this age. It may be said to partly make up for the gurukul-system. Nowadays, a great many shivirs are organised where experiments are being conducted in various fields, such as, education, sadhana, therapy and recreation. Of course, a shivir in any particular field is conducted on its own ground. Every shivir has a different objective. Naturally, the results are also different. Nevertheless, the practice of holding shivirs has met with a fair measure of success.
The Jain Vishva Bharati is a unique institution. Experiments are being held there in three different disciplines—Education, Sadhana, and Service. In order to systematize this experimentation, the Jain Vishva Bharati organizes shivirs from time to time. The Sadhana Centre of Jain Vishva Bharati (Tulsi Adhyatam Needam) is fully alive to this task. The workers of the Needam are responsible for making all arrangements. They want that everyone should drink deep of the fountain of spirituality established here. That an individual should go thirsty in the absence of water sounds natural. But that a man should groan with thirst while living in the vicinity of a vast reservoir of water, is not so intelligible. In this context, Kabir says:
The fish living in the water athirst! It tickles me to laughter!!
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