Vardhaman Book on Jainism

Author(s): Jayshree Menon
Publisher: Bennete Coleman & Co Ltd

Page 37

Praga
Without moral and spiritual education, no amount of material advancement can bring about peace
munity for some 60 years and was instrumental in leading it into the modern era. He was the inspiration behind the establishment of the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute. In a radical break from convention, he established in the early 1980s, the Saman order of sadhuis who, unlike traditional Jain munis and sadhvis for whom the only way of getting from one place to another was on. foot, were allowed to use modern means of transportation to spread the message of peace across the world. Today, one Samani heads the computer department of the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute. More importantly, Acharya Tulsi initiated the on going process of reinterpreting the scriptures to
uit:
HUONO
make them more relevant to a generation driven
by modern technology. Indeed, within the cam• pus is an audio-visual centre that records all the official discourses of the Acharya.
With the passing of Acharya Tulsi, the flame of spiritual enlightenment passed on to his disciple and successor Acharya Mahapragya.
At sunset, a peaceful calm settles over the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute complex. Jets of water from a musical fountain within the garden dance to the soothing rhythm of melodic bhajans. But for a local family that has come to relax in this peaceful setting and take group photographs in front of the fountain, the place is deserted. The Samanis are in their quarters meditating and the other munis and sadhuis are out on the road following the footsteps of the spiritual leader as he trudges across the land.
Yes, modern technology may be creeping into the physical headquarters of Jainism at Ladnun, but tradition still rules supreme around the spiritual beacon that is Acharya Mahapragya and his following of munis and sadhuis as they walk across the land; never anchoring for too long in one spot but leaving behind a little divinity before moving on.
37 VARDHAMAN
total
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