Vijaydharmasuri

Author(s): A J Sunavala
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

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CONCLUSION
INSTITUTION OF MONKS IN THE OLD DAYS OF ARYAN
CIVILIZATION Looking back to the India of the past, we find its perfect polity, its perfect spirituality, and we trace its gradual debasement, decline and degradation millennium after millennium. Glancing backward, we see the ancient Āryan civilization, originally divine in its nature, slowly and slowly going downward under the still unconquered lower nature of man, slowly and slowly degenerating under the still uncurbed, uncontrolled passions of humanity. Consider for a while the ancient Institution of Monks; see how it was meant to be used and utilized. In those good old days the Monk was meant to preach, instruct and advise. He was not to preach for money, he was not to preach for power and authority, he was not to preach for fame or popularity, he was not to instruct for anything that he got for himself; but he was to teach and instruct in fulfilment of his own duty, in fulfilment of his own Dharma. He was to teach in order that there might be a succession of teachers to help and guide the evolution of the race. He was to have knowledge not that he might keep and enjoy it for himself, but that he might in turn hand it on to others for their benefit and welfare. Thus nothing would be gained by bim for himself, for his own happiness; but everything would be gained by him for the people, for the people's happiness. And in this way his duty would be discharged and his Dharma would be