World Religions Conference November 1957

Author(s): Sushil Muni
Publisher: Achal Singh Seth

Page 19

Background
necesity to be recognized in the domain of religion also. We are gradually coming to the belief, that with all our different religious faiths and creeds, scriptural texts and treatises, worship of various forms and formularies, we can still strive for and meet on some common meeting ground. Religions are for societies and not societies for religions. To see all religions with a spirit of equality leads to the desired goal-i.e. Samavanya or Oneness. The World Religions' Conferences are being sponsored and organised with the object of instilling the idea of this Oneness and spirit of equality in the Great Family of Man. This World Conference of all Religions in Delhi, is the outcome of the efforts that have been made during the last three to four years.
A New Movement
The work of laying the foundation for the new movement has fortunately been placed in the blessed hands of Jain Muni Shri Sushil Kumarji Bhasker. He has a clear conception of the grand scheme. Three years back he convened a Congress of all religions in Bombay with this very purpose. But the problem of the re-adjustment of States on linguistic basis, took a serious turn at this juncture.
Shri Magan Bhai Doshi and Shri Jagan lal Jain worked indefatigably night and day to make the Congress a success. Shri Morarji Desai, the then Chief Minister of Bombay also fully sympathised with the cause of the Congress and he himself inaugurated the Session. The message of Muni Sushil Kumar ji on this occasion has the same importance even today as It had then. Even then, Muniji, while expressing his great thoughts on the subject of religion threw a flood-light on the purpose of the Congress and the responsibility of Asia in general and India in particular, in the World Religions' Conference. It would not be out of place here to make a mention of that discourse of Muniji. In a thought-provoking address he said, "It is my firm belief that if the need for Dharma is but necessary for peace of the soul, we must recognise the Oneness of all religions, for the peace of the world."
Our Needs
There are three essential needs of Man: physical, mental and spritual. To fulfil the physical needs, the administrative and social leaders do their very best. The mental and intellectual needs are, to a great extent, fulfilled by the efforts of authors and writers. The spiritual needs, however, are fulfilled through the grace of Master-souls.
Though every individual may have his own religious thoughts, beliefs and deeds, the ideal or touchstone of all of us will ever remain the
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