World Religions Conference November 1957

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

Page 24

Background
times immomorial, to send to other countries, ambassadors of peace and goodwill (preachers of religion); but never armed forces anywhere nor it planned aggression against any. Even now, it is for India to send leaders of religious thought to develop among mankind, feelings of love and amity, spirit of toleration and brother-hood.
Ujjain : Its Greatness
Just as the field of Kurukshetra was found to be the most befitting place for the great Epic war of Mahabharta, so has Ujjain been found as the most suitable place, from every respect, for All-Religions Conference, in as much as, we have here the "Sandeepni Ashram" of Lord Krishna and it was here that Mahavira gave his first discourse in the form allegory, Buddha his message of peace and Sidh Sen Diwakar expounded the theories of Nyaya Shastra. Again, it was here that Kalidasa, the renowned Shakespear of ancient India wrote his immortal dramas. This place has been the confluence or meeting place of Vedic religion, Jalnism and Budhism and it is our firm conviction that all the religions of the world shall converge at this sacred place and meet and mingle in happy harmony.
TL.
This Conference here, it is hoped, shall develop in the minds of our religious leaders, broad-mindedness, tolerance, sympathy and fellow-feeling. It shall not only give the elixir of life to all the backward classes torn by geographical and social barriers and caste-ridden people but shall place before the world even the subtle spiritual truth in the light of scientific reason.
We hope that All-India Religions' Conference shall keep before it, an ideal which not only in India but in the entire world, will enable the leaders of various religious thought to cast off their limitations and prejudices and thereby develop their physical, mental and spiritual outlook to such an extent as to understand clearly the true significance of national and international life as embracing the family of Man and we shall live in love and concord and help each other in securing peace not only in India but in the world.
The Five Fundamentals of all Religions Conference
In the first All Religions' Conferene held in Bombay in 1954, eighteen leaders of religious thought met together and laid down five fundamentals which can usefully serve as foundation for the World Conference of Ali Religions. They are :
(1) Spirutual outlook, (2) Feelings of Fellowship, (3) Truth,