World Religions Conference November 1957

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

Page 83

Dr. Radhakrishnan, Vice-President of India
conditions of Knowledge, and wisdom 'Tamso ma jot irgma'. We say that we are living in a world of darkness. We must awaken and grow into a world of light. The Buddha tells us the same thing. We must acquire Bodhi or enlightenment. The Jain thinkers have stressed Gyana, Darshana and Charitra, these are the three essentials of religion, to have 'Atma Darshan', to develop divine possibility in us, to grow into fulness of our
stature.
Plato told us long ago that we are prisoners living in a cave. We' are thinking that these shadows are the ultimate realities. But some wise philosopher turned around, freed himself from the shackles, got out of the cave, saw the beautiful sun and went back, and told them you are living in a world of shadows. That is a beautiful sun of which these shadows are but the reflections. So to turn round and see the light is the essence according to Plato of religion.
The Katha Upnishad tells us,
"One wise man with his eyes turned inward, saw the soul and became immortal."
So also says the Budha,
"Try your own being to understand, In the island of your Self,"
The Jains said,
"the spirit of man is a candle of the Lord".
Islam tells us,
"God is nerter to us than
the very life-artery of our neck".
In other words, they have emphasised this one supreme fact, the need for the human being to change in his nature, to grow from intellectuality to spirituality. This is the meaning of religion,-if you separate it from all those social products with which it became actually for us to mixed up. If that is religion where is then any room
quarrel ?
The greatest of the people have said that this experience is ineffable. It baffles description. It cannot be put into words. The Supreme
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