World Religions Conference November 1957

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

Page 88

Address from Muni Shri Sushil Kumar |
unfortunate thing. Under these circumstances it is apparent that there is a great need for calling a World Religions Conference. Alangsida with this such a conference can be helpful in creating a healthy atmosphere, for eradicating destructive, imperialistie, materialistic and totalitarian tendencies.
I am a Jain preacher and I wonder that the people may feel thas that I have called the World Religions Conference with the idea of just propagating my own religion. To expel any such doubts, I shall have to refer you to the history of our own country.
Thousands of year ago, the Jain Sovereign Kharab all, the Buddhist King Ashoka, Harsha Vardhana, the Vedic King Samudra Gupta and the Mughal emperor Akbar the great, held such Religious Conferences. The idea of the equality of all religions originated only with the Indians, le has ever been the heritage of this country. The ages and the seers of India have come to the conclusion that in this world of diversity and materialism there is only one universal Truth and it must be expounded to the world at large. All the religions of the world have taken their birth from this fundamental Truth. Truth is one though sages des ribe it variously'--this is what all the learned in scriptural lore say. n 'Sutra Kritanga' Bhagvan Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of the Jains, had yeryelaborately made clear the idea of Round Table Conference of the representatives of the various religions. The 'Sarvadarshan Sangrah' of Madhavacharya, and 'Shad-Darshan Samuchchaya' of Jain Acharya Hari Bhadra Suri also came into existence in this very land.
India has also taken the lead in unifying religloys thought. The Tirthankaras of the East, the Acharyas of the South, the salnts of the North and the travellers from the West, all helped in establishing the foundation of the very culture of India, with one vajee, and whosoever hears their voice cannot but help in the great cause of oneness. The idea of organising a World Religions Conference was but natural with me, in the sacred land of India, one cannot have any other Inspiration but this. The distinction of caste, colour and creed and lingual and provincial controversies are all man-made. But to raise our voice for Ahimsa, Satyagraha, Bhoo Dan, Gram Dan, Shrema Das have been our privilege from times immemorial.
I wonder if on the occasion of this World Religions Conference, which is being held in India, we may be misunderstood for self praise. Whatsoever we are, we stand before you and if there be any shortcomings in us, these could be removed when we have come in contact with you this day.
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