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RECONCILIATION.
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all, and the argument in support of the claim of Jainism is conclusive. It will be seen that no amount of revelation from one who has not himself undergone the experiences and trials which the jiva has to pass through, on the Path of Liberation, can possibly be helpful to the soul, since he would lack the merit of practicality, which only a guru with actual experience can possess. Just as he who is a pure quack, or has only read about surgery in books, cannot be employed to perform a surgical operation, which must be left in the skilled hands of a qualified surgeon, so cannot he who has not had the necessary practical experience, be entrusted with the spiritual welfare of the soul.
In respect of the antiquity of Jainism, it is sufficient to say that if it be true that the ideal of perfection and bliss is realizable by mankind, there must be a number of men who have already attained to it. The very first* of these Holy Ones, must, therefore, be recognized to be the founder of the true religion which his teachings constitute. This Holy Lord, the first Tirthamkara, is Shri Rishabha Deva, who was the first to establish Religion in this cycle. His teaching has been confirmed by twenty-three subsequent Tirthamkaras whose holy feet have graced our little earth, from time to time. Jainism, thus, differs from the remaining creeds in the following essential particulars :---
* This statement is to be understood with respect to the Jaina divisions of time, for otherwise in a world which is eternal the question of the first man to attain nirvana can hardly arise. The Jaina teaching is that in each cycle of time there are 24 Tirthamkarus, the first of whom re-establishes religion among men. Hence, our statement.
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