New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-28

narrowing influences which the vedantists ana
other sects have imposed 1T. the result will be
a revelation 10 the peoples OF the West
II is partly to continue this work that Mr..
Gandhis present visit has been made But he has
another and possibly more important object. When
he here for the first time he was deeply I'M
pressed by the system OF common schools In this
country He believes that the West has much 10
learn from the East. but he Is also sure that the
reverse is true. And he has come back to in
terest Americans in the problem OF education In
India
The great need Of the country" he told rrib-
une reporter yesterday. lis free schools for the
masses Ninety per cent OF the population cannot
read write The country has been under ono
form another OF foreign rue for three thousand
years. The result has been mental inactivity and
lack Of ambition in the majority OF tho people.
Education. free education. is the only way 10 raise
them out Of their present condition. The schools
must be free because OF the great poverty OF most
OF the inhabitants. The British have introduced
schools Of which instruction is given for what
would be thought "A nominal in tho West but
which Ia india lie altogether beyond the means Of
those FOR whom the schools are intended. In my
opinion. the best way 10 begin is TO educate the
women who will In turn teach tho children; and
so have started tho International Society FOR
tho Education OF the Women or India OF which
there already branches in Chicago and other
large cities"
In the other branch OF his work, that in which
he believes the West may learn much from the
East, Mr.. Gandhi has been equally active lie
has founded schools for the study OF comparative
TO Start a similar INSTITUTION in thls city. The
JJains. OF whom ne Is leader are the most en-
their teaching there is little or separate dogma:
tndsavor TO draw the essential truths from each
AS result they hold that tho fundamentals OF all
canon aG n" Of PS S Witch they
apply TO Brahminisrn. Buddhism. Christianity and
the esoterc truth Of each The philosophy which
Mr. Gandhi teaches may be described as eso;eri-
Ss without RE hpPToSes or the en
meaning Of religion created by such bodies as tho
the ideas Of the latter With regard to the seven,
fold constitution OF man, for instance. Mr.. Gandhi
says that the teaching Is true, in sense but II
Is equally true 10 say that man is a unit. or
iernaTy or MULTIPLICITY na OF beings AS to me
OF Nrvana, his attitude Is much the same as that
TO Nipvana the jams lay much more " stress t6an
the Theosophists seem TO do on the survival OF the
when he has completed his evolution through sue
cessve reincarnations.
lowest, Naraka Is somewhat akin to the Christian
hell; the next Tiryarch Is that OF the minerals:
the third Is Manushyra or that OF man; while
D is N the s1 OF 3e d MoGs the sss
in Which m1n and SSg nsS HTown on the
COD. In the sense Of an extra cosmic personality.
has no place in the Jain philosophy They CON
IA subtle eternal essence underlying all creation.
conscious and unconscious which is the cause OF
all the myriad notifications OF the Infinite
Ethics important part OF the teaching. II
IL held that the highest happiness Is TO be obtained
by knowledge and good conduct Life, whether OF
human beings Of animals, Is considered sacred
Before his departure on his second visit TO this
country the Jain Association presented to Mr.
Gandhi an address printed in English on satin
and beautifully embroidered in gold and silver
1t is contained In a silver deliberately chased
A gold medal In which he is called THE Star
Of Jainism'' was also given TO him.
Mr.. Gandhi will remain In this city about a
month after which he will visit other parts OF tho
country He intends TO return to New-York In
February.