Page 76 - Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 21st Century ISBN

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Essence of the contents
Vinoba Bhave starts with his book with a foreword as to how Science has made the world

smaller. It seeks to bring human beings closer to one another. He questions whether it would be proper
for human society to be divided into sects and fall in the race to claim superiority. We need to take and

imbibe the good virtues of each other. He has tried to put across that how for years he has continuously
engaged in Padayatra in the cause of Bhoodan-Gramdan with the sole aim of uniting the hearts of

people.
The contents of his book starts with the introduction of Surah Faatiha and again the book is

divided into eight parts viz, God, Devotion, Devotee, Religious Faith ,moral Discipline, Man and his
Nature,Apostle and Initiation into the mysteries. There are 30 sections and 90 chapters. The first part

contains the opening and glory of the book in one section and the second section consists the light
,nature and prescribed way of recital .Part II of the book consists of the Oneness of God, God as light

,as merciful, as the Creator, as omnipotent, the remembrance, Revelation and Prayer. The III part
elaborates on Devotion with regard to prayer, conviction patience, Company of the Righteous, Non-

attachment.He points out that there are many ways of ibaadat(worshipping Allah).Quran says, ’’For
every one there is direction in which he turns(himself),so vie with one another in good works .”Thus

one should not fight about ways of worshipping but excel each other in good works. PartIV consists of
the Devotee and the believer, Characteristics of the Devotee and of the Unbelievers. Part V emphasises

on Religious principles, Tolerance, Rites and Rituals. It also throws light on the concept of Allah .Prophet
Muhammad mainly preached oneness of God and Vinoba refers to chapter 112(Qul Huwallahu

Ahad).The Prophet did not accept any form or idol or picture or even symbol of Allah. And, he says
prophet also cannot be incarnation of Allah. Then he compares this with the Indian philosophy (Bhartiya

Darshan) of advaita. Part VI on Moral Discipline of Truth, Purification of Speech, Non Violence,
Control over the Palate, Chastity, Right Livelihood, Ethical Teaching and Good Conduct. In this chapter

true spirit of both Hinduism and Islam is captured .Vinobaji says Prophet Muhammad never claimed to
take Allah’s place. Part VII tellsabout Man and his Nature. Part VIII on the Different Apostles and

Prophet Muhammad, hismission, his virtues. Vinobaji rightly points out that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
said that he has brought no new truth but is proclaiming what the same truth as proclaimed by previous

prophets. Perhaps in this respect Hinduism, comes close to Islam as it also accepts truth everywhere
and the Rigveda also proclaims that truth is one but the wise call it by various names. The last part

deals with the ‘Initiation of the Mysteries’ which contains three sections namely Philosophy, Law of
Causation and Life after Death.

In Quran Saar Vinobaji begins the book in explanation of the meaning of the word Islam which
means peaceful submission to God.He writes that a hindu or muslim is good only if they are following

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