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FOREWORD
I am very happy to place before scholars Jaina Ontology' by Dr. K. K, Dixit. The work clearly and lucidly traces the development of Jaina concepts and views pertaining to not only ontology but epistemology also. Though the title of the work is Jaina Ontology', it occasionally deals with Jaina Epistemology as well because both are intimately related, and the treatment of one necessitates the treatment of the other too. Dr. Dixit has taken into account the works of both the sects, Svetāmbara and Digambara while tracing the history of various concepts. This is, thus, the first English work of its kind. It covers the period of time beginning with the old Āgamic texts like Bhagavatisūtra (5th-2nd centuries B. C.) and ending with Up. Yašovi. jaya (17th-18th centuries A. D.). In the course of his discussion the auther takes important Svetambara and Digambara texts one by one in their chronological order, analyses their contents and pinpoints their special features, methodological as well as doctrinal. He never loses the historical perspective. This work is really a good history of Jaina thought. I congratulate Dr. Dixit on his masterly analytical study of the history of Jaina thought.
I hope that this publication will be of very great value for the students of Indian culture, in general, and of Jainology, in particular,
L. D. Institute of Indology
Ahmedabad-9 26th January 1971
Dalsukh Malvania
Director
Jain Education International
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