Tattvartha Sutra

SR No.: 006796
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sukhlal Sanghavi, K K Dixit
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 596
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Tattvartha Sutra, & Tattvarth
File Size: 10 MB

Page 134

HINTS FOR SPECIAL STUDY
go against the Jaina scriptural texts, are all false and worth discarding-instead of offering these grounds by way of emphasizing the desirability of teaching the chapters in question, if they are taught from a historical standpoint laying bare as to what views pertaining to heavens, hells, geography and astronomy were once current among the Aryan systems of philosophy and what stand the Jaina system takes vis-a-vis these views then much worth learning remains in the disciplines recommended to be thrown aside as false and a new field of inquisitiveness is created for the search of truth. And it is thus that one is inspired to test on the touchstone of intellect whatever is in fact true.
117
(7) Keeping in view the high grade students and researchers I might offer two more suggestions. First adopting a historical standpoint one should find out as to what ancient Śvetāmbara and Digambara texts contain the source-point of the topics occurring in Tattvārthasūtra and its bhāṣya; and then one should make a comparative study of the two versions of the topics in question. Secondly, one should find out as to what the Buddhist Pitakas and certain Mahāyāna texts have to say regarding those very topics and how they develop them. At the same time, one should seek in this connection a direct information from the original aphorisms and bhāṣyas of all the Vedicist Systems of philosophy; and here too the relevant points of comparison should be noted. Having done so I have myself learnt from experience that in the field of philosophy and ethics the Indian soul is but one. Be that as it may, the full significance of Tattvārtha cannot be grasped without undertaking a specialized study of this sort.
(8) If Tattvārtha is to be taught with the help of the present English explanation itself, then the teacher should take the aphorisms one by one and first orally explain all that is there. And when the students have thus well assimilated the material they should be asked to read out the present explanation for themselves. With a view to making sure that the students have really grasped the points the teacher should put to them a question or two.