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- Ten -
According to its developmental process, it should become accessible for every practitioner. The narrow definitional distinctions between Jain and non-Jain philosophy should be broken through comparative discussions, and the Jain encyclopedia should be enriched with subjects of significant and clear importance found in Indian philosophies to date or in the contemplation of Western philosophy, in this manner the discourse on Tattvartha should be written. In this conception, there was no place for the translation or summary of just one tradition regarding Tattvartha. Besides the exploitation of commentaries, there was also a place for the essence of other significant Jain texts. However, when this vast plan took the form of a middle path, the vision behind it became somewhat constrained. Nevertheless, I have mainly considered the following points in this middle-path discussion method:
1. Utilizing the content that has emerged so far in Jain philosophy as a neutral perspective, rather than writing a translation or summary of just one text or following the viewpoint of only one tradition.
2. Making the discussion suitable for the curiosity of students in colleges or universities, while also ensuring it is interesting for students studying through ancient systems, thus maintaining a communal definition while using simple analysis.
3. Where it seems appropriate and as much as is correct, presenting it in dialogue form, and in the remaining part, discussing simply without dialogue.
4. Keeping only one text in the discussion, which is also accepted as commentary, and where significant semantic distinctions exist, providing the distinguishing text and explaining its meaning in a footnote below.
5. As far as the meaning is contextual, writing its meaning by referring to one or more texts and discussing it simultaneously. While doing so, if the topic is lengthy, dividing it into sections and analyzing the statements through headings.
6. Ensuring that there is not excessive complexity in very famous places.
1. Now such comments have been given in the original texts. See pp. 111-138.