Atma the Self

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

Page 57

... ĀTMĀ
The Self....
Sūtra, a Nandisūtra and an Anuyoga Dvāra Sūtra, totalling 45 Āgams are available today. At different periods most eminent scholars, preceptors for guidance and clarification have added, explained and have written volumes each containing thousands of Sloka, such as Niryukti, Bhāşya, Cūrni, Tikā, etc.
The Fundamentals of Jaina Philosophy are that the whole Cosmos is self created, self ruled, self regulated and self administered, according to the mighty and eternal Cosmic law. Every conceivable subject is so well discussed in Jaina Scriptures in a systematic and convincing way that one would realise that if the Jaina Doctrines are well understood and practised, it is certain that the world will enjoy lasting peace and prosperity, instead of the present day world of hatred and violence.
The ancient Jaina philosophy text was expressed in terms of the scientific vocabulary of those days. Whatever was available after the decline of oral transmission was written in Samskrta and Prākrta languages, which are well adapted to give precision and clarity, though not infrequently they can be difficult of interpretation owing to extremes of terseness. The terminology may be difficult.
Those who are keen and desire to study in depth the spiritual subjects, Cosmology, Astronomy, Atomic Science, Energy, Inductive and Deductive Logic, Relativity, Ethics, Theology, etc. shall have to refer to higher scriptures and study along with the 'Gitārtha'- Scholar preceptors. The most important is to study Samskrta and/or Prākrta in innumerable interpretations from different 'naya'-view points, which are not possible to be expressed fully in other languages.
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