Atmatatva Vichar Or Philosophy Of Soul

Author(s): Vijaylakshmansuri, Ghanshyam Joshi, Kirtivijay Gani
Publisher: Mohanlal D Mehta

Page 10

PREFACE
It is extremely gratifying that a book in English language has been printed with the name 'Philosophy of Soul'. It is a translation from the book written in Gujerati "Atma Tatva Vichar" meaning thought on the principle of Soul. The original book in Gujerati in two volumes consists of religious discourses given by an eminent Holy scholar His Holiness Shrimud Vijay Laxman Suriswarji Maharaj. He is a well known Jain Acharya. These discourses are edited in Gujerati by another able scholar Shri Dhirajlal Tokashri Shah.
The laborious and difficult task of translating two Gujerati volumes of Atma Tatva Vichar into this English volume is very satisfactorily completed by Prof. Ghanshyam Joshi, M.A., who is Sahityacharya and Master of languages. A learned Jain and man of letters Shri Jamnadas J. Udani has given sufficient labour and thought in carefully examining and revising the entire translation.. To check and select appropriate English expressions for the original Gujerati technical terms and phrases and thus bring the true tone of the spirit and meaning of the original was no less difficult task, which Shri Udani has admirably accomplished.
Universally revered eminent Jainacharya Shrimud Vijaya Laxman Suriswarji Maharaj needs no introduction. Also, his monumental work Philosophy of Soul needs no preface. However, I avail of this opportunity to bring many salient points of jainism, by this preface, to the notice of Jain and non Jain readers.
The reader will experience great joy in reading this book and will not leave it half finished even if he has no particular interest in abstract philosophy. Because the language used in this book by His Holiness is simple and lucid and the aspects of the philosophy of soul as propounded in Jain Religion are explained in a logical way. Moreover, this book of religious discourses presents many religious stories which go to explain the bigger principles of certain aspects of Jain philosophy. In this way the book has become extremely interesting even to the laymen.
vii