Atmatatva Vichar Or Philosophy Of Soul

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

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INTRODUCTION
This masterly yet lucid treatise originally in Gujarati is the outcome of scholarly discourses delivered at Bombay by Acharya Shrimad Vijaylaxmansurishvarjee, the leading exponent and propagator of Jainism. These discourses were compiled in Gujarati by Shri Dhirajlal T. Shah.
I feel, I am fortunate on being invited to translate into English this valuable and sacred treatise on Soul, religion and Karmas. I have strived my best to reflect the original, tempo and charm of the discourses; with out and out loyalty for the original. At times I was compelled to exercise my judicious discretion to translate Jain religio-technical terms which are very often quite foreign to the western concept. In such cases the translation has to be made explanatory.
There has remained unending dispute over 'he' or 'she' or 'it' to be used as pronoun for ‘souľ. Soul the very reservoir of consciousness deserves 'he' for indication. But some argue that 'he' usually indicates a male human being and so 'it' would be preferred, still, there are other western philosophers who mostly use "she' for soul. I think it is difficult to insist for any of the three pronouns to represent 'soul. Inspired by elaborate discussions with late Shri P. S. Badami the erudite scholar and the unforgettable genius, I have at times used 'He' when soul acts as an agent of some acts, while for the passive description of soul I have used 'It' for soul. The readers will pardon me under this confused and insoluble state of affairs and for any other error if any.
Most of the terms are translated either in explanatory manner or by coining equivalent English term nearest to the concept. Still for guidance some of the terms are explained in 'glossary' just by the 'gateway' of this grand treatise.
GHANASHYAM JOSHI