Canonical Niksepa

Author(s): Bansidhar Bhatt
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Prakashan

Page 10

PREFACE
The present thesis is the outcome of my studies in Jaina dialectics - a subject which was suggested by Professor BRUHN when I joined in 1969 the INSTITUT FOR INDISCHE PHILOLOGIE UND KUNSTGESCHICHTE (then SEMINAR FOR INDISCHE PHILOLOGIE) of the FREIE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN. I had the opportunity to discuss with Professor BRUHN questions relating to Jaina literature in general and to Jaina dialectics in particular.
The present thesis is concerned with the canonical niksepa, but it could not have been completed had I not studied the rich post-canonical literature of the Jainas and the post-canonical niksepa as well. I have also studied dialectical problems from Jaina literature which were not connected with the niksepa, viz. the naya concept or naya technique. In a paper read in 1975 at the 19th German Oriental Conference (DEUTSCHER ORIENTALISTENTAG) I have discussed problems of textual stratification in connection with the literary transmission of Umāsvāti's Tattvārthādhigama Sūtra (the most authoritative work on Jaina dogmatics). See the bibliographical references on p.XVIII.
For a study of the canonical niksepa it is very important to have a thorough knowledge of the Jaina canon - particularly of the Svetāmbara canon. Due to the lack of reference works it was necessary to go through the entire canon in order to study both, the niksepa matter and related phenomena. The present study is the first attempt of this kind, and I hope that shortcomings of the work can, to some extent, be explained by the difficulties in the preparation of this study (for details refer to the Introduction)
A_loan-scholarship granted by the INDIA FOUNDATION (Poona) enabled me to come to Germany for higher studies, a plan which had been made long ago. Also, a scholarship granted by the GRADUI ERTENFÖRDERUNG and temporary employment in the "Konkordanz" (Jaina Concordance - a project subsidized by the DEUTSCHE FORSCHUNGSGEMEINSCHAFT and carried out at the INSTITUT FÜR INDISCHE PHILOLOGIE UND KUNSTGESCHICHTE), enabled me to work in Germany for a considerable time and to complete my thesis.
My thanks go to Professor Dr. HERBERT HÄRTEL and Professor Dr. KLAUS BRUHN, who have included my study in the Series "Indologia Berolinensis".