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FOREWORD
I consider it a privilege to be invited to write this foreword to the book 'The concept of Divinity with special reference to Jainism', which I regard as a significant contribution in the field of Jain philosophy. Dr. Kothari has been awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy on this remarkable thesis which seeks to communicate and revitalise the important aspect of Jainism that the Jains do not believe in God as a creator of the Universe but every individual soul can attain godhood, divinity, by observing self-discipline. The author has covered in this book various theories and concepts of Jainism including Jain karma theory, the concept of soul, and spiritual development of soul. The best part of this book is the chapter on the divinity of Jainism and its comparison with Buddhism and Hinduism.
. Though the subject of the thesis is not a new one but with the advent of science this subject has been gaining tremendous importance everyday. We cannot forget Einstein's famous question about whether God had any choice in creating the universe? A living physicist of our time, the Lucasian Professor, Stephen Hawking attempts to write that a universe may be finite and with no boundaries, no edge in space, no beginning or end in time and therefore nothing fo: a creator to do. It is true that out of all ancient religions it is only Jainism that has believed that the universe is eternal, working by its inherent laws and not created by any God or Supreme being. According to Jain philosophy it is the matter and the soul, the two realities which are responsible for the existence of the universe. Jains believe that the universe has no beginning and no end. While reading the views of S. Hawking for the universe, it is felt as if some Jain master is giving his views about the universe. The author of this book has presented the concept of divinity so clearly and with such lucidity that it can be utilised in the field of physical sciences.
The author has presented his research work on the concept of divinity with special reference to Jainism in this book in six chapters. The first chapter, The Concept Of Divinity At A Glance, deals with the meaning and introduction to some aspects of divinity in some of
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