Doctrine of Karman in Jain Philosophy

Author(s): Hiralal R Kapadia
Publisher: Vijibai Jivanlal Panalal Charity Fund Mumbai

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XX
PREFACE TO THE GERMAN EDITION
connection with the subject, that is to say, all the discursive matter which is interwoven in the text and the commentaries. Further, I have not taken into consideration all the views of the different teachers excepting only opinions expressed in the text itself. Although several things have been abbreviated or omitted, I hope that nothing of importance has been lost to view. If in many instances and in manifold regard the text provided too much for our necessities, on the other hand, in many respects, it supplied too little. In order to present a general view of the world of ideas connected with the karman doctrine, I felt myself compelled to supplement the missing points by drawing upon other works, chiefly the Tattvärthadhigamasutra and the Lokaprakāśa. This applies especially to the introduction and to chapters V., VI. 2, VII. 1, which, although probably affording scarcely anything new to the specialist in Jain Philosophy, will not be unacceptable to other readers.
Of the books published in European languages, two only have been of prominent use to me. The first is the series of lectures on Karman Philosophy, delivered by the late Mr. Virchand R. Gandhi in London, and which were subsequently published from notes made by Mr. H. Warren. This excellent work would undoubtedly have become an exhaustive manual had Gandhi not been overtaken by death before its completion. Thus his work remains a torso, and treats of a small part only of the karman system proper, namely the doctrine of the karmaprakṛtis and the first five gunasthanas; but, notwithstanding its incomplete form, it has been of great value to me. The other work to which I have referred is Professor H. Jacobi's German translation of the Tattvärthādhigama-Sūtra, the only book on Jain dogmatics hitherto translated into a European language. The rendering of numerous termini technici is due to it, and to it likewise I owe many observations contributing essentially to an understanding of the subject.
In conclusion, I feel myself bound to acknowledge the kindly aid and information supplied to me by those whose names follow: Mr. Hemchand Amerchand1 (Bombay), Dr. A. Guérinot (Paris), Jagmandar Lal Jaini, M.A.2 (Bankipore), Dr. Willibald Kirfel (Bonn), Pandit F. K. Lalan (Bombay), Vakil Keshavlal P. Mody, B.A., LL.B. (Ahmedabad), Dr. Walther Schubring (Berlin), Dr. F. W. Thomas (London) and Mr. Herbert Warren (London).
I must reserve till the last my special expression of gratitude to my revered teacher, the celebrated Jainadarśanadiväkara, Herr Geheimrat Professor Dr. Jacobi, who inspired me to undertake this work and who, by his advice and encouragement, has aided me in its accomplishment. Dr. HELMUTH VON GLASENAPP.
1-3 Since then dead.-H. R. K.