Essence of Jainism

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

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Essence of Jainism
By Manu Doshi
Published By Indira Mansukhlal Doshi Memorial Trust
2003
Preface to the second edition
Since this book was first published in 1992, it has been in good demand. Consequently 1000 more copies had to be printed in 1993. Thereafter The Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago printed 5000 copies in 1995. All those copies are exhausted and it has been necessary to print the same again. It has now been more than 10 years since it was first printed. As such it was considered worthwhile to recast the matter in light of the experience gained during that period. I have therefore gone through the entire matter and made necessary changes. I hope that this new edition would be more useful than the first one.
July 16 2003
Manu Doshi
Preface to the first edition
For last few years I had been thinking to write about Jainism. The matter took concrete shape when I started writing as editor of Jain Darshan, a monthly publication issued on behalf of Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago. When the publication completed the first year, some of the well wishers suggested that if issues of Jain Darshan can be made available in bound volume, that could be helpful to those who would like to get a glimpse of the Jain ideology. When I went through all the issues, I however noticed that it would serve a better purpose, if the material is recast in a book form. I therefore reedited all those articles, made additions wherever necessary and prepared the material for this small publication.
Even while writing for Jain Darshan, I had been particular to present the theory from the point of view of pure Jainism steering clear of different sectarian approaches. That approach has been kept intact in this booklet. I have noticed that many readers of Jain Darshan appreciate this approach. This book would be of use to the people who wish to get unbiased view of Jainism.
It is possible that some errors might have crept in or some particular aspect might be needing better treatment. If readers can point out any scope for correction or improvement, all possible efforts will be made to incorporate them in the subsequent edition.
Before concluding I would like to thank sub-editors of Jain Darshan for encouraging me to write this book. Dilip Shah in particular has taken lot of pain in presenting the material in right shape. Without his help this book could not have taken its present shape and would not have been ready by this time.
Indira M. Doshi Trust was set up in 1987 as a non-profit organization. Its principal objective is to popularize Jainism. Its trustees have rightly decided to issue this book on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Indiraben Doshi.
December 28 1992