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INTRODUCTION
What is the world ? Who am I? What is my duty ?
Such questions arise in the minds of intelligent people. In this book answers can be found to these questions from the Jain point of view. When we think of the first question and when we view the various perceptible objects in this universe, it becomes necessary to think of the original cause for all these things.
When we think of the second question, we should think of the questions, “Who am I? What is my relationship with the various objects of the universe, of the past, the present and the future ?"
After thinking of the entity called the self and its relationship with all the beneficial and malefic aspects of this universe, we have to think of the third question relating to our duty namely discarding all malefic objects and accepting all beneficial objects with sense and intelligence.
In this manner as a result of our thinking about the first question, we can find out all the objects, their creation, their ordering and management and the mutual relationship between them. In other words, we acquire this knowledge of some great principles and truths.
As a result of our thinking of the second question, we can understand the nature of our own jivas and other jivas, their peculiarities and their signs that explain those peculiarities and the Karmas which constitute all these peculiarities.
As a result of the thinking of our third question, we will realise the ultimate aim of life and the various vows and observances from the lowest to the highest that enable us to achieve that aim. We can also understand the various impediments such as improper conduct and unrighteousness which impede that objective.
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