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Preface
The Jains are a small group of people who have hardly spread outside the borders of India. Outside India, few have even heard of them, even in circles of western intellectuals and "New Age” people. Even in the English language very little can be found about them, and then mostly in the form of publications which do not appeal to the general public. The purpose of this book is to make this beautiful religion and philosophy more widely known.
During my research into Jainism, and later, when writing this book, I have been greatly supported by Jains from all levels of society, among them leaders of organizations, educationalists, monks, nuns and lay people. My first encounter with Jainism was when I saw a television documentary by Prof. P.S. Jaini of the University of California in Berkeley, which inspired me to meet Prof. Jaini in person. Other early sources of inspiration were articles in Sunrise, the magazine of the Theosophical Society in Pasadena (California). In the initial phases I was especially inspired by Prof. M.D. Vasantharaj of Madras University, who granted me many interviews which were all recorded on audiotape and many others to whom I have been able to speak in and around Madras (now Chennai). In the North of India I owe much to the (svetambara) Jain philosopher Dr. Sohan Lal Gandhi. We have known each other for quite a few years, but since I took up residence in Jaipur, Rajasthan, where he also lives, he has supported me philosophically as well as practically. And I owe very much to Dr. Sneh Rani Jain from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, a (Digambara) Jain Brahmāchārinī (“aspirant nun"), whom I did not meet until I had already begun writing this book. She took me on a pilgrimage-cum-archeological research trip to a series of
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