Jain Digest 1990 07 Vol 17 No 03

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 14

D
CAR
ON
3z
JA IN DIGEST A v KAR
agreed to undertake translation of The Tatvarth Sutra in the first volume of the Jain Scriptures.
Jain Declaration On Nature of about 2000 words is being prepared and it is hoped that it will be ready for presentation to the Duke of Edinburgh at a formal ceremony at Buckingham Palace in October of this year. It will include philosophical, cosmological, ethical and ecological principals and preceptions. It will underline environmental concern in Jain tradition.
NAM O
Book Review
THE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION OF JAINISM by K.V. Mardia, Motilal Banarsidas Publishers, Delhi, India
CELIBA TULT
NEDITATION ARMADINI NILI VINGI
Answer to Navkar Mantra Puzzle
Library And Education
From Dr. Premchand Gada
In The Scientific Foundations of Jainism Professor Mardia
I attempts to elucidate the point that Jainism is a science with religion. It brings together his attempts in a unified way. Four axioms are constructed which highlight the foundation of Jainism. For example, axiom 1 states that "The soul exists with karmic matter and it longs to be purified." The four axioms focus on the essence rather than on detail. After a very brief introduction to Jainism, the author introduces the Axioms and discusses their theoretical and applied aspects and their plausibility in a modern context. It gives Jaina logic together with present trends in scientific thinking and indicates how Jainism and modern science are related. The book includes a bibliography, glossary and an index. Wherever possible, a sharper scientific pictorial representation has been given, and very few original terms are used in the text so that the flow of the arguments is not hampered.
Professor Mardia is a very distinguished scholar. He is a statistician, and is also a devoted Jain. Thus, he is particularly well-qualified to approach the task of rendering the basic principles, philosophy and ethics of Jainism in the terms of modern science.
It is my pleasure to let you know that some people would
I have already started borrowing books from the JAINA Library. I would like to encourage more people to do so. We have over 4,000 books with 264 topics in English, 509 topics in Gujarati and 120 topics in Hindi.
Books are classified in Jain Sootras (Tatvagyan), Jain literature; Jain paintings, art and architecture; children's education; Jain stories; adult eduction; Jain songs; etc.
We have taken the project to send selected books to all Jain Centers. The book, Jainism: The Path of Purity and Peace, has been sent as a test project to all centers. Persons wishing to donate books to all centers or any center may contact JAINA Library. This is one of the best activities we can do for our fellow Dharmabandhus.
Please send any suggestions you may have to improve our ability to serve our community.
Rajshri Pictures Presents "Jain Mahotsay"
Video Cassette
Progress On Translation of Jain Scriptures Film World's well-known organization Rajshri Pictures are Into English and
I now offering their unique video cassette "Jain Mahotsav"
dedicated to the memory of late Smt. Shanta Devi (wife of Shri Jain Declaration On Nature
Tarachand Barjatya). It is a compilation of eleven short Jain Ajoint meeting was held in Bombay on April 28, 1990 documentary films shot in 35mm Eastman color by famous
h between the representatives of the Jain leaders in India, cinematographers Rajan Kinagi, Sunil Sharma and Rajen Oshwaland Navnat Vanik Association of the United Kingdom Kothari of award winning films. and International Sacred Literature Trust. It was agreed that a Included in this video cassette of 21/2 hours are 11 documenJain Sacred Literature Trust be set up in India under the tary films, nine of which are embellished with a popular Jain umbrella of Bhagwan Mahavir Memorial Samiti. A similar Bhajan by the well known music director Ravindra Jain. structure will be established abroad by Jains residing overseas. The Jain Mahotsav video cassettes are made on Japanese A coordinating committee of three persons was formed. They tape, presented in a plastic box with an attractive cover and are Prof. Padmanabh Jaini, University of California, Berkeley listed at Rs 251. They are available from all branch offices of (U.S.A), Dr. Kumarpal Desai, India, and Nemu Chandaria, Rajshri Pictures Pvt. Ltd. Worli Bombay, India, or contact
U.K. The representatives at the meeting in Bombay further JAINA.O