Jain Digest 2001 07 Vol 19 No 03

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

Page 28

BOOK REVIEW...
- Dilip V. Shah Philadelphia
RATIONAL EXUBERANCE
• The Key to the Center of the Universe • KARMA - The Mechanism • A two-book set on Tattvarthasutra
by Herman Kuhn, Crosswind publishing Nevada Jains of all traditions agree on one thing - Tattvarthasutra that he prefers Jain answers to many imponderables. One only has is the essence of Jainism. There are many scholarly works (Pandit to hear him recite the Navkar Mantra to realize his deep belief in Sukhlaji's being inost known) describing it but easy reading it is all that he is presenting. not. Herman Kuhn, a German scholar, co-founder and president
The second book-" KARMA - The Mechanism" is his of the Jain Association of Germany for many years and invited interpretation of chapters 6 through 10 of the Tattvarthsutra. Here speaker at the JAINA Convention has made a valiant effort to Herman Kuhn dissects all western understanding of KARMA and simplify this highly complex text and brings the central message logically steers the readers to a Jain point of view. He tells over of Tattvarthasutra to the western world in plain English and over again that there is nothing mysterious about Karma. For commensurate with our worldly experiences.
each sutra he devotes about two pages as he explains how we attract The first book -"Key to the center of the Universe" Karmic matters to our consciousness, how our consciousness and presents the Tattvarthasutra as a blueprint of how to access deeper karmic matter interact with each other, why karmic matters attach functions of our consciousness. The original Sanskrit text is (bandha) and how to dissolve our Karma. He repeats his essay on faithfully reproduced Sutra by Sutra and many complex Jain 14 Gunasthanas here and why he has chosen to do that is not clear terminologies have been given insightful English translation (for to me. At the end of the book is a "To Do" list and a checklist example, he refers to jiva as consciousness and naya as partial sight). that will help reader progress on the path of self-realization. The second part of the book describes 14 Gunasthanas. He terms
It is Herman Kuhn's exuberance in presenting his central them as "application of the sutras in daily life. Kuhn compares theme - that Tattvarth is the key to uncovering the hidden ascendance from fourth Gunasthana to Fifth Gunasthana to knowledge we are all endowed with, which makes reading his works recognizing the need to undertake daily jogging and actually doing a sheer joy. The two-book set is a great introduction to the ancient it. This analogy is carried further by comparing the benefits of a text for the novice and full of new insight for someone who has few weeks of regular jogging to the conscious channeling of our vague notions of Jainism. Scholars of Jainism may debate usefulness action towards ultimate freedom. The stunningly detailed diagram of western interpretations of our sacred text but any student of showing all 14 stages of development is very interesting as it answers Jainism should not overlook Herman Kuhn's work. From this many of our questions visually. Near the very end, he has coined a German Scholar who has developed series of advanced management phrase "Five freedoms” for Panch Mahavrats. His interpretation courses based on Jain knowledge for European companies and has differs significantly from craditional meaning of "vows". He made his life mission to spread message of Jainism this practicable challenges the notion that adoption of 5 vows automatically lands translation of Acharya Umaswami's work is a Gift to the western you to the fifth Gunasthana. Give him credit that as he presents world. his arguments, he presents both the traditional view and his own
The two-book set is available through JAINA BOOK interpretation. He also challenges many western ideas. It is clear STORE for $30.00 (Postage included)
SAMANS SUCCESSFUL TOUR OF ABROAD
In celebration of the 26 centennial anniversary of the birth of Lord Mahavir, Saman Niyojak Shrutpragyaji and Schitpragyaji, disciples of Anuvrat Anushashta Acharyashri Mahapragya, are touring Malaysia and United States. The main focus of their tour is to give lectures about Mahavira's teachings, Mahavira's practice of meditation, nonviolence, non-possession, and Anekant, to inspire people to read Mahavira's literature, and to arrange workshops on Preksha meditation at various universities and Jain Centers. The Samans arrived in Malaysia on April 5, 2001. After participating in the Mahavir Jyanti program, they left for a four-month tour of eleven states including California, Arizona, and Kentucky. The Samans also gave lectures at the Western Kentucky University, University of Arizona, University of Minnesota and Marshall University. During their tour the Samans taught Jains, Indians, and Americans about Anuvrat, Preksha meditation, the science of living and Jain philosophy. They celebrated the anniversary of the birth of his holiness Acharya Mahapragya at Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Samans will travel back to India via Malaysia in September 2001.
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