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BOOK REVIEW
1. KARMA AND REBIRTH by T. G. Kalghatgi : L. D. Institute, Ahmedabad, 1972 : Pages 75 : Price Rs. 6.00.
2. COLLECTION OF JAINA PHILOSOPHICAL TRACTS, edited by Nagin J. Shah: L. D. Institute, Ahmedabad, 1973 : Pages 14+164 : Price Rs. 16.00.
PUHAICAMDACARIYAM, edited by Muni Ramanik Vijay : Prakrit Text Society, Ahmedabad, 1972 : Pages 45+267 : Price Rs. 30.00.
1. Arising out of three lectures by T. G. Kalghatgi, the first title under review is a comparative study on Karma and Rebirth. Since Karma theory is typical of the Indian philosophical systems except Carvakism, the first two lectures given to this theory are dominated by these systems. In contrast, the third lecture which is given to Rebirth is a philosophic study. The lecture traces the origin of the idea in the Paleolithic age and its development in diverse cultures. Despite the fact that Christianity does not recognise rebirth, some people in the west have, on the basis of experience with metampsychosis, started investigation in prebirths, and this lecture throws light on what western scholars have achieved in this field. Needless to add, in their quest, the western scholars have made use of the tools of modern psychoanalysis, and hence their progress is circumscribed. The tools are inadequate for this purpose. Indian seers, in contrast, have mentioned rebirth as an act of faith and as an intuitive knowledge of the enlightened man. With the progress of civilisation, this intuitive knowledge has grown dim.
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