Jaina Acara Siddhanta aur Svarupa

Author(s): Devendramuni
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 20

(xiv)
preoccupation with editing of numerous books brought out on the occasion of the golden jubilee of my respected Guru Upadhyaya 'Sri Pushkar Muni (a large commemorative volume, Dharma Kā Kalpa Vriksa-Jiwana Ke Angana Men, Jaina Dharma Men Dāna: EK Samiksatmaka Adhyana, Siravaka Dharma Darsan and Jain Kathayen series). Besides this the long tour of Maharashtra, Karnatak, Tamilnadu, Andhra, Gujarat and Rajasthan also hindered the work. However, during my monsoon-stays at Bangalore, Madras, Sicundarabad, Udaipur and Ranchi I continued to write whenever I had the time and opportunity. This book was not written at a stretch, nor at a place, and as such, some topics have been dealt with in detail whereas some others could be treated in brief. I have also kept in mind that every chapter of the book becomes a self-contained independent essay. Some friends also advised that a comparative study of Jaina conduct and western logic should be included so as to be useful in the modern world. However, I could not heed to their request due to lack of time and non-availability of reference works because of my intinerant life. If I find time I shall certainly take up their suggestion in the second edition.
Being a Jaina Sramana myself it is natural for me to have an affinity and reverence for Jaina conduct. Still, I do not like to criticise or belittle any other school of conduct. It is my established and frank opinion that the antagonistic attitude does not suit modern times. For the purpose of sectarian tolerance it is desirable to adopt a comparative view-point for in-depth study and a reasearch-oriented style of exposition. Efforts should be made to explore the basic foundation of the subject so that the antagonism, seperatism, and factionalism are removed and the divine stream of mutual goodwill and affinity starts flowing. From the very beginning I have been inclined towards presentation which is neither too brief nor too detailed. This I learnt from my preceptor. Like my other works I have used the same style in this work as well.
My revered mother, Mahasati sri Prabhāvati Maharaj and my scholarly elder sister Mahasati Sri Pushpavati Maharaja desired that I should write a research-oriented book on Jaina conduct as I had done on Jain philosophy, Jaina canons and Jaina Tirthankaras. How could I ignore the affectionate order of my mother? I started writing. In spite of many hurdles I could complete the work. It was during the printing that suddenly my mother took her last vow (Santhara) and breathed her last on 27th January 1982 at Khairoda (Mewar Rajasthan).
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