Jainism The Cosmic Vision

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: UK Mahavir Foundation London

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Mahatma Gandhi imbibed the message of truth, restraint and nonviolence from his saintly Jain Guru Shrimad Rajchandra, and used it as a potent instrument for launching a successful and persuasive struggle against the British colonial rule without any trace of rancor, hostility or hatred.
The book provides yet another valuable input on the need of global Jain diaspora getting together to formulate a global strategy and action programme so that compassion in action' as propounded by Jain religion reaches the needy and the deserving all over the world.
The issue of human rights and compassion towards animals has been dealt with in the wider back-drop of “Right to life', Carl Sagan, the renowned American cosmic scientist has commented that Jain religion is the only religion that has put on the highest pedastal of thought and action the principle of 'Right to life' for not only human beings but all living beings as well as elements of nature in this universe. After all human destiny is inextrically interwoven with them in a divine web of interdependence.
My felicitations to Dr. Kumarpal Desai for this very welcome addition to the growing literature in English language on Jain religion in a global perspective.
- Dr. N. P. Jain
Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal, U.N., European Union, Mexico and Belgium
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