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describes the subject at length taking into account both ancient and middle-age texts, particularly of Haribhadra, Rajasekhara and Jinadatta. Life and activity of the Jain ascetics - samosaraṇa (Sk. samavasaraṇa), their fold, as community leaders, activity with the laity (chs. 9 12) are well written and presented. Part One is concluded (ch. 13) with a field study of the festival of Paryusana. In Part Two (chs. 14-18) under the heading: A Jain Approach to Non-Jains: The 363-Account," Prof. Folkert extensively discusses about the "matter of relationships between schools of thought in the Indian tradition," which the Western scholarship has been attracted to a class of Indian texts, which he terms as "compendia." It appears that the Jains were the authors of the earliest examples. Base on selected texts, Prof. Folkert has constructed the 363-account theory, very interestingly and intellectually.
compendia
Part Three (chs. 19-23) deals with four Jain philosophical Sarvasiddhayapravesaka (ca. C.E.), Saddarśanasamuccaya of Rajasekhara (ca. C.E.), Saddarśananirnaya of Merutunga (ca. 1390 C.E.) and Vivekavilāsa of Jinadatta (ca. 1200 or 1250 C.E.).
As said at the very out set as to the interest of the readers on the book, rather than merely subscribing to it, I confess as a Jain that the Jains who read the monograph will reflect not only about themselves and their faith has been portrayed without studying the Belief and the Believers, from religico-socio-anthropological
perspective. Professor Kendall W. Folkert, therefore I argue, must have begun his study of Jainism from two angles. One is that the Western scholarship, especially in North America, has not carried out study of Jain religion as it ought to have of any ancient living religion, and the other is a fresh start is warranted in that direction, without which, the whole of Indic study in terms of history, culture, literature and society becomes murky and myopic.
All in all, Scripture and Community: Collected Essays on the Jains by Kendall W. Folkert is a much needed for the students of comparative religious study in general and to the students of Jainology.
Collected Papers On Buddhist Studies. By Padmanabh S. Jaini: Motilal Banarsidass PublishersBungaalow Road, Jawahar nagar, Delhi 110007, India, 2001. PP. 557. ISBN: 81-208-1776-1
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The author of the book, Prof. Padmanabh S. Jaini is a well known scholar of Buddhism and Jainism, two important religions who played a very significant roles over 2500 years ago.
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