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Preface About 750 years ago, Acharya Shri Devendrasuriji had written “Dharmaratna Prakaran", in which he describes 21 attributes necessary for leading a truly religious life. During 1960 Shri Chitrabhänuji delivered sermons thereon. They were published during 1962 under the title “Dharma Ratnana Ajwälä”. Last year he asked me to translate it into English. I undertook to do it and am now presenting here the outcome thereof.
Sermons are basically talks; we cannot expect coherence therein. Coherence, however, becomes a necessity when it is to be presented in a book form. While translating, I had therefore to present the matter of the sermons in a slightly revised form. It would therefore be seen that this is a free translation; not a literal one. This will be obvious from the fact that I have preferred to call it “Rays of Dharma”.
While preparing the translation, I have maintained the overall order of the chapters as per the Gujarati text, except in two respects. Chapter 4 was a little too long. I have therefore covered its matter in two chapters. On the other hand, Chapters 25 and 47 were too short to be treated as separate chapters. I have therefore incorporated the contents thereof in the adjoining chapters. The total number of chapters in this book thus stands at 50, instead of 51 as per the Gujarati text. As such, the serial numbers of chapters 5 to 25 and 47 to 50 do not tally with those of the Gujarati text.
The attributes described in the book are very significant and need to be contemplated at length. Those, who do it, will be able to grasp the essence of true religion and that can lead them to Samyag Darshan (Right vision). It would then be possible for them to mould their life in light thereof.
Manu Doshi
