Samayasara

Author(s): A Chakravarti
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 14

PREFACE
Samayasára is the most important philosophical work by Ācārya Kundakunda. It deals with the nature of the self the term Samaya being used synonimously with Atman or Brahman. The translation and commentary herein published are based upon Amrtacandra's Atmakhyāti but some other commentaries are also consulted. Jayasena's Tātparyavștti and Mallişeņa's Tamil commentary were also consulted. The extra gāthās found in Tayasena's Tātparyavrtti do not give any additional information nor do they affect the general trend of Atmakhyāti. Hence the present English translation confines itself to the gāthas found in Atmakhyāti. It may be mentioned that the Tamil commentary by Mallisena seems to be based upon Atmakhyāti by Amộtacandra. Since the work deals with the nature of the Self from the Jaina point of view, the introduction also deals with the nature of the self from other points of view. The introduction is divided into three main groups; the nature of the Self dealt with in Western Philosophy, the nature of the Self in Indian Philosophy and the same topic according to Modern Science. A rapid survey of Western thought beginning with the Greek philosophers is given in the first part of the introduction. The second part, Indian Philosophy begins with a concise account of the Upanişadic thought with which Kundakunda appears to be acquainted. The modern scientific approach towards the problem of self is also given in the introduction. It is not a detailed account of modern scientific thought; but here an attempt is made to present the modern scientific attitude which is quite different from that of the latter half of the 19th century. The Scientists and Philosophers of the Victorian period were not sure about the nature of the self. Orthodox Physicists and Physiologists treated consciousness as a by-product in the evolution of matter and motion. Following this domiant attitude of physical science, psychologists also tried to discuss the problem of consciousness