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PREFACE
Samayasara is the most important philosophical work by Shri Kunda Kunda. 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 Amritachandra's Atmakyatı but some other commentaries are also consulted Jayasena's Tatparyavriti and Mallisena's Tamil commentary were also consulted The extra gathas found in Jayasena's Tatparyavriti do not give any additional information nor do they affect the general trend of Atmakyatı. Hence the present English translation confines itself to the gathas found in Atmakyatı. It may be mentioned that the Tamil commentary by Mallisena seems to be based upon Atmakyatı by Amritachandra. 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 Upanishadic thought with which Sri Kunda Kunda 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 Physists and Physiologists treated consciousness as a by-product in the evolution of matter and motion. Following this attitude of physical science, psychologists also tried to discuss
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