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16
Seminar on Jainism
of phenomena, but through the perception of life For the most general Jain terin for soul is life (līva ), which is identical with self (āyā ātman) Dr. Mukhopadhyaya was forthright and meaningful when he clearly maintained that if we take the root meaning of the word ātman which is derived from the verb 'ai' with the suffix nanin', then everyone will have to own that the Jain view is the truest of all which conforms to the original sense of the word. The root 'at' implies constant movement (sātat ya ganiana) and the Jain theory of the infinite progression of the self brings out this basic characteristic of the atman and that is why we affirmed at the outset that the Jains aie ātmavādins in the truest sense of the term Dr. Mukhopadliyaya was of the opinion that a philosophical analysis ar d approach of Upanishads was very very close to Jainism--the most ancient religious faith in India. Dr. Mukho. padhyaya strongly felt that the concept of Ātma as propounded in Jainism is one of the best and most cogent and logical approaches to it, which enormously impresses and influences the suceeding philosophies and religions. Dr. Mukherjee, who is regarded as a foremost authority on the Upanishads brought the theory of Self in Jainism very close to that of the Upanishads and gave a new interpretation to the whole concept by stressing that it would be wrong and fallacious to regard these two approaches as wholly contradictory. In many respects one complements the other, thus, clearly signifying their coninonness on many points.
Shri K. K. Jain, Convenoi of the Seminar Sub-Committee proposed a vote of thanks and expressed gratitude for the kind co-operation and participation by the great scholars. The House then adjourned for the afternoon session.
The afternoon session, was presided over by Dr. S. N. Sen, Vice-Chancellor, Calcutta University. The famous Hindi poet Dr. Ramdhari Singh Dinkar" inaugurated it. Dr. Dinkar said that the historical link of Jain Thirthankaras is the oldest in human history and if one could obtain a full, and authentic account of them, it would much clear the mist and
