Shravakachar of Vasunandini

Author(s): Signe Kirde
Publisher: Signe Kirde

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2.7 Acknowledgements
2 INTRODUCTION
Johnson34 argues that an outline of its ideas occurs in the Ts and some works assigned to Kundakunda. The Jain karma-theory might have provided a "rationale", which could serve for further practical instructions. In Ts IX.35 Umāsvāmin states that beings in the stage of non-abstinence or partial abstinence, partial self-restraint, laxity, etc. may fall for harmful meditation or mourning (Tatia 1994:238). In Sr (198ff.) Vasunandin expresses the idea that possessions, relatives, and even the lower and higher divinities do not help when one faces death. The non-human and human animals described by Vasunandin are always in fear. They have no refuge, no shelter in the moment when facing death.
2.7 Acknowledgements The Vasunandi-Srāvakâcāra is a religious scripture composed by a Jain mendicant in the eleventh century CE. For the following chapters I selected verses (57-205) for examination, since this section illustrates the Jain doctrine in a comprehensive way. It is a great pleasure for me to thank Prof. Dr. Klaus Butzenberger for supervising my thesis. From the beginning 35 he has taken interest in my work. He always encouraged me in my endeavour to cope with problems of various kinds and size. Furthermore, I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Dr. Nalini Balbir for acting as second supervisor. She enhanced the outcome of my work with her kindness and expert skills. With regard to the translation of the Prākrt of the Srāvakâcāra I am indepted to Prof. Dr. emer. Adelheid Mette and Prof. Dr. emer. Willem Bollée for many helpful suggestions.36 Prof. Bollée's comments in his English translation of Samantabhadra's Ratna-karanda-Srāvakâcāra and his indices on Richard Williams' Jaina Yoga which were both kindly given to me in the run-up of publication, were a great help for my work, too.
With respect to my first research in Kerala and West Bengal in 2003 I am much obliged to Mr. Ravi Mooss and family, and to Dr. Raj Sethia and family. My second research in Mumbai, Bhopal, and Guna in 2006, would not have been successful without the kind support of Prof. Dr. Annakutty
34 See Johnson 1995:51,87 and the review of his monograph in Dundas 1997:500-501. Cf. further Schubring 1935:113; Schubring 1962:180-181; Dixit 1973; Jaini 1979:97, 102, 111-115; Bruhn 2003; Wiley 2006.
35 In the time leading to the translation of the text I was stimulated by discussions and written communication with Prof. Dr. Klaus Butzenberger, Prof. Dr. Konrad Klaus, Prof. Dr. emer. Willem Bollée, Dr. Dorothée Kehren, Drs. Luitgard and Jayandra Soni, Dr. Raj Sethia, Mr. Peter Wyzlic, Mr. Manish Modi, and participants of the workshops at the "Centre of Jain Studies" in the Department of Religious Studies at the SOAS, London, organised by Dr. Peter Flügel, in 2006 and 2007.
36 Prof. Dr. Nalini Nalbir, Prof. Dr. emer. Adelheid Mette, Prof. Dr. Klaus Butzenberger, Prof. Dr. emer. Willem Bollée, and Mr. Barry Stevenson, kindly spent their time to read sections of the different versions of the English translation.
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