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PREFACE This book is a collection of my three lectures delivered under the auspices of Sheth Shri Popatlal Hemachandra Adhyātma Vyākhyānamālā, at B.J. Institute of Learning and Research, Ahmedabad in February 2005. These lectures are based on Some Jain Concepts and Conduct.
The title of the book “Some Jain Concepts and Conduct has been selected to express the notion of applying the insight of Jainism to the issues of our lives to enable us to resolve them. How we can attain and sustain happiness and how we should treat other living beings are two such issues. “Knowledge is power” proverb is true in the sense that through applying and practising the knowledge of Jain philosophical concepts we can gain the power to understand and resolve the issue. It is not possible in three lectures to outline in detail the vast Jain philosophical concepts and tradition, this book should be considered as an introduction to Some Jain Concepts and Conduct. The three chapters of this books are : (i). Anekāntavāda : Origin and Development, (ii) Srāvakācāra : Code of Conduct of a Householder and (iii) The Concept of Atman.
“Anekāntavāda : Origin and Development" occupies a central position in Jain philosophy. In the first chapter three different phases of Anekāntavāda has been discussed : (1) vibhjyavāda : the principle of division of issues (2) nayas : the method of defining the frame work of reference (3) saptabhangi : The doctrine of seven fold predications and syâdvāda : the prefixing of the practicle syat meaning in a certain reference to a preposition indicative of its conditional character. Jain āgamas refer to these stages for judging the nature of reality, interpreting the meaning of the words, describing the duties and resolving the issues.
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