Soul Science Part 01

Author(s): Parasmal Agrawal
Publisher: Kundakunda Gyanpith

Page 22

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where this book is being published is named after Acārya Kundakunda, a beautiful and elegant temple ‘Mahaveer Paramaagam Mandir in Songad (Gujarat) has been built where the above mentioned five scriptures are engraved on its marble walls, and so on.
Samayasāra is one of the holiest spiritual scriptures on the soul science in the present times on this earth. It leads to the true vision of Self (soul) to an eager seeker of truth and reality. It was composed by the great Digamber Jain preceptor monk Kundakunda Acārya (127179 A.D.). In recent times, it has been highlighted prominently by Shri Kanji Swami (1890-1980 A.D.) who delivered discourses 19 times on this great treatise. The same are published as a set of books entitled as 'Pravacana Ratnākara' in Gujarati and Hindi languages. It has been my long cherished desire to explore the axioms and doctrines of Samayasāra in modern context for the benefit of the humanity. Similar thinking was going on in the mind of Dr. ParasMalji Agrawal. We met first in a seminar on the application of Anekāntavāda held in Gujarat Vidyapeeth, Amedabad in March 1993. We, finding our thoughts alike, became friends.
Dr. Agrawal continued working in this direction determinedly. He first comprehended the subject matter of Samayasāra and various other scriptures, and then wrote this book-'Soul Science'- in simple and lucid English along with his own annotations. Wherever needed he has explained the meaning of verses with simple examples. He also tried to clarify the possible doubts by raising and answering questions with scientific examples. I have gone through the entire manuscript thoroughly. This is really a very highly commendable work that has been done selflessly by Prof. Agrawal. I am sure this will prove a milestone in the history of Jain philosophy and will act as a beacon light to the curious young generations for ever. I whole heartedly congratulate my friend Prof. Agrawal for this adventurous deed and wish him success in the task of completion of the annotations of the remaining stanzas (145 to 415) as soon as possible.
Since now-a-days the medium of instruction in a large number of schools and colleges has become English, hence the curious young students, teachers, doctors, engineers, advocates, etc., all want some books on the spiritual science and spiritual way of life in English. Realizing this timely need, I also dared to translate some books on Jainism into English (viz. Laghu Jain Siddhant Praveshika, Dharma Ke Das Lakshan, Moksha Marga Prakashak, Prashnottar Ratna Malika, The Way to Real Happiness, Jainism, Samayika-Pratikraman Path, Barah Bhavanayen (Twelve contem-plations), Amulya Tattva