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With the advancement of technology, almost every community has now crossed its old geographical and lingual boundaries. Jains settled abroad need their scriptures in English. In the international universities all over the world, the multicultural environment has created a spirit of harmony that leads to the requirement of teachings of great saints of all religions. Many persons who are tired of materialistic attitude feel the need of spiritual environment and peace. For many such needy and thirsty persons the availability of Samayasāra in English may be a blessing. With this view many authors in the part have come forward to translate Samayasāra in English. Ray Bahadur Shri J. L. Jaini initiated this task. His translation of Samayasāra has been published in 1930 from Central India Publishing House, Lucknow. In 1950, Bharatiya Jnanpith, Delhi, published the English version of Samayasāra, edited and translated by Professor A. Chakravarti. In 2009, the English translation of Samayasāra with annotations by Shri J. S. Javeri assisted by Professor Muni Mahendra Kumarji has been published by Jain Vishva Bharati University, Ladnun. Recently in 2012, Shri Vikalpa Printers Deharadun published the English translation of Samayasāra written by Shri Vijay K. Jain.
All these publications in English by the renowned authors are valuable. However, many readers are interested in more details. For example, some readers are interested in finding the relevance and application of various stanzas of this scripture in their day-to-day life. Some readers want to have the flavor of the discussion and description provided by Ācārya Jayasena and Acārya Amộtacandra. Some need to resolve the apparent contradiction between the facts mentioned by Acārya Kundakunda in this scripture from the relative point of view (Vyavahāra Naya) and the real point of view (Niścaya Naya). In view of such requirements, one may be glad to note that Professor Paras Mal Agrawal has tried to fulfill such needs of the readers to some extent in this book.
Dr. Agrawal is basically a physicist but he is equally interested in the spiritual aspects of life. A reader would be able to see his interest, depth of understanding, and explanation with logical reasoning of a scientist cum teacher in this book. The author has been in USA for more than 16 years as a scientist and visiting professor. One may note that this American experience of the author has also been valuable to this work in many ways.
