Jain Philosophy and Practice - II (Jaina Education Series)

Jain Philosophy and Practice - II (Jaina Education Series)
JAINA Education Committee (Author), Pravin K. Shah (Preface)

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Jainism

This book covers all major subject matter of Jainism in a very comprehensive style. Topics like threefold path of liberation, codes of conduct and vows of an ascetic and a householder, meditation, contemplation, stages of spiritual development, theory of multiplicity of view points, six fundamental truths, Jain history, and Jain Ägam literature are explained in detail with Jain terminology and its meaning. This book will be very useful for advanced study of Jainism for a high school or a college student.

• Rank: #249628 in eBooks
• Published on: 2010-09-30
• Released on: 2010-09-30
• Format: Kindle eBook
• Number of items: 1

Description #1 by Exotic India Art:

Hindu - From the Jacket: The Golden Books series of Indian religions is specially planned and designed for the general educated reader in India and abroad, who in the 21st century of the Third Millennium, wants to know about them to contribute his lot to the fast growing globalisation of world cultures. It includes Vedic, Upanishadic, Buddhistic and Jain religions, the mainstay of Indian culture, which have made their mark in various ways in Asia and the West since olden times. In terror-stricken modern times also, they are trying to play their role in setting things right and devising a new, eclectic way of life. Indian religions have lots of philosophy and hundreds of scriptures with commentaries and commentaries on commentaries, which present a highly complicated picture especially in comparison to one-book religion-cultures. The Golden Books select the most important and the best of them, translated into simple, easy and understandable English, by learned scholars and present them in capsule form for wider use and benefit. Jainism is a most interesting religio-cultural group, comparable to Buddhism, which holds immediate attention by the unique customs and practices of its white-clad and unclad- 'clad-by-air' - mendicants. But it much older to Buddhism, and much stricter in matters of non-killing, the special theory of India, brought over by Gandhi to modern times and used in an unexpected context. Its philosophy is also much more fundamental as well as elaborate, and more convincing in comparison to the six Hindu as well as many Buddhistic philosophies. The Syadvada/Anekantavada is a gem, to say the least. The scriptures are very many, which extended to poetry, drams, etc. Here is a selection of the most pertinent and the best of these, which succeed in presenting a comprehensive picture of its concepts, practices of the holy order and laity, and life in general. The reader will find parts of the work quite interesting and enlightening. INDIA BOOK VARSITY provides the best of philosophy, religion, arts and history of the most ancient, essentially thought-oriented, secular-democratic, federative and peace-loving community and culture-India-for the new generation now spread all over the world, looking for their roots, identity and seeking authentic knowledge about it. This is in part a revival of already published works of great quality by Western scholars over a century ago, thoroughly edited, keeping in view the mindset and requirements of the present-day fast progressing youth, and the globalisation of life in all its aspects. Any ideas and suggestions, as well as support, would be welcome. The Series-Editor, Mahendra Kulasrestha, has been the first editor of the well known Orient Paperbacks and has been associated with the Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, Mumbai, V. Vedic Research Inst., Hoshiarpur, Pb.; Vision Books; Hind Pocket Books; Rajpal and Sons; Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust; HUDCO; DDA (Slum Wing); SEWA Delhi. etc. He has planed and edited the useful Public Concerns Series, and been Consultant Editor of International Books Update. His books include: Japan-An Enigma, An Anthology of Japanese Literature in Hindi, Tagore Centenary Volume, The Genius of Tagore, Aspects of Indian Culture, World Poetry Number of a Hindi Literary Magazine, An Anthology of Hindi Short Stories, Existence and Other Poems (English translations of Amrita Pritam's poems), A study of 14 Western philosophers in Hindi, etc. 'Jainism is universal, a world-religion that tries to include all the beings. Not only human beings but also animals, gods, inhabitants of hell, can absorb its teachings.... It turns to all men without any distinction of race and caste - "conversions of the people coming from lower classes like gardeners, painters, etc., are not uncommon even today" (G. Buhler) 'The Jain mission did not only comprise the Hindu culture, but also tried to win over the uncivilised non-Aryan tribes... they extended their propaganda also to the Mlechchhas who had immigrated to Inida... They tried to propagate even outside the boundaries of India... They have converted people even in England and America... Jainism knows no national borders like, say, Hinduism.' - Helmuth von Glasenapp in Der Jainsismus 'Mahavira was a man who honoured all life, and if you believe in his teachings, do something to honour life.' - Khushwant Singh Editor speak No God, Only Soul The Jaina philosophy and practice is perhaps the most unique system of ancient world philosophies, which in its metaphysics as well as the monastic order easily surpasses all scholarship and behavioral imagination. It is one religion that admits no intelligent Creator who could be credited with the creation of life and the universe-and what is significant is that, unlike the Buddha, it does not prefer to keep quiet about the subject, but goes emphatically. The last short chapter deals with it, and in a world, which, with the exception of China and Japan, is deeply embedded in

Description #2 by Exotic India Art:

Philosophy - About the Book: Based on primary sources this book presents a survey of development of Moral Philosophy in India and offers an authentic account of Indian ethics from the point of view of Vedas, Upanisads, Mimamsas, Smrtis, the Bhagavad-gita and the Pancaratras, Vedanta, Samkhya-Yoga, Nyaya-Vaisesika, Buddhism and Jainism. Indian ethics has taken a positive attitude towards life in its concrete and varied aspects as is evident in the discussions of karma, rebirth, nirvana, and moksa. Life has to be lived for harmonious development of our character for a spiritual end. Indian ethics has therefore a positive goal to achieve freedom of the self from its bondage of passions and desire this is the message of India and is the essence of all her moral thought. The study will, no doubt, prove invaluable to the scholars and general readers as well. About the Author: Surama Dasgupta was educated at Calcutta University. She also obtained her doctoral thesis from the same university. She taught philosophy at Lucknow University from where she retired as Professor. CONTENTS Preface CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTIONReligion, Philosophy and MoralityStandard in the Vedic SamhitaStandard in the UpanisadsStandard in the Sutras and the SmrtisThe Inscriptions of AsokaStandard in the MahabharataThe Standard of Conduct in the AyurvedaStandard of Conduct in the Materialistic School of ThoughtStandard in the Different Philosophical SystemsEthics and Mechanism of ActionThe Doctrine of Grace. CHAPTER 2 THE VEDASConcept of the Good and Future Existence as related with itVirtues and VicesDana or Offering of GiftsSins and their Expiation CHAPTER 3 THE UPANISADSForms of Karma, Good and Evil, Tapas and Substitution MeditationThe Tapas CHAPTER 4 THE MIMAMSA The SelfPrabhakara's Conception of Self and KnowledgeThe DharmaSelf-Validity of KnowledgeIntermediary between the Sacrifice and its EffectAn Analysis of the Imperative Nature of a Vedic Mandate CHAPTER 5 THE SMRTISThe Authority of the SmrtisValidity of the Practices (Acara) of Good MenKarmaphala in ManusamhitaExpiation (Prayascitta)The General Duties, the Caste Duties and the Asrama DutiesThe Last three Stages of Life (The last three Asramas)The Smrti View of Merits and Demerits and their Transference CHAPTER 6 THE GITA AND THE PANCARATRASThe GitaThe Pancaratras and the path of Bhakti CHAPTER 7 VEDANTAKnowledge and Karma according to Sankara, Bhaskara, Ramanuja and VijnanabhiksuThe Means of Emancipation according to SankaraBrahma-Knowledge (the Highest Good) and the Cessation of Avidya (according to Citsukha, Madhusudana and Vimuktatman) CHAPTER 8 THE SAMKHYA-YOGAThe Samkhya-Yoga EthicsClassification of Actions: Its PrincipleVasana and SamskaraThe Klesas as the Root Cause of all ActionsThe Means to Emancipation CHAPTER 9 NYAYA AND VAISESIKAPreliminary RemarksNature of EmancipationAttainment of LiberationThe AgentKarma and its ResultsHow a Karma Produces its ResultsFalse Knowledge and its RemovalMotivation of ActionNyaya View of Volition distinguished from the Prabhakara School of Thought CHAPTER 10 BUDDHISM PreliminaryThe Doctrine of Karma according to the Pali TextsScepticism regarding Karma and Rebirth and its Refutation in Pali TextsHistorical Introduction to the AbhidharmakosaGeneral Principles of the Philosophy of the AbhidharmakosaThe AgentKarma as Vijnapti and AvijnaptiDiverse Considerations about Karma and Karmapatha, Path of ActsThe Philosophy of Karma in the MahakarmavibhangaThe Path of the BodhisattvaThe Career of the BodhisattvaThe ParamitasNibbanaJhana or Dhyana (Meditation) CHAPTER 11 THE JAINA SYSTEM OF THOUGHT The Jaina CategoriesThe JivaClassification of Selves (Jiva)Ajiva (Matter)Punya and Papa (Good and Evil)Free Will and DeterminismVirtue and Vice and the Value of ActionsAsrava (Passions)Bandha (Bondage)Samvara (Control)Nirjara (Release)Moksa (Liberation)Yoga and Other Virtues CHAPTER 12 CONCLUSION Index