SINCE the past 200 years, and more, the study of Jain literature and scriptures has gathered great pace amongst the shravakas (laymen). Earlier it was left only to a few scholars and munis to study Jain scriptures, while the Jain shravakas would imbibe the Jain teachings primarily from the pravacanas of the munis or pathasalas conducted in the Jain mandiras. But with the establishment of good educational centres imparting knowledge in Jainism, things are changing.
Acharya Timir Bhaskara in his last days told his disciple Panjab Keshari Acharya Devasrī Vallabhasuri, that we now need to build Sarasvati mandiras instead of just Jain mandiras. And Acārya Vallabhasuri established many learning schools and colleges for Jain studies. In Mehasana and Varanasi were established Yaśovijayajī Jain schools, and Syadvad University, and thereafter colleges were established in Śivapurī. In Lādnün, Acārya Tulsi established the Jain World University and started a new chapter in Jain studies. Many state universities are now offering courses on Jainism. In this direction, the University of Mumbai is playing a leading role since many years.
Simultaneously, European scholars also started taking interest in Jain scriptures. Germans translated and published many books in their language.
Slowly but surely, the interest in Jain studies grew worldwide and then many universities started offering courses in Jainism. In fact, in America, we have today twenty universities offering courses in Jainism. Likewise in universities in countries like Brazil, the UK, Australia, Japan, and many other, courses on Jain studies are being offered. This in turn has given rise for the need for good books as study material on Jainism.
In the beginning only Sanskrit and Prakrt books were being studied. Some of them being Samayasara, Tattvartha Adhigamasutra, Nav-Tattva, Dharma-Grantha, Dravya Sangraha, etc. Later these texts got translated into local and English languages for those who found it difficult to study these basic texts in Sanskrit or Präkṛt. Books like Jain Darshan by Nyayavijay and by Glasnep and many others, aroused the curiosity of the frävakas as well as enriched the knowledge of the scholars and munis.
However, I have realized that the students of Jainism often get confused because of different interpretations of the basic tenets of the Jain philosophy and acarana, by the various authors. Further, most of the authors write long-winded sentences and paragraphs, making it even more difficult for the reader to understand what is being said. There is therefore a need for books, which explain the Jain tenets and practices in a simple and interesting manner. 1 think this book Jain Darshan (Philosophy and Code of Conduct) by Sanjeev Doshi, is a step in this direction.
Sanjeev Doshi, being an engineer, has been able to describe issues in clear, crisp and unambiguous language. He also makes use of short paragraphs so that the reader is clear when the discussion on a particular issue or a sub-issue is over. Many a time, the author counters the Jain philosophical concepts with Hindu philosophical concepts and this certainly makes for a holistic study. The footnotes on a few pages also give a lot of interesting allied information. All these aspects, sets this book apart from many others.
The book can be broadly divided in two parts. The first part is where he describes the Jain Darshan, that is the philosophy of Jain religion and then the Code of Conduct. The second part of the book lists out the many great philosophical ideas in the Jain religion, which he calls them the "Gems". This is the first time I have come across a book that lists the great teachings of Jain religion under one heading. It makes us Jains feel proud of our heritage. The author thereafter lists the various "aberrations" which have crept in the Jain religion. This issue of aberrations has also been highlighted by a few scholars earlier. Towards the end, there is another chapter on "Points to Ponder" which also makes for very interesting reading.
I personally enjoyed going through the author's discussions on darshan, ratnatrayi, syadvada, kayotsarga, mumukșu, etc. I also like the way he avoids detailing minor concepts, so that the focus remains on the main teachings of Jainism and the mind is not cluttered with too many subclassifications.
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