India has been an ancient land with its age-old culture and civilisation. Here, the human race has experimented on itself for centuries and evolved certain humanistic principles concerning the path to liberation from worldly life. The Jains, probably the oldest of the Sramanic traditions have left a very rich spiritual legacy to fulfil that very goal. The chief precepts of Jainism such as Non-absolutism, Non-violence, Truthfulness, Non-possessiveness and Celibacy along with Right knowledge, Right belief and Right conduct are key principles for emancipation.
Shri S.M. Jain, author of this title 'Pristine Jainism’ has very beautifully explained the main features of Jainism and has laid stress for rationality in belief, thought and action and rejection of rituals and superstitions in order to understand Jainism truly and implant its teachings in one’s practical life. He underlines the contradiction between the Jaina concept of Samyaktva rooted in an objective and rational perception of reality by overcoming passions and Mithyatva which lead to an unreal and erroneous understanding of categories of truth.
We feel immense pleasure in bringing out this title. We are very thankful to Shri S.M. Jain for entrusting this book to our Institute for publication. We are thankful to Prof. Maheshwari Prasad, Director, Parshwanath Vidyapeeth for showing interest in its publication and providing all assistance towards its publication. We are thankful to Dr. Shriprakash Pandey, Asst. Director, at Vidyapeeth for going through the manuscript and putting all his efforts to get this book printed.
Our thanks are also due to Laxmi Computers, Talwandi, Kota and Vardhamana Mudranalaya,Varanasi for best composing and printing respectively.
Sagaramal Jain
Secretary