Customer Reviews

Jaina Sutras: Part I & II (Forgotten Books)

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This is an amazing book. Translated by a German academic from Prakrit, an Indian dialect, into English. First published in 1884 and now a classic. If you are interested in the teachings of Mahavira, a contemporary of Buddha, then this book gives you a firm basis. That the Jains, a fairly small community, have preserved these teachings for more than 2500 years is astonishing. You will find the well-known "non-killing" (ahimsa), the multidimensionality of truth (anekanta), and sayings like "You are your own friend, why do you wish for another friend." in the book. The book emphasizes self-reliance and will therefore appeal to the middle classes. The time of Mahavira must have been a time of prosperity in India.
One should note that Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh) was a Jain (Taranpanthi Jain). The roots of his teachings and the reason for the encyclopaedic treatment of the philosophical teachings of the world can be found in the Jaina Sutras.

The book provides detailed background from a historical perspective. Very well written, organized, structured. The translator is very careful to translate things in a very objective way.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in the original Jain works.

My only minor annoyance is his decision to spell Jain with a "G" (Gainas)!