Life Force: The World of Jainism (Paperback)

by Michael Tobias (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Tobias, formerly a professor of ecology and the humanities and currently a writer-director-producer of television films (including Ahisma: Non-Violence ), provides an excellent introduction to Jain religion and philosophy as experienced by a Westerner. Tobias is profoundly moved by Jain ecology (harmonious living with nature) in accord with its central principle and practice of ahisma (nonviolence or nonharming), which necessitates strict vegetarianism. Throughout, Tobias's sense that Jainism has something to teach the world at large helps the reader relate to Jainism as currently practiced. Recommended for most libraries.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
An introduction to Jainism, one of the oldest religions in the world. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 117 pages
• Publisher: Asian Humanities Press (July 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089581899X
• ISBN-13: 978-0895818997
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,297,389 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #69 in

  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Eastern Religions > Jainism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on Jainism - Religion of Non-Violance(Ahimsa), June 11, 2003

By	Prashant M. Shah (Denville, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life Force : The World of Jainism (Paperback)

This is the best book on Jainism. Michael Tobias has described non-violance(ahimsa) in great details. Everyone knows Gandhi but many don't know driving force behind Gandhi's Ahimsa. Gandhi's spiritual leader, Shrimad Rajchandra(or Raichandbhai in Gandhi's autobiography)was Jain.

He has also tried to depict differences between Jainism and Baudhdhism, where applicable. By birth, I'm Jain(and trying to be Jain by act)and I appreciate many historical perspective on Jainism.
Also, as mentioned in the book, Jainism is scientific religion - covering Physics, Math and other subjects. This is great book not only for spiritual reading but also for environmental understanding.

I got this book from the library. I'm going to buy few copies and going to give them to my spiritual friends.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars OK But not my Type, March 30, 2005

By	Rodney Ohebsion (CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Life Force : The World of Jainism (Paperback)

I have ready many books on Jainism. This one is not so much concered with a general look of Jaina practices and philosophy as it is on the Jaina prinicple of nonviolence (ahimsa), and a few other topics. Much of it is the author's own ideas on nonviolence.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars interesting, but..., May 1, 2003

By	curt (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life Force : The World of Jainism (Paperback)

Well, it's an OK survey book, but I was put off by the author's co-opting Jain principles to rail on about non-vegetarians, the beef industry, and environmentalism. I don't necessarily disagree with some of his positions, but I purchased the book to expand my knowledge of Jainism, not for the author's social agenda.

A better alternative is Hemacandra's The Lives of the Jain Elders (R.C.C. Fynes, ed.), which has a brief history and overview of Jainism, though it's limited to the White-clad Jains. The translation of Hemacandra's work is a very readable intro to some of the moral precepts of the religion.