(FIRST
EDITION)
'The Practical Path' is a
companion volume to my earlier work, 'The Key of Knowledge', to which the
reader is referred for fuller information on the subject of comparative
theology, and for a general survey of the basic principles of religion.
The object of the present volume is to point out the practical, scientific
method of self-realization, as laid down by the Jaina
Tirthankaras
who rose to the highest height of perfection with its aid. I have,
therefore, refrained from repeating what I have already said in 'The Key
of Knowledge', though no effort has been spared to make the present volume
as self-contained and complete in its own department as possible.
It is conceivable that the
detailed information on the subject of
Karma
and other matters contained in the following pages might prove a little
too tiresome for a certain class of critics; but obviously no details are
too many for a proper study of a subject, and the mind which feels
confounded with fullness of detail is never of the scientific sort, but
only a frivolous one. There is no department of science, which can afford
to dispense with detailed knowledge; nor can ought, but palsy of intellect
result from unscientific thought. For this very reason, it has not been
found necessary to refer to the non-Jaina systems of
Yoga,
as they mainly content themselves with general discourses on abstract
propositions about the method of self-realization. Mystic in thought and
tendency, they are seldom, if ever, clear or exact enough to enable one to
know precisely what to do in a given situation, and are not only useless
and dangerous to experiment with, but also foster much unholy superstition
and spirit of mystification in the minds of men by their veiled and
obscure hints and innuendoes.
HARDOI: C. R. JAIN
1st
October 1916.
This is a reprint of the
Book "The Practical Path" written by Late Shri Champat Rai Jain
Barrister-at-Law. Out of ten chapters in the old book only first nine
chapters have been included in this edition and the book has been re-named
as "Fundamentals of Jainism". there is great dearth of an Authenticated
book on the Jainism in English as such Veer Nirvan Bharti, with blessings
of Pujya Mahamuni Shri 108 Vidyanand Ji, decided to reprint this book.
This is the Vth publication of Veer Nirvan Bharti and we hope in the
present book, readers will understand easily the Principles of Jainism.
Sunder Lal Jain
President
