The late lamented Champat
Rai Jain was a Bar-at-Law by profession; but he is better remembered on
account of his numerous publications in English as a deep scholar of
Comparative Religion. The Kew of Knowledge is his Magnum Opus. His
comprehensive study of Comparative Religion and his deep understanding of
Christianity and Islam he brought to bear on his study of Jainism. The
result has been remarkable. In fact he can be looked upon as one of
pioneers who introduced Jainism to the western world in a catching and
effective manner. We owe to him a number of books in English dealing with
the Householders
Dharma,
the Sannyasa
Dharma,
etc. His Practical Path or Practical
Dharma
is a neat exposition of Jainism, as a way of life. The present book
Fundamentals of Jainism is based on the Practical Path of the late C. R.
Jain from which some portions are omitted. The opening Chapter gives what
can be called the method of understanding reality, or the
AnekantaVada,
which is rightly called 'intellectual
Ahimsa'
of the Jainas. The subsequent chapters give details about the fundamental
principles of Jainism. They indicate how the mundane spirit can get rid of
the shackles of Karma
and steadily attain spiritual perfection following the stages on the path
detailed here. The chapter dealing with
Dharma
in practice lays out what needs to be followed day-to-today by one who
wants to lead a religious life.
This is indeed a useful
book, which goes a long way to explain Jainism both to a lay reader and to
an earnest student of comparative religion. It is but natural, therefore,
that this brochure is blessed by Muni Shri Vidyanandaji.
The Publishers deserve our
gratitude for its timely publication when we are celebrating the 2500th
Anniversary of the
Nirvana
of Bhagawan
Mahavira.
University of Mysore
Mysore; October 2, 1974
A.N. Upadhye
"There is evidence to show
that so far back as the first century B.C. there were people who were
worshipping Rishabh
Deva,
the first Tirthankara. There is no doubt that Jainism prevailed even
before Vardhamana or Parsvanath. The Yajurveda mentions the names of three
Tirthankaras---- Rishabha, Ajitnath and Aristanemi. The Bhagavata Puran
endorses the view that Rishabha was the founder of Jainism."
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
Indian
Philosophy Vol. I, P. 287
