Outlines of Jainism c3: Preliminary Note
Outlines of Jainism c3
- Language
- English
Preliminary Note
c3.1
The fact of Jainism cannot have been unknown even to the earliest European students of Sanskrit; indeed, it is more than once mentioned by Sir William Jones himself. But the contemporary existence of the monuments, literature, and adherents of the religion seems to have been first brought to light by those two indefatigable pioneers of Indian research, Colonel Colin Mackenzie and Dr. Buchanan-Hamilton: it was not long before its main tenets were expounded by Colebrooke, whose library of Sanskrit MSS. comprised a fair number of Jaina texts. The full exploration of the canonical literature and the determination of the true chronology were reserved for a later generation of scholars, among whom the greatest merit belongs to Professors Weber, Jacobi, Leumann, and Dr. Hoernle as regards the former task, and to Professors Bühler and Jacobi as regards the latter. In all systematic accounts of Indian literature and religion the Jaina doctrine has necessarily found a place; but the present position of studies in relation thereto should be viewed in the light of Professor Jacobi's articles in the *Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics*.
c3.2
The present volume of *Outlines* is issued by the Jain Literature Society in advance of a series designed to consist principally, but not exclusively, of translations from authoritative texts. We are not, indeed, without convenient manuals in English treating of the subject, such as Dr. J. Burgess' edition of Bühler's *On the Indian Sect of the Jainas* (London, 1903), Mr. A. B. Latthe's *An Introduction to Jainism* (Bombay, 1905), Mr. U. D. Barodia's *History and Literature of Jainism* (Bombay, 1909), Mr. Hirachand Liladhar Jhaveri's *First Principles of Jaina Philosophy* (London, 1910), and Mr. H. Warren's *Jainism* (Madras, 1912); to which there has recently been added the substantial treatise of Mrs. Sinclair Stevenson (*The Heart of Jainism*, Oxford and London, 1915, following upon the same author's *Notes on Modern Jainism*, Oxford and Surat, 1910): but there is still, we think, room for a work like the present, furnishing in a moderate compass a thorough exposition of the system and its terminology; while the *Texts* (in several cases Digambara) which follow the *Outlines* will be found, if we are not mistaken, an interesting and valuable feature.
c3.3
It will be seen that the author, though his aim is not propaganda, does not conceal his personal adherence to the Jaina faith; and he is, in fact, an influential member of the lay community. In the case of a doctrine which is also a religion there seems to be an advantage in a treatment by one who is in a position to appreciate practically the several and relative values of the different parts.
c3.4
Mr. Jaini has generously placed his work at the disposal of the Jain Literature Society, to which he has further entrusted the task of editing it. While performing this duty according to our lights (and with a view to readers in the west as well as in India), we have not modified Mr. Jaini's text to the extent of impairing his full responsibility for the arrangement, the matter, and the form. On p. 8 it should perhaps have been more explicitly stated that the souls in air, water, fire, etc., have for bodies the parts of these elements.
c3.5
The Index is the work of Mr. H. Warren.
c3.6
F. W. THOMAS, President of the Jain Literature Society.