Outlines of Jainism c4.2

c4.2

About a century and a half ago there arose in Europe a great desire to explore the buried and current treasures of the East. Among the religions of Indian origin Brahmanism, or Hinduism, was the first to attract attention, but Buddhism soon followed. Jainism, which came last, made its advent in unfavourable circumstances. The Jainas of India were ignorant of the west and of western methods of study. Worse than this, they were religiously averse to letting non-Jainas read, or even see or touch, their sacred books. In consequence Jainism was misunderstood and misrepresented. Its tradition and teachings suffered from the scholar's partiality for his older and accustomed studies in Brahmanism and Buddhism. But, by the labours of men like Weber, Bühler, Jacobi, Hoernle, and others, the credibility of its tradition has been established, and it has been accorded the recognition due to its antiquity and importance. There are also evidences of a more general interest in Jainism as a practical religion. Many persons—Europeans and others—have asked for a small and reliable book on the subject, and not being aware of any work which precisely answers the requirements, I have ventured to put together these *Outlines*, addressed to a public in India and Europe. The vastness of the subject may help to excuse the inadequacy, of which I am fully conscious.