The Doctrine of the Jainas, Described after the Old Sources c9.1

c9.1

§102. The "cosmic system"—by which name we intend to comprise both the general plan of the cosmos and the organization as well as the activities of its occupants—is, in contrast to renunciation and world conquest (see Chapters VI and VII), a given fact just as is the "world course" (see Chapter IV). The great amount of details ask for an individual treatment of the subject which, however, as to the cosmographic plan will be restricted to the more important items (of which there will be still enough after all), since, on the one hand, we have more or less comprehensive descriptions at our disposal already,¹ and since, on the other, vagaries not based on ethical grounds and hence being empty are not attractive to dwell upon. In order not to overcharge our text we, therefore, frequently disregarded to deliver detailed proofs, all the more since the passages in question can easily be traced from chapter III. The main sources are Pannav. 1. 2; Jivābh. III with the Divas.; Jambudd. and the cosmographic sections of Thāṇa and Samavāya.