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Foreword
'Jainism - The Cosmic Vision' is the latest among the highly illuminating books on Jain religion authored by Dr. Kumarpal Desai. It is refreshingly enlightening, informative and analytical on the multi-faceted aspects of Jainism.
The sixteen chapters taken together portray in an eloquent manner how jain teachings have assumed considerable contemporary value not only as an ancient religious doctrine or sectarian discipline for the followers of the faith, but as a pathfinder for evolving a spiritual ecological and ethical way of life and art of living for the wider humanity.
All through history, it has been witnessed that violence cannot be eradicated by violence; on the contrary it has served to aggravate it. Humanity needs to develop a mindset that Ahimsa integrated with Aparigraha and Anekant, as elaborated in Jain philosophy, alone can be the ultimate saviour of this strife-torn. terror-targetted and environ-mentally - polluted world of ours.
The choice today is not between violence and non-violence, but between non-violence and total destruction. The timeless message of Mahavira of love and compassion, live and let live, equanimity and synthesis, tolerance and peaceful coexistence has indeed deeply influenced India's cultural heritage and spiritual outlook.
Indeed, as the book bringsout in a vivid manner how
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