Guidelines to Mahavir Darshan

Author(s): Satshrutseva Sadhna Kendra
Publisher: Satshrut Seva Sadhna Kendra

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well-wishers have given us help in their respective fields. Within a short span of a year or so i. e. in 1982 we put up an Ashram at Koba (16 km from Ahmedabad and 10 km from Gandhinagar) and named it “ Adhyatmic Sadhana Kendra ". Since then, Koba Kendra has been our centre of activities.
In the month of December 1983, a special shibir was arranged wbich was attended by some 25-30 persons, who came all along from UK and Africa. The participants at the Shibir were grealty impressed by the deep knowledge of the principles of Jainism acquired by Dr. Soneji and his lucid and effective mode of expression making the abstract subject-matter easy to understand even by the beginners. They further realised that the unique way of expression of Dr. Soneji had its origin in his vast knowledge of various Darshanas and assimilation of the same in his day-to-day life and in his continuous inner growth as a devoted and ever-growing Sadhaka.
At the end of the shibir, the participants expressed that they were much benefited by the Shibir and the tirth-yatra. Thereafter, they invited Dr. Soneji to organize a series of talks in UK and Africa. At this time the need for background papers and articles written in English, simple and easy to read, was emphasised. It was also indicated that the inquisitive persons without some background about the funda. mental principles of Jainism would not be able to understand and appreciate properly the spiritual discourses to be given by Dr. Soneji.
Shri P. B. Mehta has kindly undertaken on our behalf to compile 1 edit the essays from eminent scholars under the guidance of Dr. Soneji. Shri P.B. Mehta B.A., LL.B., I.A.S.(Retd. ), former Commissioner of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, is Vice-President of Adhyatmic Sadhana Kendra, Koba.
This publication which is a compilation envisaging different aspects of the sublime teachings of Bhagwan Mahavir will, it is hoped, serve the purpose of preparing a background for better understanding and appreciating the essentials of Mahavir - Darshan and also the spiritual discourses of Dr. Soneji during the projected tour in May June 1984.
We owe our thanks to the scholars whose essays have been taken in this compilation. We are grateful to those scholars from