Author: N Shanta
Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications
Year: 1997
Language: English
Pages: 806
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8170305357
Description
This book permits us to penetrate within one of the most ancient ascetic spirituality, that followed by some 6000 Jaina women ascetics. Written with their collaboration, it presents to the reader their life of radical renunciation of which one of the hallmarks is incessant pilgrimage, a regular shifting from one place to the next in a sustained striving towards self-purification, a striving of which the final goal is Nirvana.
Here then we have before us the whole Jaina tradition, presented through scriptures, ancient texts, biographies, epigraphy and iconography. Here too we may observe its outworking in contemporary daily life and its contribution to inter-cultural and inter-monastic encounter. Furthermore, it is not without interest that this study finds its own proper place in an age which is rediscovering feminine values.
At a time when so many people are taking a deep interest in Asian spiritualities we find here an original and strictly defined spiritual path and also a spiritual teaching whose strength and subtlety merit our attention and invites us to embark on an authentic spiritual journey.
Contents
PRESENTATION
AUTHOR’S PREFACE
TECHNICAL NOTE
NAMASKARA-MANTRA
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Part I: A Brief Survey of a long Tradition
Part II: The Path Leading to Nirvana
Part III: The Never-Ending Pilgrimage
Part IV: Cosmic and Purificatory Rite
APPENDICES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX OF AGAMAS AND TEXTS OF DOCTRINES
INDEX OF SANSKRIT AND PRAKRIT WORDS