From the Preface.
The religion which is prevalent in the country of one's birth is naturally the first to be heard. In my case it was Church of England Christianity. It was adopted without criticism, without much concern, and without any doubt as to its truth and efficacy. In early manhood, however, new views were met with, the intellect began to work, questions arose, and after a period of search and cogitation extending over some fifteen years, satisfactory conclusions were drawn from Jainism as it was first presented to me by the late Jain Philosopher, Virchand R. Gandhi, B. A, Bar.-at-Law. My understanding has been helped by the perusal of the works of Prof. Geo. T. Ladd, of Yale University; these, in the opinion of Mr. Gandhi, being, apart from their views of God and their accompanying ramifications, the nearest to the Jain psychology and metaphysics that he had found in Western literature.
Much supplementary information has been given me by Mr. J. L. Jaini, M.A., Bar.-at-Law, Pandit F. K. Lalan, Pandit H. L. Jhaveri, M.R A.S., Mr. K. P. Mody, B.A., LL.B., and Mr. Maneckchand Hirachand, J. P., to all of whom my deepest gratitude is due and extended.
I have been asked to write a manual of Jain doctrine; this I am not competent to do, but I make the request a very welcome opportunity for trying to present to the world that which Mr. Gandhi gave me, and which I hold in the very highest esteem as being of priceless value.
I have especially to thank Mr. K. P. Mody, B.A., LL.B., Prof. Hermann Jacobi, Mr. G. M. Mehpani, B.A. LL.B., and M, G. Kapadia A.B.A. LL. B., Solicitor Bombay High Court, for having read through the manuscript and for having made suggestions for improvements and additions. Every aspect of Jainism of course, is not set forth in this rough sketch, and corrections will be welcomed where my representations of the Jain doctrines are seen to be at fault.
I crave the reader's indulgence for any mistakes I may have made.
M, Shelgate Road, London, S. W.,
HERBERT WARREN.
September 1912
