The Enlightened Vision of the Self: Svarupa Sambodhana of Bhatta Akalanka Deva, an original thinker and a brilliant logician, highlights the intrinsic or essential nature (Svarupa) of the self. It outlines the path to realize our “real self†by exhorting (sambodhana) man to establish himself in his natural state of peace and happiness. Based on a wide variety of Sources, the book discusses the fundamental question :Who Am I?†It examines how Buddhism and Jainism as well as various schools of thought including the materialists, Samkhya and Vedanta perceive the nature of the self. The study answers a number of basic questions: What is the nature and characteristics or aspects of consciousness or soul? Does the soul exist or not? Is it substantial or functional? Is it evolvent (ever-changing) or changeless? Is the soul immanent in beings or a transcendental entity? The book also critically examines the concepts of Being and Becoming, aham brahmasmi (I am Brahman), tat tvam asi (Thou art That), soham (I am That or He), “ intentional consciousness†and “pure consciusness,†the self as knower (jnata), observer (drashta), etc. The book will be useful to scholars and students of Indian philosophy, especially Jainism.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Devendra Kumar Goyal
Devendra Kumar Goyal is a Civil Engineer by profession. He is an Honours graduate in Civil Engineering from the Thomason college of Civil Engineering, Roorkee and a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Engineers (India). He has widely travelled and has work experience in many countries. He has published Jin Stotra Nikunj (1997), a translation of nine Sanskrit stotras, and The Path to Enlightenment: Svayambhu Stotra by Samantabhadra (2000).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jagdish Prasad Jain
Jagdish Prasad Jain 'Sadhak' is Founder of Jain Mission and Editor of Jain Agam. He was formerly Diplomat/Adviser, Indian Mission to the United Nations, New York; Deputy Director, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India; and Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University. He has published nearly a dozen books, including fundamentals of Jainism, Salvation through Self-Discipline: Niyamsara of Kundakunda, Spiritual Insights: Ishtopadesh and Samadhi Shatak by Pujyapada (editor), Spiritual Enlightenment: Paramatma Prakash by Yogindu Deva (Editor). He has published a number of articles in national and international journals, including Jinmanjari (Mississauga, Canada) and Jain Journal (Kolkata).
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