Posted by Please find here my recent reflection on Mahavira and Jainism, one of the heterodox traditions that emerges in response to early Brahmanism and the Upanishads.
Primary texts
Jaina Sutras, Part I and II, translated by Hermann Jacobi
– a collection of some of the corpus of Jain religious texts relating to theology and philosophy
Tattvârthsûtra by Âchârya Umâsvami
– the most succinct and accessible primary text of Jain philosophy giving a systematized philosophical framework
Sarvārthasiddhi by Acharya Pujyapada
– the oldest extant commentary on Tattvārthsūtra
Secondary texts
Great Minds of the Eastern Intellectual Tradition by Grant Hardy
– has a good introductory episode to Jain thought, and the entire series really puts Jainism within its historical and situational perspective
Jain Philosophy and Practice I and II by the Jaina Education Series
– accessible introductions into Jain thought, however written for a Jain audience (i.e. preaching to the converted)
Studies In Jaina Philosophy by Nathmal Tatia
– an older but excellent systematic reading of Jain philosophy within the context of Brahmanism/Hinduism and Buddhism
Intro and Outro music:
Reeder, Watchmaker’s Daughter – available on Free Music Archive or at http://www.iamreeder.com/
