Ourselves (Editorial)

Summary

The editorial opens the July 1968 issue by positioning Jain studies within both historical and contemporary frames. It highlights Aristanemi (Neminatha) as a figure who bridges prehistory, epic memory, and living religious tradition. The editor reflects on sources ranging from Brahmanical texts to Jain scriptures that preserve the biographies of the Tirthankaras, noting how legends around Krishna and Nemi intersect. A key contemporary thread is the relevance of renunciation and ahiṃsā in an age of rising violence. The piece contrasts courtly opulence with the transformative moral charisma of a Tirthankara who models self-restraint and compassion. The editorial also introduces material in the issue—tributes, poems, essays, and research—tying them to a wider intention: to present Jain values not as antiquarian curiosities but as a living resource for an afflicted world. In particular, the account of Nemi’s renunciation at the sight of animals meant for slaughter becomes an emblem of ethical clarity and a starting point for a broader conversation about non-violence in public life. The writing moves between historical recollection and programmatic hope, inviting readers to approach the subsequent papers with attention to doctrine and practice alike. The tone is sober yet aspirational, urging study that integrates textual learning with civic conscience. Ultimately, the editorial frames Jainism as both philosophical inquiry and social ethic—concerned with truth, restraint, and care for all beings—while previewing the range of articles that follow, from cosmology to economic ethics.