Bhagavana Mahavira and his Relevance in Modern Times

SR No.: 001595
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Narendra Bhanavat, Prem Suman Jain, V P Bhatt
Publisher: Akhil Bharat Varshiya Sadhumargi Jain Sangh
Publication Year: 1976
Total Pages: 236
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, Discourse, & Articles
File Size: 13 MB

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Mahavira and His Relevance
root of the religio-economic aspect of prosperity. The doctrines of Jainism have impelled its followers to economic achievements.
Religion and economic motivation :
Before we try to establish a relationship between religion and economic motivation, it should be clear in our mind that religion is an important economic institution. In a dynamic context it seems a logical conclusion that religious and economic influences are continually conditioning and re-conditioning each other. The immediate question in this context before us is not whether and how far religion is influenced by economic considerations, but whether and how far economic life is guided and influenced by religion. Professor Spengler1 while classifying the factors affecting economic growth has observed that the values men set, store by, together with the patterns of motivation associated with these values, have much to do with how men canalize their activities, and that, economic growth will proceed most rapidly, therefore when the dominant values favour activities which are both economically productive and conducive to capital accumulation and technical progress. To the extent that some of the dominant values and institutions in a community are associated with religion, economic life can be said to be influenced by religion.
It is too great a simplification to conclude that religion is always indifferent in making economic decisions or, in a broader sense, in the process of economic growth. The role of influence of religion in the process of economic progress of a particular community of a particular nation has been well recorded by the Economic History. While discussing the importance of religion as a factor in rapid economic growth Professor Lewis2 has observed that even if it were true that religious doctrines always gave way to economic interests, it would still not follow that they do not restrict change, for they might both slow down the rate of change, and also distort its effects. More fundamentally we cannot accept the conclusion that it is always economic change that causes economic or social change. It is not true that if economic interest and religious doctrines conflict, the economic interest will always win.
Has Jainism an economic responsibility ?
The outlook for collaboration between Economics and Jaina