________________
The Jains through Time
234
religion a way of life.
In order to uncover the past, we dig up the
ground and sift through the mud. We Religion is not a stagnant pond; it is a river penetrate the different layers and analyse the that has been flowing forever. Water that traces of chemical substances found there. flows, runs clean and fresh. Religion should We find out about the changes that have have a flow to it that maintains its purity. happened to the soil. When we come upon Religion teaches us the art of living. To the ruins of buildings and the artefacts they accept each other's very existence and contain and find inscriptions on stone, we individuality, and help and promote growth scrutinise them to find out how long ago of each other, is religion, and this is the they were made and what class of people religion we need today. This is a religion used them. By asking questions such as these that is truly scientific. I believe that when we attempt to reconstruct the story of man's hypocrisy flourishes in the name of religion, cultural evolution. Like archaeology, our art and when religion becomes like a business, and literature also tell us the story of the ups there is a selfish and egotistical mind and downs of man's thinking and creativity. working behind it. Religion shows itself in Against the backdrop of the ages the drama its divine form where men co-operate with of man's spiritual quest is played out. In the each other, are able to sympathise with one mirror of literature we study the images of another in their sorrow, appreciate and the past. We read about the thoughts and celebrate the success and joy of others. The experiences of those thinkers and seers who teachings of religion need to be more helped man's development by the example scientific, and science needs to build its of their asceticism. We find out how they foundations on religion's eternal truth. We uncovered their potential for greatness. become connected with this form of Their great thoughts and sayings are religion when we receive proper spiritual harmoniously intertwined in the history of guidance.
our culture. The fruits of their labour are found in our literature. That is why we
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org