Jain Journal 1968 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 51

JULY, 1968
social setting of the Jainas clearly reveals some of the important frictions such as the Digambara and the Svetambara. Viewed in historical perspective, it had the privilege of being the religion of kings like Chandragupta and Bimbisara. Most of its founders (Tirthankaras) were also from highly prosperous and royal families. In such a spectacular historical back ground on the one hand and the asceticism or austerity preached by Jainism on the other, economic prosperity has blossomed, substantially contributing to the stream of economic development of the country. At the first sight, it appears like a paradox in theory and practice in Jainism to a layman. But the fact, however, is different which lies at the 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 influences and economic influences were continually conditioning and reconditioning one another. 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 Spenglerwhile 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 activity,' and that, 'economic growth will proceed most rapidly, therefore, when the dominant values favour activities which are both economically productive and conductive to capital accumulation and technical progress'. To the extent that some of the dominant values and institutions in a community were 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 or influence of religion in the process of economic progress of a particular community or 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 Lewis3 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