Nandanvana

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 26

(6)
: Nandanavana
was converted into an individualistic base. To assume religion in this way would be called a contracted definition rather than a general one. The definition took forms like:
1. A means for purification of soul (life?) 2. A means for attaining four qualitative infinities (of
knowledge, conation, energy and bliss). 3. A means to learn the nature of self and non-self 4. As nature of self and non-self itself.
These definitions led the religion to be purely introspective. The common man enjoyed this definition as the qualities of soul and pleasures of other world were described in mystically indescribable way. Man became habituated to wander in an ideal world through religion. This led him to live in this world with specific indifference with an attitude of "No harm could come to me, whosoever be the ruler.” Different forms of devotion turned him away from the actual realities. The individual became past-oriented and futuristic"). He tended to overlook the present. As a result, society began to lag behind in the running with the world. The progress earned during the philosophic age was largely lost. Frustrated people could neither earn physical prosperity nor spiritual bliss. Modern Age
This age may be said to begin with the progress of science or industrial revolution. In this age, one could learn about the vastness of human world on the one hand, and on the other hand one could also realize the universal sameness of human tendencies despite differences in language, climate, and other factors. The multireligionist Indian mind learnt about the fundamental principles of many other religions and sects. The scientific mind could observe that various religions have many basic similarities; their many differences are only external. The world is gradually converging into a human family due to facilities of transport, communications, publications, and propagation. There has been a phenomenal increase in the feeling of universal brotherhood and socialistic welfare. Many national and international organizations have started working in these directions. That is why the definition of religion has again gone multidimensional in this age.