Nandanvana

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

Page 31

Definition of Religion and Jainism
: (11)
4. Increase in trends towards more social welfare in the world-a
result again of pleasure-producing karma. 5. Discovering newer vistas of knowledge in fields of medicine,
agriculture, etc. indicating reduction in knowledge-obscuring
karma in general. 6. Increase in human sensitivity towards national, international,
natural, or accidental calamities in the world-a sign of improved
karma as in (4). 7. Political or social mutation of status-determining karma as is seen
in reservation in jobs, studies, and services. 8. Increasing frequency of consecration-ceremonies, and religious
rituals among Jainas in particular to earn sacredness and to forego some attachment towards wealth-indicating reduction in deluding
karma. 9. Possible synthesis of living cells in laboratories, a sign of
improved knowledge-obscuring karma and conation-obscuring
karma too. 10. Increase in family planning methods indicating a reduction in
obstructive and deluding karmas.
These facts are undoubtedly increasing the overall pleasure in the world. Nevertheless, it is also clear that the individual religiosity is fast getting down. This problem has attracted the attention in our age and many positive steps are being taken to improve the situation. Per chance, Jainism visualized the above two forms of religion since the very beginning. Kundakunda became the most prominent exponent of this reality. This strengthened the relationship between the two forms. This fact has been one of the important factors in effective enlivening of Jainism even in absence of royal patronage. This point also confirms the scientific nature of this religion. Jainism: A World Religion
The world has a majority of followers of propounder-qualified religions. According to them, these religions qualify to become world religion because of having (a) one founder (b) one sacred text and (c) concept of supremacy. Though Jainism does not qualify for these traditional criterias, it has a capacity on other counts like its psychological scientificity. That is why, despite its much smaller number of followers (~ 0.1% in the world), its principles have