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Summary of the Paper
Jains in Development Challenging Some 'Religion and Development' Arguments
Nathan R.B. Loewen, Ph.D.
Grass keeps low and does not get cut, but trees grow high, and do". (K.C. Sogani, Jaipur, June 26 2006). This Jaina proverb expresses a norm of abstention from social involvements. It is a strategy that contributed to the Jains passage through centuries of socio-political vicissitudes. Involvement in education is a very public thing and Jains' involvements in education would seem to betray this proverb. Are there grounds for a Jaina theology of development? Many Jains are involved in establishing and supporting schools, hospitals and other work for social benefit. These actions contrast with the Jaina dharma, which is mostly concerned with world-denying religious roles and goals. This paper seeks to understand what is going on by exploring Jains' involvements amid India's socio-economic development. The paper shows how the uniqueness of Jains social involvements belies several Western academic claims about the religious dimensions of socio-economic development. This study concludes with a reflection upon emerging doctrinal sources for Jains actions for India's development. Jains take the human condition seriously. This point is made with reference to scriptures, secondary sources, field research and inperson interviews with leaders of Jaina communities. For example, the humanity of the Tīrthankaras is regularly emphasized. However, each Tīrthankara ultimately transcended the human condition. And the Tīrthankaras' teachings are validated due to the latter and not the former. This brief example is one among others deeply analyzed to shows how an 'is/is not' dynamic guides historical and contemporary positions on social involvement. The paper proposes that the dharma of this is/is-not situation may be understood vis-a-vis anekāntavāda. 'Anekānta' may best illustrate
