Jain Journal 2010 07

SR No.: 520279
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 60
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 7 MB

Page 14

JAIN JOURNAL : VOL-XLV, NO. I-IV JULY.-JUNE 10-11
Though wealth plays an important role in our life and it is considered as one of the four purusarthas i.e. the pursuits of life, yet it cannot be maintained as the sole end of life. Jainas, all the time, consider wealth as a means to lead a life and not a destination. In Uttarādhyāyana sutra it has been rightly observed that no one who is unaware of treasurer of one's own protect one-self by wealth." But it does not mean that Jaina acaryas do not realise the importance of wealth in life. Ācārya Amrtacandra maintains that the property or wealth is an external vitality of man. One who deprives a person of his wealth commits violence. Jainas accept the utility of wealth, the only thing which they want to say is that wealth is always a means and it should not be considered as an end. No doubt wealth is considered as a means by materialist and spiritualist as well, the only difference is that for materialist it is a means to lead a luxurious life while for spiritualist, as well as Jainas, it is a means to the welfare of human society and not for one's own enjoyment, which makes it an evil if we want to save the humanity from class-conflicts, we will have to accept self imposed limitation of our possessions and modes of consumption. That is why Lord Mahavira has propounded the vow of complete non-possession for monks and nuns and vow of limitation of possession for laities. Secondly, to have a check on our luxurious life and modes of consumption. He prescribed the vow of imitation in consumption. The property and wealth should be used for the welfare of humanity and to serve the needy, he prescribed the vow of charity named as Atilhi smnvibhaga. It shows that charity is not an obligation towords the monks and weaker sections of society but through charity we give them what is their right. In Jainism it is the pious duty of a house-holder to fix a limit to his possessions as well as for his consumption and to use his extra money for the service of mankind. It is through the observation of these vows that we can restore peace and harmony in human society and eradicate economic inequality and class conflicts.