Ahimsa and Jainism

Author(s): Vijayvallabhsuri
Publisher: Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi

Page 19

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uplifted, O Strength pierce all veils, manifest in us the things of the Godhead.”
Jain thought can be applied to wordly problems also. There is now a great controversy raging on the subject of Capitalism. There are two opposite schools: one is in favour of it and the other against it. However, these two can be réconciled according to Jain philosophy. Each school, right from its own viewpoint, svasamaya, should take into consideration the viewpoint of the other, parasamaya. Now the principle of Ubhayasamaya-vaktavyata (i. e., the synthetical method of establishing the truth underlying both views ) will reconcile then and end the conflict. Judged in this manner, one realises that Capitalismi is in itself neither good nor bad; what makes it good or bad is the mode of its application in life.
Capitalism is a reflection of the natural in. stincts of the worldly soul which are: (1) aharafood; (2) bhaya-fear; (3) maithuna-the sexual urge; and (4) parigraha-desire to hoard. Therefore, from the realistic point of view, capital is an essential means for the achievenient of success in the material world. However, the realistic value should be governed by the practical thought:
the instinct of parigraha should not be tumed