Etical Values Reflected in Jain Philosophy

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Nalini Joshi

Page 6

Since Jainism is deeply concerned with the well-being of the earth, in a comprehensive way it can be called bio-ethics or environmental ethics. At this point we have to remember Nitivakyamota of the Jaina author Somadevasuri belonging to ninth century A.D. The name of the treatise itself suggests that he is very keen to incorporate the moral principles in general, in his book. Nitivakyamsta is the simplified version of Kautiliya Arthasastra. He enumerates many moral virtues common to all the people and at the end, he exclaims - सर्वसत्त्वेषु हि समता सर्वाचरणानां परमाचरणं / / In nutshell we can say that in Jaina Philosophy there is a great spiritual leap but the take-off is from the firm ground of Ahimsa and it penetrates through the sphere of ethical or moral rules. In Indian environment, ethics did not flourish as a separate branch but the Indian thinkers never thought of bypassing ethics. Actually their journey can be designated as 'from ethics to meta-ethics'. ********** References 1) Gitarahasya (Marathi), Kesari Prakashan, pp. 49-50 2) Adipurana 38.45 3) Studies in Indian Moral philosophy, page 23 4) Alcala 1.4, page 9 * * * * * * * * * * Bibliography 1) BOHY'IGHI (341HG2T) : 311afo 3, ut farqirri, MISE (TTGFATA), fq.1.2033 2) Studies in Indian Moral Philosophy : Ed.-S.E.Bhelke & P.P.Gokhale, indian Philosophical Quarterly Publication, Dept. of Philosophy, University of Pune, 2002 3) Jaina Ethics : Dayanand Bhargava, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1968 4) Jaina Philosophy (An Introduction) : Mohanlal Mehta, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore, 1998 5) ffdal 144 : Hlucauf, hi.f. HYPYHiorufufa, otas, 8873 * * * * * * * * * *