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acquisitiveness i.e. to acquire more or to maintain and enhance possessions that creates disturbance in the mind of the individual and a taint on the soul. Even Mahatma Gandhi said “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs but not for even one man's greed."
Aparigrah is the fifth vow in the Jain code of conduct for votary. For them it is called as Ichchhaparimanavrata or the vow of limiting our desires and possessions as they are interrelated. Therefore, implicit in the Jain concept of Aparigraha, is the philosophy of conservation of natural environment and avoidance of its over exploitation and wasteful consumption. This vow guides us for limiting and not eliminating:
Acquisitiveness/Desire/Greed to acquire material things beyond what is required,
Consumption (conservation) to minimize indulgence in material objects and waste of natural resources,
Possessions and possessiveness by developing a feeling of Trustee of the wealth and sharing the surplus for social cause, which leads to develop the attitude of trusteeship and the fair practice of Dana.
The principle of Aparigraha is a realistic, practical and rational principle with a solid foundation in the social system. It has individual's moral growth as its basis, with direct relevance for the society of which the individual is a part. Its main thrust is on a balanced society consisting of balanced individuals. Apollononius Tyaneaus, Greek traveller of first century CE to India beautifully describes Jains as follows:
In India I found a race of mortals living upon the earth but not adhering to it, inhibiting cities but not being fixed to them, possess everything but possessed by nothing.
Gandhi & Jainism Pg. 171
