________________
to the cost of an article one pice or two pice for their services. But, why is all this cunning haggling and lying? And the interest which is charged for money lent is so cruelly high that it kills the debtor. Wherever I go, I hear complaints against Vanias, both Jains and Vaishnavas. ---
We must cease to be unscrupulous Vanias and become Kshatriyas. The Vaisya's dharma does not mean doing no manual work, no ploughing, no heroism and no consideration for right and wrong. The true Vaisya, rather, shows himself heroic in his generosity and discrimination in his business; he follows the Brahmin's dharma, too, by exercising his discrimination and deciding that he may not sell liquor or fish, that he may deal only in pure khadi. We shall fall into sin if others slave for us and we merely lend money and earn interest. At least by way of yajna, we should do some bodily labour every day....."
Conclusion Gandhi was born in a Modhbania Vaishanva family which on their own and the neighbourhood were profoundly impacted by Jainism. This is born by all the texts and statements made by eminent scholars and Gandhi himself. However the uniqueness of Gandhi is falling back on moral values with impact of Jainism, and his constant adherence and even making them more stringent as he grew up. Rajchandra became his mentor, spiritual guru who reinforced the Jain concepts of soul (Atma), God (inner self free from defilement), Avatar, Truth, institution of ethics, Ahimsa, Anekantavada or multiplicity of viewpoints, Brahmacharya, and Tapasya (self suffering) to annihilate impurities (tainted emotions like anger, arrogance, greed and deceit). The impact of these Jain principles is seen as decisive on Gandhi, through his interpretation of the Gita (which Gandhi called as his solace and mother) as Anasakti Yoga (translated in English as Gospel of Selfless action by Gandhi) and similar to
Pg.202 | Gandhi & Jainism
