ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 147

Jain literature shows that Emperors not renouncing their wealth go to hell as indicated in the stories of 63 illustrious people in Jain story literature15.
Limiting our desires and possessions serves the cause of ecological balance also. It is not sacrifice or an act of charity but an act for the very survival of mankind. Indiscreet consumerism by individuals and nations involves rampant exploitation of natural resources resulting in not only pollution of the environment all over the globe but extreme economic inequalities.
When desires and ambitions are consciously limited through our practice of nonpossessiveness, contentment prevails; we have good thoughts and develop a sense of accomplishment; our competitors do not remain our adversaries; they become our beneficiaries. Instead of prosperity for the few, well being of all is attained. It is for the common good of the society. This process results in an atmosphere of goodwill, amity and peace in society. We see Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, the richest and the second richest men of the world, setting aside large parts of their wealth for social causes by saying in one word 'Giving back to the society'., Cāmunda Rāi (10th century AD), prime minister Gang dynasty. Bhamashah, prime minister of Maharana Pratap gave his entire wealth to his king to fight the enemies. Some corporations, dominantly the investment banks are being criticised these days for excessive bonuses to their key management people and not doing enough for the society/customers/government under the pretext of innovative management practices. Another practice of this principle is the excessive damage to the environment for maximizing the profits (not installing pollution control equipment or excessive use of depleting natural resources) and implementation of Carbon Credit by the developed world to organizations using energy efficient or less polluting the environment.
Ethics: (Day to day operations of the organization) Ethics deals with right and wrong, good and bad in our day to day inter personal dealings and self improvement. Thus ethics provide a set of right, ought and duty to minimize the bad and maximize the good. Basis of ethics in Jainism is their doctrine of karma (As you sow, so shall you reap) i.e. consequentialism to achieve the goal of human pursuance) along with deontological and theological definitions is what Jains promote. Right, ought and duty cannot
15 Jain Legend Four volume set by Hastimal ji. English edition edited and translated by Shugan Jain and published by Samyak Jnana Pracharak Mandal, Jaipur
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0