Jain Journal 1968 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 52

JAIN JOURNAL
of change, and also distort its effects. More fundamentally we cannot accept the conclusion that it is always economic change that causes economic or social change. It is not true that if economic interest and religious doctrines conflict, the economic interest will always win. The Hindu cow has remained sacred for centuries although this is plainly contrary to economic interests.'
Has Jainism an economic responsibility ?
The outlook for collaboration between Economics and Jaina Ethics is more or less the same as it has been applied to other religions while assessing their economic aptitudes. Max Weber published his famous study of the 'Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism in 1905. Ever since there has been controversy about the impact of religious belief on the economic actions of mankind. A Religion preaches several moral conceptions which are responsible, directly or indirectly, in shaping the values of its followers. The natural corollary of this phenomenon is that it is not possible to isolate an individual's economic actions with his ethical beliefs. The honesty of Jaina traders was famous and honesty is useful because it builds the very basis of credit; therefore one ought to be honest. Their wealth was also famous : formerly it has been maintained that more than half the trade of India passed through their hands.
The second important characteristic of Jainism is its emphasis upon thrift. A notable thriftiness-pushed by the Jainism to sheer asceticism-combined with the concept of the fulfilment of earthly duty as the highest purpose of life, could not but bring about the formation of capital. Weber in his Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism quotes John Wesley : ‘Religion must necessarily produce both industry and frugality, and these cannot but produce riches.' The compulsory saving of asceticism worked also among them towards the use of accumulated possessions, as investment capital rather than as funds for consumption or rent. On the basis of these and many more other ideals it is not very difficult to find out the nosegay of prosperity and economic responsibility in Jainism.
Jainas as an exclusively merchant class :
It is an interesting fact to be discussed that Jainas are exclusively business oriented. There are not many factors responsible for the business-mindedness of the Jainas. That the Jainas, at least the Svetāmbara Jainas, nearly all became traders was due to purely ritualistic reasons--a case similar to the Jews. It is only the trader who could truly practise