Jain Journal 1968 07

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

Page 53

JULY, 1968
the rigorous principle of ahimsā as preached by Jainism. Their special manner of trading, too determined by ritual, with its particularly strong aversion against travelling, and their way of making travel difficult confined them to resident trade, again as with the Jews to banking and moneylending. The history of Jainas clearly reveals the fact that very few of them emerged as an industrialist or an agriculturalist. On their confinement to resident trades Max Weber4 makes the point that 'they remained confined to commercial capitalism and failed to create an industrial organization was again due to their ritualistically determined exclusion from industry and as with the Jews their ritualistic isolation in general.'
Similarly it is an established fact that money-lending and speculative business is always most profitable and least indulgive. As a soft-handed class they had no better choice than to become a business class. Taking into account the risk involved in business, the magnitude of prosperity attached with it is generally greater as compared to any other branch of economic activity. This seems to be a very important factor in moulding the Jainas in the shape of merchant sect and refraining them from all other economic activities offering lower opportunities to rise.
Jaina ethical ideals with their economic implications :
While delivering lectures on 'The Ancient Foundations of Economics in India' Prof. K. T. Shah had very truly pointed out that it consequently happens that our hoary ancient past is shrouded in the haze of legend, or lost in the veil of mystery. The principal actors moving and acting on an enormous stage-as vast as it is varied-are but shadows dimly seen through clouds of myth or marvel ; their action unaccorded, their motives unintelligible. But the very lack of blazing publicity and confusing comment, so dazzling a characteristic of modern times, makes for an easier appreciation of such material as is available or can be traced. Deliberately and intentionally therefore I have chosen this subject “Jaina Ethics and Economic Prosperity'. This has been done not only to dispel the common misapprehension that Economics is a modern science of comparatively recent growth ; but also to show how profound, how suggestive, were the economic ideals and objectives of Indian sages of thousands of years ago ; how appropriate and effective were the solutions they advised. The five great vows in Jaina Ethics are of much significance in the present context.
Aparigraha (non-possession) :
Out of this five commandments, the most important and economically significant commandment for the laity was the limitation of