Notes on Modern Jainism

Author(s): Mrs Sinclair Stevenson
Publisher: Oxford

Page 53

JAINA LAY ADHERENTS.
The layman takes in a looser form the vow not to destroy life; thus he is allowed to use certain vegetables (though they are considered to possess one life), and fuel for cooking.
1. Ahimsa'.
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Unhappily this vow does not seem to carry with it. any obligation of kindness to animals, beyond refraining from actually taking their lives.
The taking of this vow, has had a most unfortunate effect on the Jaina character. It has cut them off from agriculture (since ploughing, reaping, etc., destroy much insect life), blacksmithing and most of the manufacturing trades. This has thrust them into commerce, and especially into its least elevating branch of money lending. Most of the money lending in Western India is in the hands of the Jaina, and this accounts in a great measure both for their unpopularity and for their wealth.
Of course the Jaina, though they may not engage in agriculture, live on its products,* indeed it seems impossible to escape profiting, even unwillingly, by the universal law of sacrifice.
The laity take the vow against lying, but in a very limited form which allows for the exigencies of commercial or professional life.
2. Truth.
In the same way they take the vow against stealing in such a form as approves all forms of 3. Honesty. competition."
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In certain parts of Western India a great deal of the best land has passed into the hands of Jaina through their money-lending transactions. This land they rent to farmers and thus very literally live on the products of agriculture.