Studies in Jainism

Author(s): Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture Culcutta
Publisher: Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture Culcutta

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STUDIES IN JAINISM
Anuvrata wanted fearlessness and truthfulness applied to the work-a-day life. If so, the philosophy of Aņuvrata partakes
gmatic character. As an individualistic philosophy pragmatism may not have that profundity which is claimed for others, but as a social philosophy it can hardly be discounted on any score. By selecting small vows and collecting them as the code of conduct, Aņuvrata brings to birth a new social philosophy for adoption by men and women with a view to make life meaningful and purposive. Denominational hindrances or scriptural barriers will not be placed in the way of its adoption - it can well be embraced universally while each remaining within the fold of his own. spiritual religion, codified or uncodified.
THE MANIFESTO : The Aņuvrata manifesto released by the sponsors of the movement is a short one, but is exhaustive. It deals with aims and means of Anuvrata and specifies the vows for all as well as for a few particular social groups – students, teachers, businessmen, the working class and their superintendants, politicians and the citizens. Other professional classes – the lawyers, medical practitioners, brokers and the like have not been specifically listed. Perhaps they have been included in 'all' – the general class, or, in a way, in the category of businessmen. For the professionals are also traders - they trade in their skill and good-will. Speaking in economic terms, they deal in service-utility, and are adjuncts to different social services like the dispensing of justice, dispensing of health services either for purpose of maintenance or as remedial measures. While revising the document, editors will think of specifying the codes for each of these groups insofar as it pertains to their respective station of life. For some may consider their non-specification to be a lacuna in the documentation.
AIMS AND MEANS : The manifesto starts with delineation of the aims and means, implying what the Aņuvrata Movement aims at and indicating the needed measures for adoption.