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This paper deals with the three vratas propounded by Lord Mahavira, Icchā Parimāņa vrata, Ahimsă Vrata and Bhogopabhoga Parimāņ Vrata, These three vratas are so interrelated with each other that we cannot explain Jain business ethics by negating any one of the these three Vratās. Lord Mahavira restricted 15 such professions technically known as 15 Karmādana' i.e. Angāl karma, Vaņa karma, Śākata karma etc because such professions initiate tremendous violence. Jainism asserts, 'Nonviolence as highest virtue'. Lord Mahavira discussed the vow of Nonviolence very minutely. Lord Mahavira was a propounder of six classes of living beings i.e. immobile beings namely earth bodied, water bodied, air bodied, fire bodied, plant bodied beings, these five types of living beings are one sensed and mobile beings are two, three, four or five sensed beings, all these play an important role in the ecologically sustainable development of the world as a whole.
Modern scientific researches have shown that most of the fifteen professions involve environmental pollution and generate several diseases amongst human beings. It may be noted here the the main cause of huge voilence is human unending desires. Tīrthankara Mahavira clearly preached that human desires must be restrained in the daily use of consumable and non-consumable goods. Accumulation of possessions for personal ends should be minimised. It is of capital importance to know that profession or business is not condemned by Jaina seers, what is condemed by them is exploitation, adulteration, mal-practices in business transactions. Tirthankara Mahavira was well aware of the fact that a householder cannot lead his wordly life without earning his livelohood and there is no profession which dosen't involve violence in one form or the other. So they were very practical in prohibiting only a few professions and not all. He cautioned the householders to refrain from 15 such professions as may cause violence as well as environmental pollution. Now let us see, the effect of fifteen restricted professions on ecological balance, and on human health.
1. Angāra karma: - (Livelihood from char-coal) For 'Haribhadra' this is the making, buying and selling of charcoal.? Besides charcoalburning this includes all occupations involving the use of kilns in which the six forms of living organisms (sajīva-nikāya) may perish. Under this head come therefore the smelting of iron, the firing of pottery, the refining of gold or silver, the making of brickes and tiles, the construction of ovens for roasting chick-peas and other pulses, and in general any working in metals such as tin, copper, brass, bell-metal, or lead. The electricity
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JMÍ YETT 310 132-133
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