ECONOMICS OF JAINISM

1. Background

• The world is juxtaposed with all kinds of people like happiness with misery, rich and poor, health and diseases, peace with miseries, comforts and discomforts and the like. 

• Human sufferings are inevitable and pervasive. 

• human beings through the practice of virtues should identify peace and potentialities.

• The growth of mankind and individuals i.e. human development leads to sustainable economic development. 

• The latter is guided by the virtues prescribed in all religions, especially Jainism. 

• The great religion Jainism contributed significantly to sustainable economic development through human development.

• Religion and economics are converging. 

• But science and technology have created a new world of materialistic prosperity. Material gain has been purchased with a spiritual loss.

2. Jain philosophy on Economics

• The Jain view of life based on Ahimsa is extremely close to the theory of sustainable economic development which is needed in the present consumer-oriented economic system.

• Mahavira’s economics accepts both materialism and spiritualism. 

• While the ultimate goal of modern economics is for its citizens to become wealthy (that is, wealth = happiness).

• The objective of the economics of Jainism is to live life peacefully and happily (that is, limit to wealth = peace + happiness). 

• It acknowledges one of the ignored tenets during the accumulation of wealth — that is, happiness comes through peace.

• Jainism is one of the most ancient religions which came into existence as a result of the most non-violent approach and humanitarian viewpoint towards all creatures. 

• They preached silently the virtues of non-violence, non-attachment and non-consumerism, where less importance is given to individual interest. 

• Jainism forces one to find out the meaning of the essence of reality, Awareness of reality with trust developed in the right view combines with a willingness to practice self-discipline which controls mind thought, speech, action and passions. This awareness produces an attitude of detachment and non-possession.

• The philosophy of Jainism correlates the economy with the total living of a country who have got the right to survive with co-existence.

3. Emphasis of Jainism on sustainable economic development

• Sustainable Economic Development In this context Ᾱcharya Mahapragya in their book Economics of Mahāvīra expounds on Mahāvīra’s idea of sustainable development.

• While thinking about sustainable economic development, the following points are to be considered. 

• Ahimsa and purity of means 

• Non-erosion of moral values 

• Limits to self-interest 

• Ahimsa and purity of means 

• Bhagwan Mahaveera said that nobody can object to economic development in society. But it should be achieved through ethical means of ahimsa and not by unethical means of violence. 

• In modern society, there is a dichotomy between economic performance and ethical performance. 

• Ethical performance implies that earning income by honest means is relatively low.

• On the other hand, high economic performance will contain a tinge of unethical means.

• Ahimsa based on three jewels advocates ethical performance and discards high economic performance for the well-being of society on a sustainable basis in the long run.

4. Jainism ethical approach toward economics

• Lord Mahaveera proposes that in the name of earning wealth human values should not be sacrificed. 

• In achieving economic development value should not be allowed to vanish.

• But nowadays in earning wealth human values and ethics are sacrificed in the name of economic development. 

• This kind of development leads to the impoverishment of crores of people.

• Thus the development of compassion and sensitivity is more important than mere economic development. 

• Hence in Jainism greater importance is given to sacrifice and charity. 

• It is said that in India 62% of the total charity fund is contributed by Jains.

5. Self-interest aspect in economics

• Lord Mahaveera speaks of three possible kinds of lifestyles. 

• Limited desires – limited possession – limited violence. 

• Unlimited desires – unlimited possession – unlimited violence Free from desires – non-possession – non-violence. 

• Thus desires, possession (aparigraha) and violence cannot be segregated.

• The greed for possession has no bounds and causes great economic discord in society and is responsible for various conflicts. 

• According to Jainism, Aparigraha or putting limits to accumulation is the only way that will reduce the gap between rich and poor and fair distribution of wealth is also possible. 

• This is how Relative economics based on the philosophy of non-violence and Aparigraha helps to attain sustainable economic development.

• Hence the lure of economic development is not the exclusive function of economic motivations alone, but it has much to do with the religious beliefs of the people.

6. Approach of Jainism towards Socio-Economic Development

• This means the setup of society based on egalitarianism is free from all sorts of discrimination. 
• The complexities of inferiority and superiority created inequality that resort to violence. 
• Violence brings disharmony, polluting individuals as well as society. 
• For example, Naxalites, Maoists, and terrorists are indulging in violent activities in India because of social and economic inequality. 
• A non-violence man finds all are equal despite external differences. Thus Jain view of non-violence gives all happiness. 
• This noble idea of nonviolence can be the solid foundation of an egalitarian society and lead to a better special social order.

• Thus religion is the bedrock for ethical and economic performance especially when it comes to the philosophy of Jainism.

7. Way Forward

• Finally it can be concluded with valuable suggestions about ethical Jain religion and sustainable economic development. 
• Set Up an unbiased international Center for Relative economic system to look into the pros and cons of the present economic system. 
• The Government should adopt Relative economic policies to come out of the present economic system. 
• For sustainable development importance is to be given to Gross National Happiness rather than Gross National Product. 
• Resources possession should be in a judicious way because excess of anything is dangerous to him, to society and the environment ultimately leading to violent activities. 

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Reference- Harvard Research papers