Answer

Neither Buddhism nor Jainism is “anti-capitalist” in the modern political sense, because both traditions began long before capitalism existed.

But if we compare their teachings on wealth, possession, desire, and livelihood:

• Jainism is generally more radically anti-possession, especially because of aparigraha — non-possessiveness.
• Buddhism is generally more focused on non-attachment and ending craving, rather than strictly limiting possessions for laypeople.

So, if “anti-capitalist” means rejecting accumulation, greed, exploitation, and excessive ownership, Jainism is usually stricter.

Explanation

In Jain Dharma, one of the central vows is aparigraha, meaning non-possessiveness or limiting possessions. For monks and nuns, this becomes complete renunciation. For householders, it means voluntarily limiting wealth, consumption, property, and desires.

Jainism teaches that attachment to possessions increases passions such as:

• greed
• pride
• violence
• deceit
• bondage of karma

Jain ethics also strongly emphasizes ahimsa, so any economic activity involving harm, exploitation, dishonesty, or violence is spiritually harmful.

Buddhism also criticizes craving, greed, and attachment. It teaches right livelihood and warns against desire and accumulation. However, for laypeople, Buddhism often allows wealth if it is earned ethically and used wisely.

Jainism tends to place a stronger emphasis on limiting possession itself, not only changing one’s mental attitude toward possession.

Spiritual Understanding

From a Jain point of view, the issue is not “capitalism” as a political system, but parigraha — possessiveness.

A person may be rich but spiritually bound by greed. A person may be poor but still deeply attached. Jain Dharma teaches that liberation requires reducing both:

• external possession
• internal attachment

Therefore, Jainism does not simply oppose wealth; it opposes attachment, greed, exploitation, and harmful livelihood.

Takeaway

If judged by strictness toward possession and accumulation, Jainism is more anti-accumulation than Buddhism. But neither tradition is properly “anti-capitalist” in the modern ideological sense; both are primarily spiritual paths aimed at reducing greed, attachment, and suffering.