Proceedings of the first Independence congress : held in the city of Manila, Philippine islands, February 22-26, 1930 / Published under the direction of Dean maximo M. Kalaw, executive secretary, University of the Philippines.

34 INDEPENDENCE CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS

What then has been the typical Hindu attitude towards
wealth and wealth-making? According to the Vedas, seeking
after wealth leads to sin; large-scale commerce was frowned
upon, and sometimes agriculture itself. Compared with the
Occident, wealth and non-agricultural industry were regarded
with relative disfavor or indifference. (HANEY, History of
Economic Thought, pp. 47-48.)
With the coming of the Spaniards, Filipinos came at once to
be under the influence of Christian ethical valuation.
It is well to recall in this connection that Christianity itself
is the result of Oriental thinking in relation with Hebrew life.
And what has been said about Hindu attitude may be applied
to the Hebrews. The rules of their codes which bore upon
economic matters had a religious significance: "By following
them one gained primarily, not economic well-being, but a
right life, a clear conscience or spiritual perfection." (HANEY,
Ibid., p. 46.)
Concrete examples of that attitude may be found in the
Bible:
"It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of
heaven." "It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's
eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
(MATTHEW, 19:23-24.)
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where
moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and
steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do
not break through nor steal; for where thy treasure is, there
will be thy heart also."
"Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore, I say unto
you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what
ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.
Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the
raiment? Behold the birds of the heaven that they sow not,
neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly
Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than
they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubic
unto the measure of his life? And why are ye anxious con