Economics Of Mahavira: [11.14] Mahavira and Economics - Luxury and Cruelty

Published: 02.07.2006
Updated: 06.08.2008

The universe is perched on the sky, on the air and on water. The earth is perched on water, and on the earth are all living beings. It has many deep layers. There was no question of damage to these layers, but man became so greedy and merciless that he started digging out the root itself. Not only the earth, he started piercing holes in the sky. Man had enough resources, which would have been sufficient for consumption for many generations. We had seen with our own eyes - houses where gold was stored in walls; but they all were ruined. Their progeny lost everything by their own deeds.

We are no worshippers of distress, no worshippers of poverty, but also at the same time, are no worshippers of truncated prosperity. Prosperity stimulates luxury, and distress increases cruelty. Luxury and cruelty are both sins. We are worshippers of the middle course. Gandhiji was highly educated. He was a barrister. He could have achieved a lot of wealth. But he did not go after that. He was a strong socialist. He used to say that until all members of the society benefit, how could he alone enjoy? One child asked him - why did he wear only a small strip of cloth? His mother could make a good dress for him. Gandhiji explained that one dress would not do. When three hundred million dresses are available for all people, then I would wear a full dress.
Sources
  • Economics Of Mahavira by © Acharya Mahaprajna
  • Edited by Muni Dhananjay Kumar
  • Translated by Dr. S.R. Mohnot
  • Published by Jain Vishwa Bharti, University, Ladnun, India, 1st Edition 2000, 2nd Edition 2001

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  1. Gandhiji
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