Acharya Mahaprajna
After all, the question is, what is money for? It is only for a happy life. It should make the individual, the family, the society and the nation happy. While this is the objective, yet all are becoming increasingly unhappy. Under these conditions, there is obviously a need for rethinking. We are not students of Economics, we are students of Theology. However, it is true that each and every scientific treatise is related with the other. As a result, while we examine any subject, we also think about wealth. However, nobody can become happy with wealth alone.
Two persons came to Bhagwan Mahavira. One was Emperor Shrenik and the other Shravaka Punia. Emperor Shrenik was the most powerful person of those times. He possessed abundant wealth. Shravak Punia was a person earning his livelihood by spinning cotton yarn. Mahavira was asked: "In your view, who is more important, Emperor Shrenik of Punia?" Mahavira said, "Both. Because of Emperor Shrenik, thousands of persons would come to me. On the other hand, Emperor Shrenik cannot acquire, even in his dreams, as much happiness and satisfaction as does Punia."
We all want that the life of a man should be as peaceful, satisfied and happy as that of Punia. From this point of view, Mahavira said that while earning wealth, everybody should keep five rules in mind:
- Nobody should be kept in bondage
- Nobody should be killed
- Nobody's limbs should be lost
- Nobody should be overloaded with work
- Nobody's livelihood should be disturbed
These directions are for a happy life; without these nobody can become happy.
