Acharya Mahaprajna
The Gregorian year 1987 - the city of Honolulu in America.
Organization of a seminar under the auspices of the University of Honolulu's Peace Institute and Devon Bodh Temple.
The subject of the seminar was 'Peace in the Context of Buddhism'. Delegates from fifteen countries were present. On the special invitation of Professor Dr. Glen D. Page, our delegation joined the seminar of the University of Hawaii.
There was a mention during the seminar that there was no reference if Buddha had said something about abnegation or dispossession. What was the view of Mahavira about it?
In that congregation of intellectuals, there was a preponderance of Buddhist thinkers. They were, perhaps, not fully conversant with the views of Mahavira. On that point in the deliberation, one of our representatives stood up and observed, "Mahavira said a great deal about abnegation or dispossession. His view was asamvighagi na hu tassa mokho. (One who accumulates wealth to self alone and does not share it with others cannot attain moksha (emancipation of total liberation)."
The Buddhist thinkers felt very satisfied with this principle. The delegation of Sonka University, Tokyo, who were participants, urged our representatives to visit Japan and took them there. The Japanese organized several seminars and listened to various views on Jain philosophy. When I heard this, a thought came to my mind that there should be a comparative study of Mahavira's views on the concepts of acquisition and abnegation. During the current year, Acharya Mahaprajna has organized a series of lectures on the philosophy of Mahavir from the point of Economics, Anuvrat, Prekshadhyan and the Science Of Living.
There are a large number of economists the world over. They have been communicating their economic beliefs to the business community and the consumer society. There has been a growing predilection for wealth among the people.
Sometimes, it appears that material wealth is becoming increasingly dominant in the lives of the people. On the other hand, accumulation, earning, conservation and consumption of wealth are becoming a source of agony. In this context, if the thoughts of Mahavira could be deployed as a source of contentment, fulfilment and peace, it will be a matter of great achievement. Accordingly, two lectures each week for four weeks have been scheduled. The title of the book Economics of Mahavira might sound a little incongruous. I am, however, confident that the thoughts expressed in the discourses will prove to be milestones in the development of the theories and beliefs of Economics.
Like Economics, Mahaprajna has also to give consideration to the idea of shedding more light on subjects like Political Science, Sociology and other similar disciplines, which will enlighten the world and benefit the inquisitive with new thought processes.
Ganadhipati Tulsi
Adhyatma Sadhana Kendra
