Aparigraha the Humane Solution

SR No.: 001660
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kamla Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 112
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, philosophy, & Social
File Size: 8 MB

Page 101

EPILOGUE
The terrain of ideas in the three essays makes two extremes clearly visible in whatever pairs of terms they may appear; as the individual versus society, materialism versus spiritualism, present versus future, short-term gains versus long-term gains, instant pleasure versus durable lasting happiness, glitzy present day world of goods versus real Good, man's existence in the glossy present day world of advanced science and technology catering to the needs of select few versus the survival of the entire human race and finally arbitrary, thoughtless purposeless consumption versus contentment or limitation of desires. And it is evident that there is a positively clear tilt and conviction towards the latter extremes than towards the former ones.
The essay on consumerism in no uncertain terms shows that it is a social evil making more and more firm base in our society leading to a sick society. If the sickness is not cured at the right time it will take a malignant form, rather than remaining ordinarily curable. This has entered into a very broad area of man's day-to-day life. It does not confine to markets, Departmental Stores or Malls of the Western world but has reached, with a volcanic force, the under-developed countries. “Development' has been assigned a very wrong connotation unfortunately. Even when we are sitting contentedly at home and trying to give ourselves peace of mind, the idiot box (rightly christened) gives more than a bearable amount of restlessness to make us vote for conspicuous consumerism and the peace of mind changes into piece of mind or rather pieces of mind. Whereas this medium can work wonders in eradicating the pollution of our mind infected by the craze for conspicuous consumption and philosophy of profits at all costs. Picasso's definition, 'Art is the elimination of the unnecessary' has been thrown into the junk box. Plato's lines, 'Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity' are comfortably forgotten,
This essay, thus, comprehensively dwells on what consumerism means in present day society and how greatly it affects our psyche, and the areas which have been engulfed by it. What drastic consequences it