Ahimsa Varsh 2600th Birth Anniversary of Mahavir Swami

Author(s): Naresh Jain, P Jayaraman
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 58

Tempting and Useful
In this context, let us analyze the philosophy of Mahariva. Mark two words: attractive and useful. An article may appear tempting but may not be useful; and another which is useful but may not be tempting. And yet another article could be tempting, attractive and useful. Everybody becomes rich inspired by the attitude of self-interest, so that wealth, when it grows, becomes attractive but not useful. In human beings, self-intereset is even otherwise dominant, so much so that individual self-interest has created several problems in society. If attecmpts are made to accelerate this process, the result could be visualized by a look at the conditions of the present times.
mechanics? Apparently, there is no alternative to economic development if contained in limits.
Mahavira says that while thinking about economic development, the following points should be definitely considered:
• Ahimsa (non-violence) and purity of means
• Non-erosion of moral values • Limits for self-interest
First, it should be examined if economic development is leading to more violence. If we want to achieve development, it should be through ethical means, not by any other means. There was an ordinary person with poor means. He kidnapped a rich man and demanded ransom of one crore rupees. He succeeded in extracting the ransom. From being a poor person, he became a millionaire His financial development did take place. But can the means or method adopted for achieving this be considered desirable? The obvious
answer is in the negative.
In the ancient times there prevailed a belief that fame makes man successful. A person developed a desire to become famous. He started thinking how he could become famous. Somebody advised him to go to market that stocked earthen pots and break them with a stick and suggested, that would make him famous. If he did not want to do that, then he should throw all clothes and become naked, and he would become famous at once. If even this did not make him famous, then he should ride a donkey, which would make him famous..
This also implies that there are two routes that one could adopt: one of using any means and the other of using ethical means. Bhagwan Mahavira said, nobody can object to economic development in society, but this should not be done by just any means. It should be achieved with ahimsa (nonviolence) and with good and ethical means.
Non-Violence and Purity of Means
Everybody wants that there should be economic development in society. The real question is, how? What should be its process, its
AHIMSA IS THE SUPREME WAY OF LIFE