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Non-possessiveness and charity
ascetics who have renounced all possessions are also impressed and influenced by such people. In their lectures and talks, they do not hesitate to praise their wealthy patrons. In fact, they refer to them as blessed souls!
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When the spiritual masters themselves place the sin of possessiveness on the throne of virtue, how can they direct the common man away from possessiveness? When leaders are trapped in such weaknesses, how can one expect any better from their followers? No wonder then, that the masses cannot even comprehend that possessiveness is a sin and non-possessiveness a virtue.
By excluding possessiveness from the category of sin, we are reducing to mere slogans the words of Lord Mahāvīra and all that the scriptures say. If the vow of possessiveness can be violated and not considered a sin, then what about the other four vows of non-violence, truthfulness, chastity and non-stealing? Can they be violated as well? If possessiveness has been masked with an aura of virtue in the present day, then isn't it time we stopped using words such as 'virtue' and 'vice' since we do not truly believe in their distinction?
I think that in this manner, to consider a vice as a merit is detrimental to humanity at large. It becomes the cause of man's decline. It is the root cause of revolts and conflicts. Until man does not accept possessiveness as a sin, he cannot be liberated, he cannot evolve, and there will be no end to the unrest that seizes him.
So where was I before I digressed? Ah, yes! I was telling you about people who talk to me about their wealth and possessions with great pride. They boast about the expanse of their business, the number of shops they own etc. Once they gain control over the local market, they spread their business to other cities. They subsequently open their shops and firms in large metros like Bombay and Calcutta. Obviously then, if every small merchant begins to accumulate at such a large level, the tendency towards economic exploitation is bound to increase.
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