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LIVELIHOOD WITH RELIGION: LIMITS TO DESIRES
101
The Impact of Happiness and Unhappiness of Man
Category of Consumption
Impact on Consumption
Impact on Non-consumption
Essential
Brings only a little happiness
Comfort
Brings some more happiness
Produces considerable unhappiness/suffering Produces a little unhappiness No unhappiness is experienced
Luxury
Brings considerable happiness
The Approach of Religion From the point of view of Economics, things like morality and peace are secondary. The main objective before it is human welfare through economic progress. On this premise, it encourages the consumption of luxuries and considers these essential for economic progress. From the point of view of a religious person, the question of economic progress is secondary, the question of morality and peace is primary. A religious teacher initiates a societal person living a family life into religion; but he cannot formulate the rules leading to total non-possession by ignoring completely the economic expectations. Considering this, Mahavira formulated the rules of moral conduct following the principle of limitation of, needs:
1. Don't cheat others by wrong weights and measures. 2. Don't resort to adulteration. 3. Don't sell spurious articles after showing genuine articles.
Factors for Regulation of Desires In the context of societal behaviour, the factors that regulate the limitation of desires are truthfulness and compassion. Insofar as the individual is concerned, the regulating factor is moderation. The inspiration behind the refrain from cheating in weighment and measurement is the concern for genuineness and
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