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Introspection and Clarifications
Question: What were the views of Mahavira on production?
Answer: Mahavira did not have any specific views on production but he did explain himself on the problem of production. In today's world, the increase in production does not serve the objective of eradication of poverty but is aimed at stabilising market prices. If there is excess production, it is dumped into the sea so that the market may remain stable. In other words, the objective of production is not poverty removal, it is to keep the market under control. Had the objective of production been eradication of poverty, tens of thousands of tons of foodgrains would not have been thrown into the sea. Mahavira said, “Do not do work cruely; do not relegate human feelings to a secondary position." If human feelings are respected thousands of tons of food articles would not be destroyed.
Question: Two individuals put in the same amount of effort. One gets a large amount of production, the other is hit by hail and frost. Is this not because of karmas of the previous birth?
Answer: Why should this be attributed to the karmas of the previous birth? Let us regard it as the result of karmas of the present. It cannot be maintained that karmas have nothing to do; in certain cases, these may have a role. In this case, however, it is the honesty of feelings. One man did farming with good
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