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ECONOMICS OF MAHAVIRA
momentum. While thus proceeding steadily, one reaches the end, the state of non-possession. But to think that the entire Jain society will reach the stage of non-possession would mean that the entire society will become ascetic.
Bhagwan Mahavira has given the rule of non-possession for the ascetic; he has not made use of terms like non-possession for a person with family life. He talked about limiting desires. The shravaka (the devote) should limit his desires. The desires are endless and should at least be kept within some limit.
On the principle of limitation, he made two points, the first one was that the means of earning should not be unethical, should not be abnormal. Mahavira has provided a complete moral code for the common societal person. Under that code, all kinds of prohibited conduct has been forbidden. Adulteration, selling spurious things after showing genuine samples, cheating, betraying trust and the like are all prohibited activities or means.
The second point made by Mahavira is that the money earned should not be used for one's own luxury, and utmost moderation should be exercised.
With these two restraints, there is no further restriction on how much is earned. If a person earns by moral means, he may earn hundreds of thousands millions of rupees. After earning, he does not make use of it for himself and observes complete moderation. It is a living like the life of shravaka Anand. He owned wealth worth millions, had business worth millions, but he was moderate. He led such a simple life as even a common man may not be able to live.
These are two principles by way of introduction of the principle of non-possession for the common societal person. Both principles are significant. If Jain society accepts these two points, a big illusion would disappear.
It appears to me that any society is a follower of religion; it is not necessarily a co-traveller. This is true of every religion. People go behind religion. They do not go with religion. To expect from these followers that the principle of non-possession would flourish with them does not appear to me to be realistic.
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