________________
MAHAVIRA AND ECONOMICS
Concept of Development
Economic progress is also a form of development. Development has many manifestations. We cannot impose any rules on anybody. It is being said that nobody should remain poor, but why should we become too affluent like Kuber, the god of wealth?
A person once went to a king and said, "Oh King! I have become a siddha, a possessor of all wisdom. I see everybody but nobody sees me."
""
Redaridrayan! namastubhyam, sidhkoh twatprasadat Sarvonaham cha pastuyami, man na pashyati Kashvan.
(Oh poverty! My greetings to you. Because of your generosity, I have become a siddha. I see everybody, but nobody sees me.)"
127
We do not want such kind of poverty. The poor would not perhaps be able to become religious. When there is no food to eat, what will religion do? We do not think in terms of either of economics of poverty or of increasing wealth.
Basic needs of everybody should be satisfied. But when any economic prosperity is at the cost of the interest of others, it is neve desirable. It ought not to be desirable. Opinions are different at different times, and the opinions refer to a specific time span. It is natural that contemporary thoughts are more attractive.
Wealth for What?
After all, the question is, what is money for? It is only for a happy life. It should make the individual, the family, the society and the nation happy. While this is the objective, yet all are becoming increasingly unhappy. Under these conditions, there is obviously a need for rethinking. We are not students of Economics, we are students of Theology. However, it is true that each and every scientific treatise is related with the other. As a result, while we examine any subject, we also think about wealth. However, nobody can become happy with wealth alone.
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
