Economics of Mahaveera

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Adarsh Sahitya Sangh

Page 24

ECONOMICS OF MAHAVIRA
As already mentioned, there are four elements in .man's nature. Among them passion alone is not everything. For satisfying passion, material means are required. One is the goal and the other is the means. Passion is the end, and material means achieve it. In this way, these two constitute the components of man's nature. However, man is not all passion and its satisfaction. If man's personality had remained within the limits of passion and material means, then there would be no need to think about morality, character and the like. There would also be no need to despise and to keep away from corruption, dishonesty and immorality. On the basis of only a part of man's nature, Keynes propounded his economic theories. The other half of man's nature was rejected by him.
Bread and Faith
Famous historian Toynbee has made a very wise statement: bread alone or faith alone is not sufficient. Mán cannot live by bread alone: nor can he live only by faith. The present world tries to live by bread and do away with faith. If faith becomes the basis, the problem of bread will remain. There is the need for a system which provides bread as well as faith. It will be a harmonized system. In the guidelines which Mahavira developed, and the economic theory that he projected. neither bread nor faith has been rejected. There is a mix of both bread as well as faith.
Mahavira derived that we fully understand that part of the nature of man which reflects dedication to religion and the desire for emancipation. Do not knowingly play hide and seek with it. Do not disregard it at all. Give importance to character as well. When character is analysed and when the desire to become unbonded arises, a concept which emerges is that of self-control. Limit material comforts, do not allow them become limitless. Houses and clothes are necessary for the body, but do not expand the wants to an extent that these become harmful.
The Principle to Limited Wants According to Mahavira, the prudent principle guiding the limits to consumption is this: any article of use which does not impinge