Economics of Mahaveera

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

Page 39

THE ECONOMIC CONCEPT OF DEVELOPMENT
from the fourth Acharya Shrimajjayacharya of Tehrapanth. He entered into a deal with a trader doing jewellery business. Prices suddenly shot up. That trader was losing fifty thousand rupees in just one consignment. Shrimad Rajchanra asked him to bring that agreement. The trader said, “Sir, you need not worry. I will pay you to the last penny, but at present, I am not in a position to do so." Shrimad Rajchandra replied, “I am not talking about payment or not-payment, I just want to see that agreement once." The trader apprehended that after getting the agreement he would at once file a case in the court and he would be trapped. Accordingly, he was reluctant to give the agreement, but eventually he had to give the agreement. On receiving the agreement, Shrimad Rajchandra tore it to pieces and assured the trader, “Rajchandra can drink milk, he cannot suck anybody's blood. I cancel the bargain." .
This is mercy. A man with a few wants earns his living virtuously. He does not do injustice to anybody. He does not behave ruthlessly. He does not exploit others. He does not manipulate, nor does he conceal others' possession held in trust.
Ichhajayi — Master of Wants The third category of person is he who has controlled his wants. We would not consider him a social being. He has no wants or has conquered wants. He becomes detached from the society by becoming a saint. He performs no economic activities, has no factories, does no business. His life is only devoted to sadhana (devotion): 'Bhagwan Mahavira said that we leave the third category of persons alone although there is no dearth of people of this category. In Mahavira's devout society, the number of persons with few wants was five lakhs (half a million) and the number of persons with conquered desires was fifty thousand. When our saints and sadhvis visit Europe, people wonder when they see them. They wonder how they stand heat and cold. They do not carry money either. This type of life is beyond their imagination. They cannot believe that there would be people who have disowned wealth.