Economics of Mahaveera

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

Page 65

LIMITATION OF INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP AND PERSONAL CONSUMPTION
49
rupees. A person buys a watch for one thousand rupees. After two days, his friend buys a watch for two thousand rupees. The person who bought the watch for one thousand rupees perceived happiness and satisfaction. But now he becomes unhappy. Both the watches are giving the same time, but the watch costing two thousand rupees made the first person unhappy, since he could buy a watch costing only one thousand rupees.
A basic question which arises is whether today's consumerism is making man happy or unhappy? If we can understand the truth on this issue, the concept of limitation and its justification will be fully comprehended.
Emancipation from Temptations Mahavira gave these two philosophies for his own religion and followed by devout and committed society - limitation of individual ownership and limitation of personal consumption. Based on these two tenets, the society was developed. As a result, the society pursued a happy, healthy and peaceful life. Today, it is essential that our present-day economists and consumerismled people realise the truth and not get away by illusory lures. Today's consumerism has become a kind of fascination, it has become a craze, a hysteric phenomenon. The customer dances to the tunes of the producer who creates the enhancing - allurement. The consumer has become a puppet in the hands of the market and advertisements. If emancipated from these lures, the society will become a happy society with peaceful life assured to its members.