Economics of Mahaveera

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

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ECONOMICS OF MAHAVIRA
is another which generates only happiness. There is one kind of happiness which is followed by sorrow as night follows day. The happiness followed by sorrow is not happiness without obstacles; it is happiness with impediments. Mahavira believed that happiness, which does not generate obstacles behind it and which is enduring and eternal, can be achieved. To achieve that happiness is our goal. Gandhi had one broad objective before him - achievement of self- rule or freedom. This was a political aim and was not the basic aim. His basic aim was communion with God, to achieve the truth.
Aims of Marx and Keynes Both Marx and Keynes had only one goal — satisfaction and happiness. Society should get satisfaction (or happiness). There should be so much wealth as would eradicate poverty and produce happiness. There was, however, no thought given on what followed happiness. It was happiness if-the hungry got bread and the naked got clothes. If those sleeping under the open sky got a roof, it was happiness. If some sick person got medicines, it was happiness. When one is limited to economic motivations, one cannot go beyond this. If they had a spiritual goal before them, then the concept of pleasure and happiness would have been entirely different. But in the economic world, there is limited horizon. If they had gone beyond economics and endeavoured to do a little more serious thinking, then, perhaps their opinion about happiness would have been different.
Comfort and Happiness An illusion had developed whereby happiness and satisfaction of needs were considered as one and the same objective. Neither Marx nor Keynes could dismantle this illusion. If their thinking had led them to the conclusion that, through the development of our economic theories and economic systems, we can fulfill the needs of the people. but for real happiness, they have to search further, the situation would have been different. There would not have been so much violence, so much crime and so much mental stress and turbulence.