Economics of Mahaveera

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

Page 97

Maitavira, Marx, KEYNES AND GANDHI
When one who did not have a loaf of bread and got it, it gave him relief. But it is difficult to say if he got happiness, since while happiness is associated with feelings, bread is associated with hunger, a physical need. If hunger got satisfied, certainly one's suffering had been removed to that extent, but this did not mean that he acquired happiness. A millionaire or a billionaire does eat food, the best food, but at the same time he is also suffering from unhappiness. He is eating unhappiness along with bread. While eating food, if a phone call comes saying that a big loss had occurred or a loss has been incurred due to an accident, he would become sad. If bread had been the means of happiness, then he would not have become sad: Let us proceed with the premise that bread is a means to satisfy hunger, not a means of experiencing happiness. If Marx and Keynes had been clear about this, the situation today would have been really different. .
A well-to-do person was sitting in a hotel. His son came running. He said, “Father! Our biggest building has caught fire. Along with the house everything else was reduced to ashes.” After hearing this, he was engulfed by sorrow. Then the second son came and reminded him that the house was burnt, but the good news was that the house had been sold earlier and they had received its full price. Instantly, his sadness disappeared. What is the source of happiness and unhappiness? Both these elements are related to one's feelings. Whether the house is burnt down or is saved is important. The material is secondary, the main thing is feeling. Mahavira described satisfaction and happiness as different elements. Each one has a distinct condition of its own. He clarified: what is regarded as happiness is momentary. For a moment one may get happiness but eventually, in course of time, the happiness could be turned into a long-time sadness.
Freedom Let us ponder over once again on one more dimension. Freedom and happiness, both had been cherished for a long time. Man has always been wanting to remain free and happy. To Mahavira and Gandhi, it is the absolute freedom which is desired.
First of all, personal freedom is essential. Where the freedom of a man is shackled, that situation is acceptable neither to