Gyandhara 05

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Saurashtra Kesari Pranguru Jain Philosophical and Literary Research Centre

Page 60

© One should put a limit on one's personal consump
tion. One should not buy or consume or accumulate things which are ont necessary for his livelihood. One should put a voluntary limit on accumulation of wealth. If he is fortunate to earm more than this limit by his skill, dexterity or labour, he should consider himself as a trustee of that extra wealth, rather than considering himself as owner of it.
Economics is the science of material prosperity while the voluntary limitation of accumulation of wealth is the science of peace as prescribed by Mahaveer. Man does need economic resources - both natural resources and man made products - both of which are necessarily limited. Now if majority of these are owned and or controlled by a few individuals or nations, there will be imbalance of economic affluence and economic power. This will always lead to unrest. Greed, tendency of wanton spending and uncontrolled consumption of the rich have pushed up the prices of basic necessities. The tendency to purchase certain things at any cost-just because of the fancy of the rich and their capacity - has sent the prices sky - rocketing beyond the reach of the ordinary man. LIFE STYLE PRESCRIBED BY MAHAVEER
Mahaveer prescribed a life style of balancing. He advocated the principle of self-discipline, restraint, abnegation, sacrifice and voluntary limitation of accumulation of wealth. He said that initially wants arise from hunger, and then the wants themselves turn into hunger - hunger for more wealth, more accumulation, more consumption, leading to loss of direction and peace. The root of the problem lies in our lifestyle propelled by competitive modern economics which is ŞLIGEIRI -4 SSSS 49 Sss id milècu şiiotza-4