Jain Journal 2003 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 38

98
JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XXXVIII, NO. 2 OCT. 2003
Mahāvīra has categorised the level of personalities responsible for their own deed. Gaṇadhara, Śrutakevalī, Acārya, Upadhyaya and Sadhu were the stages of humans likewise. Mahāvīra's thoughts proved equally important whereby the democratic facade had to be oriented in a similar view. The mastermind group behind the selection committee and the paraphernelia of industries and business concerns ought to be in such an ethical manner. Mahāvīra himself showed the best path to rule, how to attain success ethically as an entrepreneur and his ways proved fruitful till now. Although in the Jaina religious conferences of early ages, amendments were being made by monks so that these immortal rules can become more global and more acceptable.
The political philosophy of the world and its related history verify that the five great vows or Pañca Mahāvrata along with Anekāntavāda is the basic way to develop the goodwill amongst one another and thereby enhance non-violence and tolerance at all cost. Mahāvīra's doctrines have proved to be the royal road for the development of every single human facade, whenever and however it may come. The doctrine of Aparigraha or non-acceptance is the key to the contemporary economic problems raging through the world. Ananda grhapati, a staunch follower of Mahāvīra, was so wise that established businessmen and people from all walks of life, used to come and receive his counselling. This man accepted the five mahāvratas, three gunavratas and four sikṣāvratas from Mahāvīra not by anybody's persuasion but by the inherent cause and effectual reaction of divine ethics. Now he had to distribute his resources and money to the people of the land for social development and welfare.
The global welfare is based on the platform of economic growth. The accumulation of more and more money in fewer hands have widened the gap between the haves and have nots. Everytime history remained witness to the plundering and massacring of the state whenever the economic state broke up. If only we follow the path of Aparigraha and act as Ananda did, we can stabilise the dwindling economy by ourselves. Live and let live has been Mahāvīra's primary teaching. The joyful existence of living beings side by side (parasparopagraho jīvānām) is the motto of today's world. Whenever this doctrine has been disobeyed the world has to pay a high price for it. The Industrial Revolution culminated the selfishness within one self which resulted in the tendency of accumulating more and more money. This unfortunate condition not only adversely affected the