________________
44 Universal Message of Lord Mahāvīra
9
Lord Mahāvīra said in Uttaradhyayana-sūtra, "Where there is inner desire for material gain and possession of worldly objects of enjoyments, there is greed." This greed results in possessing more and more material objects. There is a clear link between accumulation for its own sake and restlessness. The theory of self-interest for self-promotion lacks human values.
The modern world of consumer articles has become so overpowering that no average person can remain unaffected by it. In such a set up of indifference to the world of objects is only seen in the present scenario as a psychological abnormality. As a consequence, people with limited means are developing such traits that are inimical to the individuals in particular and to society in general. The crime rate is now becoming alarmingly high. Consumerism with its hypnotising characteristics makes people blindly imitate others, taking the shape of a kind of masshysteria in people. Economic growth thus leads to psychological and moral degeneration. Disturbance of mental peace, envy, exploitation of others, jealously etc., are the natural consequences of growing consumerism.
There is, therefore, a need to see the world and our very selves in a new light. Rampant materialistic desires are the natural result of a mechanistic scientific worldview that defines human as a biological machine, which has come by chance in a cosmos devoid of divine guidance and purpose.
Towards the Solution
Seeing that the world is leading towards environmental catastrophe, violence and hatred in different groups makes one wonder if it is possible to make the life of the people peaceful and
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
