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wealthy section have plenty of food, clothing and bank balances yet they are struggling bard to aungment and increase what they have had, struggling restlessly. On the other hand there is the sweeting mass, toiling and moiling for scanty meals. There is again a third class of men, the 80 called middle class people, who bave got to put up the appearance of the wealthy section whereas in reality they are as poor, if not poorer than the labour class, and their condition is really miserable.
One viow in this connection has been that the needy and hungry exploited mass should openly rise up and 808tch away the riches of the rich by force. The other is to vest all wealth in the state to take away the excess wealth from the rich and distribute it in accordance with the needs of the people. The present day socialism suggests that every man at certain stage of his life should stop to earn more,
The life of the great Jaina Teacher Shri Vira shows that from bis very childbood, he was extremely ubaggressive and non-acquiring disposition. For one full year before his Renunciation of the world, he was giving away all bis wealth and at the time of asetic life be distributed the very clothes and ornamnets, wbich be had on his body and when be attained the final self-reali. sation, bo went on witbout any focd.
He gave away all that he did not want, not because he was compelled to do so but because of bis own free will and choice. The life of Shri Vira tbus teaches us a lesson, which tbe modern Socialism would profit by always remembering that in order that u buman being may voluntarily consent for an equal distribution of wealtb, bis character and not merely external atmosphere should be built up in a appropriate manner.
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Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
