The Economics of Giving,

the Law of Karma

Dr. P.V. Sesha Sai Ph.D.,
SIBM
Hyderabad
The Economics of giving
• The concept can be well understood with the following two sayings
• Bhishma’s advice to Yudhisthira in Mahabharata
• “Rulers should be like good householders. A common householder should extend hospitality to his
guests, a ruler should provide protection and support to the poor, the homeless, the destitute, the
old and the widowed”
• Arthur brook’s opinions expressed in the article in Portfolio 2007 issue.
• “Increase in GDP and charitable giving are directly proportional”
• Chanakya also advised Chandra Gupta Maurya to remain selfless and consider himself as a
custodian of the wealth of the kingdom. According to him the wealth belongs to people of the
kingdom.
• Harshavardhana and others also followed the same principle of economics of giving.
• Corporate and CSR
• Mahatma Gandhi’s views on CSR: Trusteeship theory
Concept od Shubh Laabh
• Shubh means good or pious
• Laabh means profits.
• Shubh laabh means earning profits through righteous manner.
• Laabh and Loabh are two sides of a coin.
• An individual who earns money through dishonest means has to spend that money
for curing ailments, giving bribes to come out of scandals, giving money to goons for
his protection etc.
• Similarly an organization earning money through unfair means has to face IT raids,
CBI and ED raids, court cases etc.
• This is what we call in Law of Karma as “What you sow you reap”
• Concept of Udyog: Udyog means an organization.
Udyog also means job.
• By engaging in actions with a sacred feeling, and
towards the greater common good, Udyog is meant
to take one towards yoga.
• The concept of “Use of wealth of a place of worship
for a greater common good is intrinsic in any culture”
• Out of the five activities which are to be regularly practiced in a temple two
are more important (Jnana daanam and Anna daanam)
• Kochi’s Ruler’s example.
• The first passenger rail traffic was introduced to the city in 1902.
• The funding of this project is given by the then ruler by selling gold of their
family temple in Tripunithura.
• N.S. Raghva (former joint managing director of Infosys) -- the spirit of
sharing.
• People share their belongings because they get happiness out of it.
• He narrated an incident happened in Mumbai.
ShadRipus
• All religions speak about tendencies (ShadRipus) that misdirect man from his
innate sense of perfection.
• Niran Jiyang’s ( CEO, Institute of human excellence in Australia) views on
possession of wealth.
• According to Hindu Scriptures
• Kama, krodha, lobha, moha (delusion), mada, matsarya- known as asuri sampada
• According to Christian Tradition- The seven cardinal sins
• Lust, gluttony (excess greed), greed, sloth (laziness), wrath, envy and pride
• According to Buddhist Philosophy 17 mental defilements.
• Video on root causes of 17 mental defilements
17 Defilements (Violations)
• abhijjha-visama-lobha: covetousness and unrighteous greed
• byapada: ill will
• kodha: anger
• upanaha: hostility or malice
• makkha: denigration/belittiling or detraction/abuse; contempt
• palasa: domineering or presumption/bossy
• issa: envy
• macchariya: jealousy, or avarice; selfishness
Contd
• maya: hypocrisy or deceit
• satheyya: fraud
• thambha: obstinacy, obduracy (Stubbornness)
• sarambha: presumption or rivalry; impetuosity or impulsiveness
• mana: conceit (Self-importance)
• atimana: arrogance, haughtiness
• mada: vanity or pride
• pamada: negligence or heedlessness; in social behaviour, this leads to
lack of consideration.
Law of Karma

• In Sanskrit Karma means action or deed.

• All religions believe that our actions are
responsible for the experiences we undergo
in the present as well as in the future.
• “As you sow, so shall you reap”(Bible)
• As per Sanatana Dharma there are three types of Karma.
• 1. Sanchita Karma 2. Aagami Karma 3. Prarbdha Karma
• Ex: Storage of water in a desert.
• If one tries to follow Satwik life, one can change his Sanchita Karma.
• The Law of Karma ensures accountability.
• An individual is responsible for whatever is happening to him.
• While Law of Karma holds us accountable for our past doings, it also
gives us an opportunity shape our future.
• VIDEOS ON Karma: Jaggi Vasudev, Rajan and others
Key points
• The economics of giving advises rulers and people to be selfless and share
whatever they can with their neighbours and fellow human beings.
• Shubh Laabh means earning profits in a righteous manner.
• Udyog means industry as well as job.
• The earning of wealth through unfair means will lead to sufferings in life, be
it individual or organization
• The concept of sharing suggests that one will get happiness by sharing his
possession however small they are.
• ShadRipus.
• Law of Karma says “what you sow you reap”