The Economy of Permanence: A Quest for a Social Order Based on Non-violence (स्थायी अर्थतन्त्र)

Economy of Permanence
III. TYPES OF ECONOMIES IN NATURE
This complete non-violent co-operation between the various units is not always
present in all forms of life. Some units, instead of passing through the different
stages in nature drawing their sustenance from the elements and insentient
creatures, short- circuit the long process by preying on their fellow creatures.
Here too, violence interposes with its accompaniment of destruction.

1. Parasitic Economy: Some plants live on others and become parasites. Often
   the host tree, or plant, dies in consequence of all the nourishment drawn by
   its roots not reaching its various parts, as it is robbed on the way by the
   parasitic growth. This also leads to violence and death. Among the animals,
   the sheep eats grass and drinks water and exists non-violently, while the
   tiger short-circuits the process of nature by feeding on the sheep, drinking
   its blood, introducing violence and basing its whole existence on it. Here
   violence becomes an essential part of the life of the tiger.
2. Predatory Economy: When a unit in nature benefits itself without
   conferring a corresponding advantage to another unit it is said to be
   predatory. A monkey comes into a mango grove, to the existence of which it
   has not contributed anything by either digging, planting or watering, but
   enjoys the fruits on the trees. It acts in self-interest but without a
   contribution. This form of economy may be less violent than the previous
   one, but nevertheless, it is destructive.
3. Economy of Enterprise: Some creatures take what they need while
   performing some distinct service to the unit from which they derive their
   benefit, and while thus contributing to the product, they take something
   that is of their own effort and making. In the case of the honey bees, they
   fertilize the flowers from which they gather the nectar and pollen, and
   convert the nectar into honey, and store these products in combs built by
   themselves with wax produced out of their secretion. These creatures are
   not parasitic as they help the unit from which they draw benefit instead of
   killing it. They are also not predatory as they contribute their own share and
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