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

Economy of Permanence
V. USE AND MISUSE OF FREEWILL
The life of man today is so complex that it is not possible, within the range of
this book, to take notice of all the activities resulting from the exercise of his
freewill. All that we can attempt is a limited consideration of a few outstanding
types, directly arising out of such primary needs as hunger, thirst etc., leaving
it to the reader to explore other instances coming within his ken, and to judge
for himself what is the proper use of freewill called for, and to what result its
improper use leads on each of those occasions.
Hunger: Let us take the highly urgent call-the most elemental instinct of
hunger. The physical body of an animal is like a machine. It requires fuel to
supply the necessary energy to run it, needs repairs and renewals to replace
wear and tear and to maintain it in working condition, and oil to lubricate its
various moving parts to lessen friction. These needs are indicated by the feeling
of hunger. The sense of smell and taste direct the animal to the things that will
satisfy the need and keep the body in sound working order.
Generally, all animals that lead a natural life follow their instincts. They eat to
live and are healthy. Man too can do likewise. But, unfortunately for him, in
many cases man uses* his freewill, not to appease his hunger but to pander to
his palate with overcooked and highly spiced savoury dishes. The enjoyment of
taste frequently makes him eat more than is necessary. He lives to eat. This
misuse of freewill to gratify his tongue is often the cause of most of the
ailments modern man is heir to. Over-eating not only taxes the digestive system
and causes irregularities, but, even nutritive food in excess of normal needs,
becomes injurious and even poisonous to the system and gives rise to all kinds
of disease resulting in much pain and probably in premature death.
Thirst: When food is digested, it is absorbed in liquid form. The nutritive
elements are carried by the blood stream to the regions where they are needed
and the waste from the body tissues etc., is also transported by it to the lungs,
where the waste matter is eliminated by being burnt up with the oxygen of the
air we breathe in. In the process, a good deal of the water of the blood
www.mkgandhi.org Page 19