ARE WESTERN DEMOCRACIES
THE GUIDING LIGHT OF MORALITY?
Namaskar,
Each and every moment that transpires in the materialistic western
democracies like the US brings new ordinances and laws that depict the
growing distrust and suspicion in these societies.
"Background" checks have become routine; students pass through metal
detectors to enter their school; picture id's must be carried
everywhere; and, so many more things are done which reveal the
superficial unity of these western democracies.
THE "GLORY" OF WESTERN CAPITALISM
Even then it is the capitalist-run democracies of the west project the
image around the globe that it is they who have the patent on humanity:
As if everything that goes on in these lands is the defining standard of
society, i.e. the way it should be.
They think that they are the leaders in all respects including on points
of morality and human rights. Having grown up in one of these "leading
western democracies", it is clear that this type of idea has saturated
the soil of such countries.
For these reason and others, since WW II-- to the naive observer-- it
looks like capitalism is the winning ticket.
MATERIALISM IS A HOLLOW APPROACH
But we Ananda Margiis know that the materialistic approach of capitalism
is intrinsically flawed to the very bone. Not only can't capitalism keep
itself afloat financially, but it creates a distinct rift or distrust in
the human society. Because in the materialistic outlook of capitalism,
there is very little faith or regard for one's fellow human beings.
Baba says, "Materialism functions by imposing social pressure on people
to enjoy material objects; and accepts that as the only mode of
operation. Thus, in materialistic countries or societies, people look at
one another with suspicion and act according to the information given by
the intelligence agencies. In absence of spiritual ideas, firmness of
morality cannot be established. The apparent morality in a materialistic
society is nothing but an immoral alliance to protect self-interests."
(PNS-6, p.59)
By Baba's above teaching it is clear that the defective approach of
capitalism completely undermines human & moral values and leads people
down the dark alley of distrust, phobia, and suspicion. Steeped in their
own selfishness, people become completely alienated from one another.
ARROGANCE OF THE WEST
However since long common citizens in our so-called advanced countries
of the west have been thinking that they hold higher moral values than
people in our so-called third world nations. Here it is common for
people to look down upon those in the "developing nations". In their
arrogance, westerners feel they are more "cultured" and "civilised" than
our eastern counterparts. But the truth is that in our materialistic
western countries morality is only skin deep. And that is what Baba
exposes in so many of His teachings.
That is not to say that there are no redeeming qualities in the west,
but on whole it is quite clear that our western democracies are not the
beacon light of humanity, as they would like everyone to think.
NOT MORALITY: JUST FEAR OF GETTING CAUGHT
Sure enough, superficially it looks like capitalistic western society is
very advanced and orderly and that everyone is quite particular in their
behavior and dealing. This is the external show of capitalism. But upon
closer examination we can see that only due to fear of the authorities
do people follow the rules. They are just scared of getting caught--
there is no higher ideal in their mind.
And the proof is that when the police are not strictly watching them,
then even regular citizens start indulging in so many illegal and
immoral misdeeds. This is evidenced by various incidents such as the
terrible looting which happened in New Orleans and Houston during
Hurrican Katrina, where people were rampantly stealing and committing
sexual crimes like rape -- all because the police were not there to stop
them.
Thus only out of their selfish desire not to get caught do our western
citizens refrain from stealing. And when their selfish mind tells them
that the gains to be had from stealing outweigh the potential hazards or
chances of getting caught, then they move in that negative direction.
Thus, the social fabric which keeps society together is very low--
almost non-existent.
In contrast in our "third-world" countries we do not see such type of
outbreaks. The common people do not start stealing just because the
police are not watching. If that were the case then they would be
stealing night and day-- because the police are not able to monitor
everyone so strictly like in the west. But common people do not sink
themselves in immoral activities.
HIGHER STANDARD IN "THIRD WORLD" NATIONS
Hence although in the so-called third world countries the people's lives
are difficult materially, but with their own conscience they basically
follow the social rules. No authority figure or policeman is there
watching them-- forcing them to follow. It is not like that. So the
social order achieved in the less materialistic societies is based upon
the moral fiber of the people, not on the threat of being put in jail.
In contrast in our west, many citizens break the everyday rules whenever
they get the opportunity. That is, crimes often are committed simply
because people think they will not get caught. So when the authorities
are not directly watching or threatening them, then common citizens
indulge in looting or theft etc. And if those same people from these
so-called advanced countries were living in third-world countries where
there are less police authorities to watch them, then they would commit
exponentially more crimes.
THE PEOPLE ARE NOT INHERENTLY BAD;
THE PHILOSOPHY IS DEFECTIVE
Here the point is not that all the people in materialistic countries are
inherently bad and those in so-called developing nations are better.
Rather the key issue is that materialistic philosophies like capitalism
lead to the degradation of the human psyche.
Of course in the east the people are guided by various dogmas in the
religious sphere etc, but on the point of morality they are
comparatively better. Because to the degree people are not engrossed in
materialism, the better they will be on the point of morality.
And of course to become a true exemplar for the society one must follow
the path of spirituality.
ROOT CAUSE OF NEGATIVITY OF MATERIALISM
The question that strikes in the mind is why is it that materialism has
such a disastrous effect on the human mind, whereby people become so
cynical and suspicious of one another. And the answer is that
materialism dictates that mundane things are everything. There is
nothing beyond that. Yet the people see that there are only a finite
number of material objects in this world. So this causes two negative
tendencies: greed and fear.
Out of greed people feel that they should grab things quickly before
their neighbor gets those things. Secondly, their mind is always
coloured in the fear that there will be a shortage. Thus with these two
psychic diseases prevalent, then the whole society becomes imbalanced
and people walk around wary of one another-- worried about what the
other is going to grab.
MORE NEGATIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MATERIALISTIC COUNTRIES
So inside and out, materialistic western countries are riddled with
doubt and suspicion. That is why when every baby is born in the west
their fingerprint is taken and now authorities are also demanding that a
sample of every baby's DNA be taken at the time of birth. All for the
purpose of law enforcement because there is no hope or faith that the
new members of society will grow up to be benevolent citizens. Rather
the basic assumption is not to trust anyone-- even new-borns. In that
way the materialistic nations are totally trustless, ravaged by the
thorns of selfishness and fear etc.
NO HARMONY IN THE SOCIAL LIFE
Here Baba reveals how despite the apparent gains of our western
materialistic society, there is no harmony in the social life.
Baba says, "The West is completely obsessed with physical
development...it has made so much material progress...But for all that,
it is not socially content." (PNS-18)
BABA'S BLESSING
AM IS THE PATHWAY FOR SOCIAL WELFARE
Only the pristine and sublime approach of our Marga can create peace and
welfare for the entire society and planetary world.
Baba says, "The socio-economic philosophy of Ananda Marga calls for the
elimination of capitalism. It clearly emphasizes the need to fulfill
minimum economic needs and create an ideal congenial social environment
in which there will be maximum utilization of collective wealth and the
rational distribution of resources to solve all economic problems. Every
human being will get ample opportunity to follow Pra'na
Dharma'....Ananda Marga wants to establish the Pra'na Dharma of the
entire universe, and the Ananda Marga philosophy has been conceived to
that end." (TK-2)
Namaskar,
Punya'tman
Note 1: JUST ONE SUPERFICIAL SHOW
Here Baba clearly explains how fake morality or materialistic morality
is totally fleeting-- not at all dependable.
Baba says, "The show of morality, may at any moment break down...The
morality of a moralist may disappear at any moment. It cannot be said
with any certainty that the moralist who has resisted the temptation of
a bribe of two rupees would also be able to resist the temptation of an
offer of two hundred thousand rupees." (GHC, 'Introduction')
Note 2: SPIRITUAL VALUES NEEDED
Baba says, "Without spiritual ideals true morality based on universal
love cannot be awakened." (PNS-16)
Note 3: BABA'S FINAL WARNING
Baba says, "Materialism can never be the base of human life in any
country because it is detrimental to the all-round development of human
beings." (PNS-7, p.56)
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Why Some Intellectuals Are Fools?
Baba says, "When the human mind is filled with positive tendencies, it
integrates everything which it receives as real and claims that it has
seen an object-an elephant or a camel. Now suppose that the mind is
obsessed with negative tendencies, what happens? In that case, though
the mind projects an elephant within, it cannot experience that
elephant. Even if the mind thinks of it, still it cannot see that
object. Because of this psychic defect or disorder, the mind suffers
from positive or negative hallucinations. In your mental thoughts as
well sometimes such positive or negative hallucinations can occur.
Obviously, whatever an intellectual thinks in his or her arena of
intellect is complete defective. There always remain scope for doubt in
intellectuality. So intellectuality is also baseless because the very
movement of the ectoplasm is baseless." (PNS-14, p.18-19)
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