== BABA'S WARNING ==
Namaskar,
About a week ago, the high-profile US President put his signature and
approval on embryonic stem cell research.
This fateful decision stands as the latest of many tell-tale signs how
today's modern society is totally out of balance and rushing headlong
towards destruction. That is Baba's dire warning.
We must pay heed to Guru's teachings on the relationship between
civilization and science and educate the masses and intellectuals about
what is to be done. Failing that, so many problems will come - even our
demise.
BABA'S GUIDELINE ABOUT SCIENCE AND CIVILIZATION
In His teaching, Baba guides us that there must be harmony between
science and civilization and warns us that when science is dominant then
that society is doomed.
Baba says, "How does the development of civilization take place?
Civilization has an intimate relation with science. They progress
together. But where scientific progress supersedes civilization, there
civilization meets its Waterloo." (AFPS-6)
WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY
Unfortunately today, there are countless displays where science has the
extreme upper hand on civilization.
In the name of scientific progress, embryonic stem cell research has
been given the green light by Obama and so many European countries. Thus
we see that for the sake of "scientific research", human life may be
utterly disregarded. Just as in our Marga we do not support abortion,
similarly we do not support embryonic stem cell research as it
obliterates a living human embryo. Yet in today's era where science is
on top, this inhumane approach is being highly funded and sanctioned.
And there are so many examples of how science is dominant over
civilization. To clarify, Baba has defined civilization in the following
way.
Baba says, "The subtle sense of refinement that we come across in the
different expressions of life is called civilization." (PNS-6)
Civilization occurs then when the finer and more subtle human
expressions are encouraged in society. But today, science is destroying
this entirely.
In addition to the case of embryonic stem cell research, we commonly see
how science is used for pornography as the internet, film industry and
public advertisements are littered with sexually erotic and debased images.
Then of course, science has utterly failed to properly address critical
issues that concern our humanity like starvation, infant mortality as
well as various diseases in so-called third-world nations like cholera,
tuberculosis, malaria etc. We have the scientific and technological
means to end these dire problems, but science is not used in this way.
To cite more cases of the misuse of science, today we see that
scientific studies will stoop so low to even pay poor people but a few
pennies to risk their health, and even their life, to experiment on
dangerous new drugs and medicines.
Likewise, science has reduced animals to mere commodities in their
brutal ways of animal research.
Or it is used nearly exclusively to invent weapons to kill and destroy
other people. At present, huge budgets are given to defense contractors
for inventing more and more tools of war. This is another grave matter.
Taken altogether, there is no shortage of evidence how the use of
science has totally upended our human civilization. Often, the finer and
more precious human sentiments have been steamrolled by science.
That is why Baba has made the following declaration.
Baba says, "In the present age, civilization is on the wane due to
science enjoying the pride of place." (PNS-6)
NO CIVILIZATION CAN SURVIVE THIS
But we have to be a thousand times careful and reverse our course.
Allowing science to degrade our human stature and fill the world with
vices like sex, pornography, gambling, disease, etc does not bode well
for our humanity.
In the past, no civilization could survive once science gained the upper
hand over civilization.
Baba says, "Take, for instance, the history of Egypt and Greece. So long
as the scientific progress of these two countries did not supersede
civilization, civilization prospered very well. But when the ingredients
of enjoyment grew up in abundance, the civilization of both countries
got destroyed, because science had occupied a higher position than
civilization." (AFPS-6)
Tragically, we see a similar thing unfolding in our present-day society.
The degraded, ways of capitalism, materialism, debauchery, and
indulgence are fast spreading all over the globe. In this way the
misutilisation of science is ruining and demolishing our finer human
expressions, i.e. civilization.
DEFECTIVE JUSTIFICATIONS
Why has science superseded civilisation. Some greedy people are
profiting from it and always because once civilisation declines then it
spirals quickly in that negative direction.
In addition there are a few common justifications.
Many people think that "Whatever science is doing that is fine - science
has put a man on the moon and invented the internet so let science
continue."
In that way they give science a free pass to do as it pleases. Thur
there is no moral check on what science is doing. Just people pay a
blind eye toward science.
Another common mistake is that people think, "My religion does not
support this type of scientific research", but then they do not
adamantly oppose that research if others do it. No doubt some Christian
Fundamentalists oppose abortion and embryonic stem cell research, but on
most issues such as the degradation of women and countless other ways
that science is ruling society, they keep quiet. And in many
circumstances, even in the case of abortion and embryonic stem cell
research, they think if others do then let it be.
THE ONLY WAY OUT
Here Baba outlines what needs to be done and how science should be
harnessed.
Baba says, "What is science? That which teaches the proper use of
material things is science. Where the development of civilization is
utterly negligible and science gradually attains the apogee of
development, science only paves the way for destruction instead of doing
any good to humanity. And so, study and practice of science, though
unavoidable, should not be given a higher place than civilization." (AFPS-6)
Thus, there should be clear-cut restrictions on what science can and
cannot do. Science must not be allowed to destroy human life - whether
in the form of the senseless use of megaton bombs or the tactics of
embryonic stem cell research. Plus science should not be used to goad
humans toward baser propensities like pornography, liquor, and gambling,
etc.
This is the absolute need of the day - there must be a strong moral call
governing the ways of science. We must pay heed to Baba's warning lest
our humanity meets its Waterloo.
IT WILL BE GOOD FOR SADHANA
Once a balance is achieved between science and civilization, then many
good things will result, including a more sadhana oriented society.
Baba says, "If science and civilization are harmonized, intuitional
progress gets accelerated. Therefore, people of wisdom should proceed
and progress, blending these two. It is useless to think of intuitional
progress without effecting the harmony between the two." (AFPS-6)
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace, He has given the teachings of Ananda Marga to guide
society in all the ways. With His krpa, we will succeed in reining in
the negative ways of science and ensuring that science is strictly used
in a manner that benefits and enhances society.
Baba says, "In the present age, civilization is on the wane due to
science enjoying the pride of place. But developed as science is today,
if civilization is pushed up again to the top, people can reach a
greater height than ever before." (AFPS-6)
Namaskar,
Balakrsna
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Importance of Padma'sana
Baba says, "Padma'sana [lotus posture] is just like a lotus in full
bloom. Just as the roots and stem of the lotus remain under the water
and only the leaves and flowers float about it-- and although it is born
in the mind it sustains its love for the stars-- in the same way people
sitting in this lotus posture and remaining in the world, can keep
their minds above their mundane environment. That is why on the path of
sa'dhana' this posture has tremendous importance." (NSS, '85, p.241)
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