== PROUT: ANTIDOTE TO TODAY'S ECONOMICS ==
Namaskar,
As we enter into the culminating phase of the vaeshyan era, there are
many issues that abound. One is that the capitalist exploitation is
becoming more & more intense; and a second matter is that capitalism has
spread its web across the 7 seas such that now the strings of those
top-level vaeshyas wrap around nearly each and every community across
the globe. Then of course there is the use of the immigrant work-force
as well as corporations which outsource all their work to China and the
third-world nations etc. So many tricks and imbalances are there. Here
is a Proutistic look to a variety of these key issues.
CAPITALIST EXPLOITATION: WORKERS SUFFER
As we all see, capitalists are infamous for creating industry wherever
they can get the facilities. This is one black trait of their
exploitative ways. Because in their avarice they are only concerned with
cheap labor and low costs in order to maximize their own profit--
irregardless of what kind of reckless effect this has on the rest of the
region. And one of the negative off-shoots is that capitalists
mercilessly force innocent and hungry workers to go where the industry
is, thus leaving particular areas desolate and creating unrest all around.
Hence in their imbalanced and opportunistic methods capitalist
exploitation paints a bleak picture in multiple ways. Here is one such
example as it relates to our topic of immigration.
Baba says, "Where there is no proper economic development, surplus
labour develops. In fact all undeveloped economic regions suffer from
surplus labour, and when the surplus labour migrates to other regions
the region remains undeveloped forever." (PE, p.17)
Greedy capitalists then, intoxicated with the prospect of making money,
should not get scope to disrupt the whole economy and railroad all the
profits and resources into their own bank accounts. All the while
pressuring workers to migrate from place to place for their daily bread.
All in all, amongst other reasons, in capitalism big business swallows
up smaller ones and things are cheap but the money is tied up in the
hands of a few; so the common people cannot afford the commodities. Thus
money gets centralised in one area and the gap between rich and poor is
huge, almost insurmountable.
In contrast, Prout wants that there be an active economy with money
rolling in local areas. So that workers need not be subject to all
sorts of tortures and trials by having to move all around in search
of work. Rather a strong economy should be created in each and every
samaj and the various samajas should have relationships characterized
by coordinated cooperation. In that way, Prout is concerned with the
holistic development of the entire community.
SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROTECTS THE PEOPLE & INVITES GROWTH
Thus in grand fashion Baba has introduced His samaj theory based on
self-sufficient socio-economic units. In this system, industry gets
developed where there are raw materials and an existing labour force.
Where those living in an area get ample scope to work in that area, at
the same time keeping an open door policy to others interested in
residing in that samaj.
Hence in the Prout system raw materials are not wrongfully sent out from
the samaj so that other more powerful regions can get rich off those
resources. And secondly workers are not dragged out from their homes and
forced to travel hundreds of miles away. Rather the buildup of the samaj
system guarantees that people will get jobs locally close to home and
that others may freely immigrate to that very samaj-- or any other area
according to their liking, so long as they have become linked with the
socio-economic ways of that place. That is our policy.
Hence Prout is concerned with the needs of an area and is geared towards
making communities self-sufficient and the whole Prout philosophy is
working in the favour of the exploited mass-- so that the common people
can rise up and develop themselves.
About these above points Baba has given the following guideline.
Baba says, "Local people are those who have merged their individual
socio-economic interests with the socio-economic interests of the
socio-economic unit they live in...Those who have not done so should be
branded as outsiders."
"No outsider should be allowed to interfere in local economic affairs
or in the system of production and distribution, otherwise a floating
population will develop, causing outflow of economic wealth from the
area. If this occurs the area will become vulnerable to outside economic
exploitation and decentralized economy will be undermined." (PE, p.214-15)
THE PROTECTION OF LOCAL RESOURCES
Prout further advocates that goods should be produced and sold locally.
What is produced is for the local public to utilise.
However if export businesses do develop, then their finished products
must be sold directly in those markets. It is not that local raw
materials should get sucked up by an exploiting state or country such
that they can reap the benefit of that.
That means that natural resources should not be shipped out. The
refinement process should be handled in the locale. All these things
should be cared for. In that way, with a healthy economic base, people
will be able to freely choose where they wish to work and be provided
opportunity to stay in their home area.
Hence side by side the problems of immigration due to capitalist
exploitation which is now so common not only between countries but
within each and every state, province, and township-- all such negative
effects will be eliminated.
Baba says, "Howrah district, for example, produces sufficient crops in a
season to feed the local people for seventeen months, but due to
immigrant labour the produce is consumed in six and a half months. The
elimination of the floating population will also protect the social life
of the cooperative from the possibility of adverse social influences."
(PNS-14, p.49)
ECONOMIC FREEDOM PROVIDED TO ALL
Taken altogether then, everything should be provided within. In that way
there will be guaranteed employment for all. Laborers and workers should
not have to scour the earth in order to find employment. Hungry,
starving workers should not be pushed out from their own homes--
separated from their loved ones-- and forced to go far away in search of
a measly paying job.
Nor should laborers have to take extreme trouble to drive hours and
hours in order to get to work.
Jobs should be available locally so that people can live with their
families and make a proper income. And of course if anyone has an honest
desire to move to another area then they are welcome to do so. Prout
supports all these things.
However if greedy persons are trying to fill their own wallets by going
outside their area in order to exploit another samaj then that will not
be permitted.
Because Baba's Prout philosophy is for the welfare of all, especially
the common people, who for centuries have been exploited.
Baba says, "Local people must be given preference in employment, and all
local people should be locally employed. If this policy is followed,
there will be no surplus or deficit labour among the local people, and
if many people do come from outside areas, they will not find a place in
the local economy. Where a floating population exists in a particular
region, the outflow of capital remains unchecked and the economic
development of the area is undermined." (PE, p.221)
CONCLUSION
Hence Baba has given beautiful solutions to all sorts of socio-economic
problems in the form of self-sufficient samajas. Where production is
geared towards local consumption and where people get scope to live and
work in the comfort of their own area as well as have the option to move
to a new place should they so desire. These are all important aspects of
Prout's policy on the point of immigration.
Overall, Baba has given numerous clear-cut policies on this significant
matter of immigration. Which Baba has explained beautifully in so many
discourses. Please reference: 'Some Specialities of Prout's Economic
System', 'Decentralized Economy 1 & 2', 'Principles of Balanced
Economy', 'Economic Dynamics', 'Cooperatives', 'Agrarian Revolution' and
more. All these discourses are filled with Baba's golden Prout policies
for building up a great human society.
BABA'S BLESSING
Here following Baba guides us that Prout is the way of forward movement.
Baba says, "PROUT is dedicated to the service and welfare of one and
all. You should immediately build a one and indivisible human society
without further delay by popularising PROUT." (AFPS-8, p.50)
Baba says, "PROUT equips human beings with their own Prana Dharma and
thereby reinforces and strengthens their march along the path of progress."
(PNS-18, p.30)
Baba says, "PROUT is the panacea." (PNS-18, p.53)
Namaskar,
Vinay
Note 1: It should also be understood that in the Prout system, people
are entirely free to move from one country to the next, from one samaj
to another. In this regard, personal freedom and individual choice stand
at the forefront; people may travel & live where they desire. Indeed, so
long as one has merged their socio-economic interest with a particular
samaj, then that is enough to take up residence in that locale. In that
way people may live and work where they like.
Note 2: We know that Baba is the dharma Guru and that in each and every
sphere of life He has graciously bestowed upon us clear-cut guidelines
for how to proceed. And in our social life those guidelines have taken
shape in the form of Prout philosophy. Hence not just on the point of
immigration and labor issues, but from birth to death, from village life
to global government, from unit to collective, and from start to finish,
Baba has beautifully given us the way how to advance and move ahead.
Hence there is no question that Prout does not have any policies. Rather
Baba's precise, diamond-like strategies and pin-pointed teachings are
our polices. Indeed, it is by these very crystal clear policies that
Prout will be established and the entire humanity will grow and prosper.
Note 3: On and off these issues have arisen on our various Marga
networks and by Baba's grace this may help clarify some of the general
confusion on this topic. At the same time many, it will be very
wonderful to hear the views of all margiis on all these Proutistic type
of issues-- since it is very soon that the upcoming vacuum in the
socio-economic field will have to be filled with Prout.
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Suda'ma' and Arjuna
Baba says, "Arjuna and Suda'ma' were great devotees. But while comparing
their devotion by this yardstick, we have got to say that Suda'ma' was a
greater devotee than was Arjuna. You know the story in the Maha'bha'rata
– Arjuna refused to fight when Shrii Krs'n'a asked him to do so. This
shows that Arjuna did not have full faith in and complete surrender to
Shrii Krs'n'a. Had there been complete surrender, Arjuna would have done
as directed by Shrii Krs'n'a. On the other hand, we notice a complete
surrender by Suda'ma'. He never desired anything from Krs'n'a, his
sakha' [friend], who could have given him anything and everything.
Howsoever he was, he remained content. Even when his wife forced him to
go to Shrii Krs'n'a to request Him to remove his poverty, he went to him
but didn’t ask for a thing. Suda'ma' was a greater devotee than was
Arjuna." (AV-31)
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