Profit Motive vs Service Motive in Medicine

Date: Thu 01 Dec 2011 07:44:26 -0000 (GMT)
From: Pradiip Deva
Subject: Profit Motive vs Service Motive in Medicine
To: am-global@earthlink.net

Baba

Yare jiivane prathama bandhuya' eseche, bhuliya' giya'cyhi se tithi a'ja
Takhana ka'nane kusuma bhara' chilo, a'ra ha'site chilo se bidhu nila'ja

Malay a'siya' kaye gelo ka'n'e, ye bandhu eseche chalana' se ja'ne
A'ja  bha'lo ba'se ka'l na'hi a'se, du're theke ha'se se manora'ja

Ta'r khele ya'oya' padarajah pare manera madhurii diva-nishi jhare
Ma'nasamu'kure sei citcora ba're ba're heri pa'shari la'ja (PS #938)


Purport of Prabhat Samgiita #938:

I have forgotten the day when my Beloved Lord first came in my life. At that time the garden was full of flowers and the moon was smiling unabashedly.

The malay [1] came and whispered, "The Beloved who has arrived is Manora'ja [2], and knows how to play liila, so beware. Today He loves but tomorrow He will not come; instead, He will simply remain far and smile, seeing your longing."

With longing, my heart-felt love showers incessantly day and night on the dust of His feet [3]. Forgetting shyness, I behold that Cita Cor [4] in my mental mirror, again and again.

He is my everything...


NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #938:

[1] Malay: The sweet ocean breeze in the spring season that brings a gentle sense of tranquility and relief. It feels very comfortable and offers a soothing touch to all in its path.

[2] Manora'ja: In this role, Parama Purusa is the Lord of Mind and does according to His desire. Parama Purusa has infinite attributions one of which is Manora'ja where He exercises His own will. He acts according to His own feeling. He does according to His wish.

[3] Line Meaning: Here the sadhaka is expressing his full love and longing to attain Him. With that burgeoning love and yearning for His close proximity, the aspirant focuses all his energy towards Parama Purusa, and holds His lotus feet and cries. This deeply devotional urge represents the sadhaka's melancholic longing to have Him close.

[4] Citcor: In His role as 'Citcor' (ciita = mind; cor = thief), Baba is the Thief or Stealer of the devotee's mind. He captivates their mind and attracts the bhakta with His incomparable charm. Here the point is that when a person falls in love with someone then they automatically think of their beloved, whether they want to think about them or not. They have no control over it. The mind just rushes in that direction at every opportunity. Even if one tries to withdraw the mind and not think in that way, still the mind rushes towards their beloved. This happens both in worldly life and in devotional life. In both circumstances, in a poetic way, it is said that my beloved stole my mind - stole my heart. Why, because when a person falls in love, then their mind is no longer their own, it rushes cent per cent after their beloved. This is the way it works, both in crude, mundane infatuation as well as with  deep, devotional yearning. Just as this happens with two worldly lovers, it also happens between the devotee and their Beloved Lord. That is what it is said that one of the roles of Parama Purusa is Citcor, because He steals the mind of His bhakta.

Stanza by Stanza Explanation of Prabhat Samgiita #938:

In first stanza of this song the devotee is reminiscing of the sweet memories of having come in close contact with His Beloved Lord. That time everything was very beautiful. The sky was a deep, rich blue, the air was fresh, the birds were chirping sweetly - everything was in perfect harmony and balance. The whole environment was drenched in His blissful vibration.

In the second stanza, the malay (sweet, spring, ocean breeze) is whispering and warning the devotee about the nature of His beloved Lord. The malay warns that today Your Beloved may be close but tomorrow He will go far. Such is His liila.

In the third stanza, the devotee is expressing his melancholic longing and wistfully thinks how his days are passing in agony, yearning for Him. The sadhaka sees Him in his mental mirror and that is quite natural. Because whenever anyone longs for something - whether it be food, an automobile, the opposite sex or anything else - then a picture of that object / being is created in the mind. So even though that person does not posses that item / person, they always see it in their mind. Same is the case in the field of devotion. The bhakta may not have Baba close, but due to extreme longing, each and every moment the bhakta sees Him in their mental plate. That is the way longing works; it creates an image in the mind.

Related Points of Prabhat Samgiita #938

(A) When a sadhaka is first initiated he often feels His grace and divine bliss, otherwise that aspirant will not continue on the path. But those early experiences may not always continue. Naturally, in the life of an Ananda Margii sometimes one feels that the flow is very good flow and that sadhana blissful, and sometimes the mind is dry and sadhana is difficult. In this way the mind fluctuates.

(B) In this song, the sadhaka recollects when the mind was very soft and filled with the blissful ideation of Parama Purusa. But at present the sadhaka's mind is dry and longs for those golden days of old. Then the sadhakas recounts what the malay warned about earlier: "Your Dear One likes to play hide and seek and that is why He is not coming." Now this warning has become true.

Even then it should be kept in mind that this type of longing is not indicative of a totally dry mind. To the contrary, the dry mind does not care about Parama Purusa. Whereas a mind that longs for Him is a mind that will soon have His close proximity. The

(C) Finally, in this song the sadhaka is communicating with Parama Purusa as a third person. He is telling his tales and reminiscences and the One listening is Parama Purusa Himself. The sadhaka is not talking to any third person. As we all know this same type of interaction was done both in general darshan and reporting. Sadhakas would often use the term Parama Purusa when in Baba's presence as a ways of referring to Him. This occurred when explaining Prabhat Samgiita in the pandal during DMC and in so many other ways and occasions.

== PROFIT MOTIVE VS SERVICE MOTIVE IN MEDICINE ==

Namaskar,
In this peak season of capitalism, the profit motive is reigning supreme in all realms of life-- including in the field of medicine where greed and stock-piling money has become the norm. That is why many say that the once noble field of 'treating the sick' has turned into nothing but a profit-seeking 'medical industry'-- where the chase for the dollar is
utmost.

Needless to say, this has spelled d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r for patients throughout the globe. Because doctors no long focus on the needs of the patient but rather on how their own medical business can be more profitable-- the outcome of which is most ugly.

Of course in our Proutistic model-- which most definitely is going to take shape soon on this earth-- is geared towards serving others. The motive will be 'do where and when it is needed for the welfare of the patient'; not 'do, whether it is needed or not, in order to make a profit'. Hence our Prout is based on service psychology. And we will discuss the ramifications of this in the field of medicine.

First let us see how this profit motive manifests itself in today's medical industry.

DOCTORING FOR DOLLARS

From the US to Bali to Buenos Aires to Kolkata, the field of medicine has turned into a profit-making machine. And there are all kinds of tricks done in order to secure a greater margin of income.

For example in India, where the number of doctors far surpasses the number of paying patients, doctors have a shortage clients, i.e. the market is not big. In that case, doctors regularly perform operations and administer medicines that are not at all needed. Arm surgery or an open-heart operation will be performed solely for the doctor's wallet and not because that is in the patient's best interest. That is but one of the horrors going on in India.

Another ploy that is occurring is that quack doctors-- those who are below average and cannot get patients-- will give a commission to rickshaw wallahs and tour guides etc if they bring patients to their office. Thus when a person new in town gets sick or injured-- whether they be a villager or an overseas tourist-- then they will be led to this quack doctor. All because this doctor is resorting to seedy means in order to 'drum up business'.

In the US, the scandals are occurring on a much larger level. Often times doctors themselves are just turned into laborers in the hands of hospital officials & business executives. That is one epidemic. The other is that doctors will order a myriad of expensive tests just to create a large bill-- which will either go to the patient, insurance company, or both. And behind close doors, pharmaceutical giants are giving pressure and incentives to doctors who prescribe their drugs. These are but a few of the many ills occurring in the scandalous medical industry in the US.

Side by side, medical researchers will not investigate cures to diseases that are less commonly known for the sheer reason that there are less patients-- i.e. less customers-- suffering from that type of disease. Whereas, every pharmacy under the sun is inventing more and more high blood pressure medicines-- that are essentially unneeded-- because there is huge money to be made in arena. So that which is needed is not done and that is not needed is done. All because of the might dollar and profit-motive way of doctoring.

Thus we see a variety of schemes by today's medical industry in order to maximise profits-- and in all cases the one who suffers & pays the most is the patient.

BABA'S EXAMPLE OF DOCTOR PRACTICES

Here below Baba Himself points out what injustices doctors do to their patients in order to bankroll their medical business.

Baba says, "Of all the doctors you have come across, how many are idealistic and dutiful? If you visit a doctor, he will prescribe strong medicines for a light illness. This will inevitably be the case if he owns his own dispensary." (HS-1)

By Baba's own example, it is clear that the today's medical industry is in a dire state, if not a pathetic condition.

PROUT IS COMING

But this negative state of affairs surrounding the medical industry will not last forever-- things will get better as the greediness of capitalism fades away and the ideals of Prout are introduced.

Some Ananda Margiis may be thinking that this is a pipe dream only. Because when Prout net itself is on the fritz, and when our top Prout Dadas are enmeshed in economic shams, and when our Prout journals are a thing of the past, and when in so many ways our Prout movement is seemingly losing momentum, then some may be thinking that Prout will never make it onto the scene.

But actually great headway is being made.

Because, a shift is occurring with margiis and acaryas around the globe. In response to the groupism, now more than ever there is a call to bring Baba's ideas to the forefront. And more and more are studying Baba's writings and sharing His teachings with others. Plus the society is also suffering under the grip of capitalism and is ready for a new direction.

Due to all these reasons and more, the wave of Prout has started and it will not be long before its implementation occurs at a rate faster than we can maintain. So our Prout is most certainly on the way-- about this there should not be any doubt.

WHAT SHAPE IT WILL TAKE

Then question then what are the types of changes we will see in the medical industry. Here Baba gives a glimpse of what lies ahead and what we can expect to see with regards to the practice of medicine and health care.

Baba says, "Doctors should start service cooperatives. These cooperatives may also be called physicians service cooperatives. Suppose a doctor is not able to open his own practice, he may form a service cooperative with five or ten other doctors. Such a cooperative is an intellectual service cooperative. Doctors who have less capital and cannot afford to establish their own practice can also work in this type of cooperative. Such a system will solve the unemployment problem of doctors. In addition, doctors can start research through these cooperatives." (PNS-18)

Thus when doctors form cooperatives and are not at the mercy of the almighty dollar, then the field of medicine will embark into a new era. And not only doctors cooperatives, but there will be so many deep-seeded changes that will spell the end to the present-day profit-oriented medical businesses and give rise to community oriented health-care services where the welfare of the patient is first and foremost.

And verily that is the main difference between Prout and capitalism-- the seed outlook of life. Irregardless of all the plans and programs, the basic vision of Prout and Capitalism differs in their most fundamental appeal. Prout mandates that the need of the day should be addressed in order to serve the people, whereas capitalism dictates that business should be done where there is the opportunity to make a profit. And these are wholly oppositional outlooks.

That is why as the Proutistic model presents in the social life, there will be widespread changes quite quickly. And these will become apparent in the field of medicine and health care as well.

BABA'S GRACE

By Baba's grace our Prout system is going to come along. The public needs it; our Marga is destined to do it; and it is Baba's will. So none should despair or adopt a capitalistic mentality. The vision of Prout is on the way. And with it today's profit oriented medical industry will be revamped into a service-oriented approach that addresses the true needs
of the people.

Baba says, "PROUT is well-adjusted with human ideals and sentiments. Other socio-economic systems are ultravires to human existence and all-round elevation." (AFPS-9)

Namaskar,
Pradiip

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Fate of Egotistical People

Baba says, "It is only when the human beings, become puffed up with vanity and misuse the power granted to them by Parama Purus'a, that He steals everything from them. Hence, He is called Darpaha'rii - the stealer of vanity...Vain people suffer a similar fate when their vanity is destroyed as the balloon faces when its air is let out. But, does Parama Purus'a snatch away everything from everyone? No, He takes away only when the unit beings try to create obstructions in the flow of His creation." (APH-4, p. 247)
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