A’ca’rya Shambhu’shiva’nanda Avadhu’ta
Human history has witnessed the rise and fall of many civilizations, empires and kingdoms: the Mongolian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Roman Empire, the British Empire and now the American Empire. Old yields to the new. The yearnings of the human heart manifest and give birth to a new age. In each age, the ‘old’ power crumbles before the ‘new’.
There was a time when Vaclav Havel was a prisoner, and when times changed he became the President of Czech Republic. History is replete with instances of such yuga-parivartans (changes of times, shifts in the collective psychology). At one time Communism dominated the world scene, and when times changed it was thrown into the dustbin of history. Today we are living in a vaeshyan-yuga (a capitalist era), dominated by self-centered, matter-centered, and dogma-centered ideologies. It is the dictum of history that when socio-economic-political systems fail to serve the needs of the global citizens, they must ultimately be replaced and a new age emerges.
Sentiments play a key role in moulding one’s psychological make up. Just as individuals possess their unique mental make-up, society also possesses a group or collective psychology. In managing the affairs of society, group psychologies play a key role. This is most evident in the political leaders that we elect or choose to govern our nations or communities. They ultimately create collective samskaras (group karma, reactive momenta) that we all have to face or undergo. Among the different sentiments that are usually at play are: religious sentiments (attachment to a belief system), geo-sentiment (attachment to a geographical area), or concern only for one’s own species with a total lack of empathy for the interests of other species. When political power and lack of empathy combine, they bring havoc in society, and the result is ugly wars, widespread violence, destruction of the environment, economic subjugation, and the rise of fascist and dictatorial regimes. Today, we are once again encountering such a situation in different parts of the world. It is a scary scene and destroys the peace of all inhabitants of the earth. There seems to be little hope for sanity.
When hopelessness and helplessness begin to reign, and it appears that a long dark night is ahead of us, we should never lose hope. Every dark night is followed by a crimson dawn. No yuga (age) lasts forever. Yuga-parivartan (shift in the collective psychology) is an inevitable result of clashes and cohesions among different warring interest groups. It is a perfect moment to pause and reflect on the root causes of conflicts and find an enlightened pathway for the future for all times. A cosmopolitan outlook is the need of the hour.
First of all, human beings need to recognize that none of us are here to live forever. We are only custodians of the bounties of nature and not the true owners. So, any system that claims ownership of the wealth of this world is built on a myopic, shallow understanding. The creator alone is the owner and we have only the right to the most optimum utilizations, for the good and welfare of one and all, for present and future generations. Enlightened leaders with such a cosmopolitan outlook are the need of the hour in every stratum of society.
Second, only universal values can ensure peace and prosperity for all. Even ‘nationalism’ is a flawed outlook to address the current problems of this world. So global institutions based on rule of law and collective interest must only be authorized to act on behalf of the general populations. Global security pacts must be formed at the earliest to diminish war-mongering or a global arms race. The goal should be minimization of global military budgets of the entire world. The savings generated thereby can be directed towards economic empowerment, further research and development, and general welfare of those lagging behind.
Fourth, religious beliefs, like any knowledge system, should be treated as a private affair and viewed with an open mind, and people should be free to choose their system of worship as they please. Mystical traditions that foster cosmic fraternity should be encouraged, and a rational outlook should be cultivated through the sciences, arts, and humanities. The welfare of flora and fauna and the building of sanctuaries for other creatures should be given special attention in every community.
Fifth, Food, Nutrition, Health and Ecology are intimately connected with an ideal lifestyle. Whatever is healthy for our bodies, minds and spirit, and not harmful to others, should be cultivated. Human beings long for freedom and happiness. When our minds are tranquil and our body is at ease, we can attain the inner peace and manifest it externally too through a balanced approach in every domain of human existence.
As Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, recently said: “It’s time for the force of law to prevail over the law of (brute) force. It’s time for diplomacy to prevail over war.” Wars are the ugliest manifestation of the human race and should be shunned at all costs by all parties. They destroy the environment, bring untold suffering to innocent citizens, and put strains on the world economy. Leaders must be constrained not to act as warmongers.
Let good thoughts spread and “simple living and sublime thinking” become our motto for global transformation. The sooner the collective psychology embraces a neohumanist outlook, the sooner shall we be ready to welcome the crimson dawn of a new yuga (age). In that new age, human society will be proclaimed as one and indivisible. The people of all nations will live like kith and kin, guided by the rules of eternal dharma or righteous living. A golden age of universal renaissance will dawn on this earth. Science and technology will be used only for universal welfare and will not cause harm to others. We shall then hopefully connect with life on other stars and create a blissful universal family and ONE COSMIC SOCIETY.