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The Earth, is a wonderful treasure house for living beings. On this Earth are millions
and millions of species of animates. In the evolutionary process the architectural
infrastructure, talents and beauties, the proportionate mixture of chemical compounds
and the bio-magnetic functions that have come to be assembled in the living beings
are amazing and marvelous in form and content. Man has evolved as the culmination
of natural wonders and he is the peak of the evolutionary process. The structure
of his physical body is astonishment, provided with cooperation and coordination
of different parts, limbs and senses, and a labyrinthine mechanism to realize the
nature of consciousness. His knowledge is potentially omniscient, so as to be developed
ultimately to reach the Super-State of Consciousness.
Of course, in the primitive ages, before the development of his sixth sense, man
lived much as other animals do even now, enjoying the natural resources as they
were. After he learnt to cultivate food grains and give artificial shapes and artistically
beauties to the natural resources for his enjoyment of pleasure and survival, his
knowledge with the experiences of life developed by leaps and bounds. He progressed
tremendously in life-style, discovering and mastering the arts of using fire, metals,
electricity and atomic energy. Also he had to face and overcome a variety of calamities
flowing from natural disasters. On the whole, mankind has passed through several
ages on the Earth and derived innumerable experiences of life.
In the modem age, life is replete with properties. To enjoy the happiness of life
and better comforts, the whole world is now linked in communication, transport,
politics, economics, technology and spirituality. Having acquired and accumulated
all the Nature-given providence and man-made wonders mentioned above, how is it
that man-kind is still suffering from and contending with multifarious problems?
Even in family-life there are innumerable problems for each individual, whether
poor or affluent, educated or unlettered. In the society as a whole, there are poverty,
illiteracy, inhuman behavior, conflicts, in-fighting, litigation and crimes. In
the political administration there are bribery, party-squabbles, jealousy and vengeance.
In the economic realm there are disparity, greed, acquisitive aggression and unconscionable
waste. In industry and business we see insatiable desire to accumulate more and
more wealth even though it is overflowing already, the deliberate manufacture of
substandard commodities, adulteration and cupidity for exorbitant profits. Some
industrialists are enthusiastically manufacturing horrendous weapons to torture,
wound and kill the human race. In the ethics of society we see violent activities,
neglect of others' feelings, comforts, welfare, prestige and freedom, defiance of
governmental authority and selling 'justice.' In the spiritual field too conspiracy,
deceit and imposing on the faithful are evident. All these inhuman behaviors are
common today in the world society. This painful state of affairs is only increasing
day by day. Fear for one's life, a constant feeling of insecurity and bewilderment
are significant everywhere. Of course, there are good people in all places and spheres
but they are also much affected mentally and physically and they are suffering from
the misdeeds of others brazen in their wrongdoing. Even though one may be pure-minded,
honest and trying to lead a conscientious life, knowingly or unknowingly he is forced
to get entangled in the dreadful gamble of life in the world. Why, why all these
painful situations in the world? There must be some cause for such a deterioration
of human behavior. By the pressure of ever-increasing pains and miseries, almost
everyone, whether a partner in atrocity or a victim, has started think ing that
this situation should change. All should be free to enjoy a peaceful and secure
life. However no-one in the world is able to do anything to change this degenerated
situation, whether he is a power-wielding politician having stupendous resources
of men and material at his disposal, a military chief having serried ranks at his
beck and call, an exalted religious supreme ruling a world-wide fraternity or a
multi-national, multimillionaire industrialist, or a scientist capable of manufacturing
sophisticated robots to help the human race and also equally capable of manufacturing
nuclear bombs to destroy the entire world many times over in a matter of minutes.
Even though one wishes sincerely to do good for the world he is helpless because
nothing can be done by him to change the situation. Why?
What is the difficulty? The plain truth of the matter is that no one is prepared
to change his own concepts or behavior. This is not the fault of individuals, for
every-one is bound with the intricacies of the entire society of mankind. A wide-ranging
program of total perspective planning to make the influential leaders of the society
credible is the first need. Thereafter at least a 50 years' plan of subliming the
behavior of mankind in knowledge and deeds is necessary. These two can be done only
with the cooperation of political heads, industrialists, religious chiefs, educators
and social-welfare leaders. Such a plan entails a spiritual movement with a good
understanding of Nature, potentials of man and the Cosmic Consciousness, which is
working as an unfailing Cause-and-Effect system.
The only solution to the problem, the only way out of the impasse, is to help assure
individual security, self-confidence, economic prosperity, fearlessness and freedom
to live and enjoy one's birthrights by making everyone to under-stand the providence
of Nature, its unfailing Cause-and-Effect system and the thousands of sources of
happiness all around. The potential of man in all fields of endeavor, knowledge
and physical efficiency should be understood and explored by everyone. An experimented
method of teaching to bring out all qualities in practice is necessary. In fact
this involves a long period of planning and implementation. This wonderful process
of behavioral change in individuals should be introduced into the human society
by a spiritual organization with a cautious approach. In the process, no other group
should have to feel or fear that this organization is a hindrance or is detrimental
to its activities. At the same time, it should be clear to all that the service
to this spiritual organization is helpful in all spheres of life.
Such a valuable and noble approach may be called Karma Yoga. As a starting point,
any project of service to humanity must accept the world gracefully as it is. Since
everyone is bound by certain needs, desires, habits and conditionings, one and all
in the society should be helped without any hindrance or conflict by all possible
means to enjoy life happily and satisfactorily. Some friends may think that in taking
this passive line, I am lenient with the anti-social elements and acquiescing in
their malpractice and irregularities. That is not so. I am very earnest in working
out the most appropriate and practicable solution and I have been thinking about
peace in human society for a period of over thirty years. Let us think further,
Now, we the people of the present time tend to judge all the deeds of others which
result in pains and miseries as illegal, immoral and inhuman. As a result, it is
hatred that arises in us and we seek to resist or annihilate the wrongs. This, I
feel, is too simplistic an attitude, for the blame for sinful deeds cannot be placed
entirely on the heads of the doers. Over a period of time, by the force of needs
or circumstances some individuals committed wrong deeds to get money, power, fame
and happiness. Later, having tasted 'the fruits, the wrong deeds were repeated and
continued and they became strongly imprinted habits. When the ill-gotten gains were
distributed to all others around, groups came to be formed to perpetuate the wrong
deeds with protection and backing. These groups then became strengthened and well-established
by networks of support. Laws are becoming increasingly ineffective and the administration
of laws is indirectly but inevitably absorbed into injustice. So the people of the
present time alone are not to be blamed. It can be seen that for the most part they
are innocent, if one is able to think without prejudice and with human kindness.
Inevitably people are forced by the atmosphere to follow particular ways. If anyone
tries to swim against such deep-going and powerful currents, he will be ostracized
and left without material support or friendship. Sometimes those who are stubborn
in their conscientious feelings and concepts do resist or oppose injustice and they
are exterminated. That is why I say that we should think deeply with compassion
and grace for the ill-fated people of the society. What is it that they can do?
Individuals within groups and groups of indivi duals and other groups all are tied
up to the point of immobility and incapacity to change. Now decide: only malpractice
should be eliminated, but not man. Is there any wisdom in throwing the baby out
with the bath water? Man should be elevated. Therefore with the total perspective
vision, I say we have to start by accepting the world of mankind as it is at present.
With perspective vision and compassion we have to think deeply, plan arid implement
our services to be useful. With intellectual flexibility, patience and spiritual
enlightenment we should proceed with our services. Then our experiences and noble
aim will regulate and channel our services to bring in beneficial results. This
Introduction will be useful to the reader of this monograph to understand the real
facts and situation of the world of man. The solutions, theories and implementation
are dealt with in the following Chapters.
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