Social values and human cardinal principles - 1 Social values and human cardinal principles - 2 The principle of social equality Religion in disrepute --- Social values and human cardinal principles - 1 from Progressive Socialism by Gary Coyle The concept of values Generally people give importance to one of two sets of values, social or human. Some look towards the social importance of oneself and others and behave accordingly. Others live in harmony with cardinal human values; they treat human beings as human beings first and as beings of some social importance after. What are values? Behind every action there is some motivation. The basis of that motivation is the value of the action. Values are like a fixed point somewhere in the backdrop of the action. If a perspective is drawn from the action to the point of the value, that perspective is filled with meaning. The degree of meaningfulness depends on where the value is situated. If the basic value is benevolent the meaning of the action will be good. If the value is selfish and base the meaning of the action will be accordingly. Without any motivating value we would have no motivation and would cease to act. That would be a theoretical state of being that no living being ever experiences as some sort of value always motivates us to act. Therefore, every one of us acts on the basis of some value and derive the meaning of our actions from that. Some may act selfishly and others selflessly and if we look at the reason for those actions we shall find different values dictating the meaning of the respective actions. Consciously or unconsciously we all act according to certain set of values, which make up our personal values, and by our thoughts and actions we continue to shape and develop these values. Prout advances a concept of values, defines their essence and even position, and presents a method of how to develop certain values which would enhance individual and collective movement. According to P R Sarkar: "Human values are based on the existential value of human life and are common to everyone, regardless of the apparent differences between people. By contrast, social values are derived from people’s collective existence – they are the values bestowed on those judged successful by society. Human values change little through the ages because they relate to people’s innate nature and potentiality, while social values vary according to the age and are reflections of the values prevalent in and fostered by the dominant class. Society, if it is worth the name, must place human values above all other values so that people are encouraged to progress on the path of emancipation and self-realization." Empathy, sympathy, compassion, love for others' life, fundamental respect for others' inherent divinity, universal outlook, and service-mindedness are all associated with cardinal human values. They represent the silver lining between the psycho-spiritual and the spiritual. That is, the meeting point of the highest attainment of humanity and self-realisation which is like the blossoming of divinity is the base on which the cardinal human principles are established. It is the silver lining between the psycho-spiritual and the spiritual. It is the area of spiritual practices (intuitional science). Its practical social expression is found in neo-humanism. Neo-humanism The sentimental appeal of neo-humanism derives from the deepest recesses of the human personality, that vast reservoir of largely untapped spiritual inspiration. Contemporary society exhibits many sentiments, which fall short of neo-humanism. Sarkar has classified these sentiments into three categories – geo-sentiment, socio-sentiment and human sentiment. Geo-sentiment includes sentiments, which grow out of attachment for a particular country or area. Out of geo-sentiment many other sentiments may emerge, such as geo-patriotism – nationalism or provincialism – geo-economics and geo-religion. Geo-sentiment is the sentimental expression of materialistic philosophies and is designed to keep humanity confined within a limited portion of the world, something which is contrary to the fundamental human desire for expansion. A slightly more magnanimous sentiment is socio-sentiment, which does not confine people to a particular territory. Rather, socio-sentiment is concerned with a particular group of people who may be distributed over a large area and is pervasive in that community. Instead of thinking about the welfare of a particular geographical area, people think about the well-being of a community, even to the exclusion of all other communities. Those imbibed with socio-sentiment often do not hesitate to militate against the interests of natural growth of other communities while furthering the interests of their own community. The international capitalist class, transnational companies and the international working class movement all foster socio-sentiments and also exploit geo-sentiments to further their objectives. The White Anglo-Saxon Protestant church, Islam and other transnational religions are based mainly on socio-sentiment. A more subtle sentiment is human sentiment. Humanism involves identifying with the achievements and sufferings of the human race and implies a commitment to human happiness within the 'laws of nature'. Humanistic ideas have found expression in many philosophies throughout the centuries and have always put great stress on the intrinsic value and worth of human life. However, the expression of humanism is mainly confined to the realm of ideas and not action, as it involves no practical application. While its highest form is internationalism, it excludes other living entities like plants and animals, and is limited to humanity on planet Earth. Neo-humanism is the most expansive human sentiment and embraces everything throughout the universe. According to Sarkar: “All molecules, atoms, electrons, protons, positrons and neutrons are the veritable expressions of pure consciousness. Those who remember this reality, who keep this realization ever alive in their hearts, are said to have attained perfection in life … When the underlying spirit of humanism is extended to everything, animate and inanimate, in this universe – I have designated this as neo-humanism. This neo-humanism will elevate humanism to universalism, the cult of love for all created beings of this universe” (The liberation of intellect – neo-humanism, AM Publications, Calcutta 1982). One human family Similarly, the social spirit of Prout is to move together, which is also the spirit of Prout’s progressive socialism. When the underlying spirit of humanism is extended to everything, animate and inanimate, in this universe, it is called neo-humanism. Progressive socialism is not based on collective ownership of means of production as in communes, but on collective mobility – unified movement and co-operative ownership. This concept is also termed as unity in diversity. In this co-operative task, social value is recognised by one's contribution to society. However, human value is always the higher and highest priority The social value of an excellent Prime Minister is different from an ordinary worker, but their existential value is one and the same because they both carry cardinal human values within the essence of their human being. Social values may differ and change but cardinal human values remain steadfast as they are based in the psycho-spiritual, which are much more absolute than the transient society of an ever-changing world. The defect of religions Those with spiritual outlook develop their consciousness continuously so that they will be able to realize the divine within all things and cardinal human values more and more. This has no relationship to religion. Religions are both matter-centered and self-centered. They are dualistic in that God is seen as outside and separate from inner realisation. The philosophical base of religions is dogma-centered, consisting of a blending of matter-centered and self-centered philosophies. No matter what the tall talk, one religion does not accept another because they are all based on dogma. Why is this so? A dogma is a mental construction that does not allow one’s thoughts or ideas to go outside of it. Dogma disallows progress. Politically and legally religious persons may accept each other, but various tenets such as the 'chosen people' are exclusionary and non-accepting. Alongside this, religions inject complexes. Religions inject superiority and inferiority complexes into peoples’ minds by the propagation of stories, myths and parables. Religions inject fear - notably the fear of hell and condemnation. Religions substantiate their injection of superiority and inferiority complexes by the propagation of fear complex and inferiority complex amongst the people, especially amongst the proletariat. There is no doubt that religious persons are also service minded, but despite this fundamenal dogmas still prevail. To counteract the evil influences of religion emphasis should be placed on neo-humanist education that produces a high degree of rationality in the human mind. Simultaneously, the spiritual sentiment must be inculcated in human minds as this is more powerful than the religious sentiment. However, one cannot suppress a religion. What needs to happen is that through rational approach, the religiously inclined can be brought to a spiritual view and adopt spiritual or intuitional practices. The Constitution of each region should allow for free expression of religion provided it is in accord with cardinal human principles and values. Those values are inherent and fundamental to the meaning of humanity. Thus female circumcision would not be allowed on the basis of religion as it is against dignity. The same applies to stoning people to death and other abhorent practices. Unfortunately, even amongst educated persons who may have worthy ideals, still religion inflicts its superstitious curse. Spiritual progression can alleviate this shortcomming. The effort to understand and raise one's consciousness towards Godliness is a worthy one. To become one with the Supreme Entity is an innate human urge. Knowingly or unknowingly everybody loves the Supreme. The movement of a spiritual aspirant towards this goal is his or her spiritual progress, and it is achieved through spiritual practice. According to Prout, all living beings are the expression of the Supreme Consciousness and the Supreme Force of Creation. They should therefore enjoy their common inheritance – the potentialities of the creation – together and move together towards the supreme stance of being. This is part of the spiritual outlook. In this regard, the neo-humanist principle of social equality has all to do with advancing cardinal human values before social values. As this is also part of spiritual outlook. Whereas, the principle of selfish pleasure rests on dogma. It tells people that due to their particular form of communalism (religious groupism), capitalism or nationalism they may continue to look after themselves only and ignore others’ need to enjoy the level of welfare that they do. This principle enslaves even educated people to dogma. These matters require elaboration so that human welfare can be realised and implemented in the society. --- Social Values and Human Cardinal Principles - 2 P.R. Sarkar Extracts from 'Prout in a Nutshell 7' Historical and social perspective The social values of human beings are ascertained on the basis of social responsibilities. As a member of society a person has to discharge certain duties and responsibilities. Those who shoulder great responsibility are naturally accorded due recognition and respect, because the good of all depends upon the proper execution of one's duties. An analysis of history will show that in the warrior era kings and emperors were honoured most. In their courts everyone bowed before them in spontaneous respect for they had conquered the hearts of the people by virtue of their heroism, valour and chivalry. During the intellectual era the warrior and other social classes were so overwhelmed by the intellectuals’ intellectual might – which they had used to invent various things to further human welfare – that they surrendered before them. The intellectuals were regarded as wise because their intellectual research benefited the common people. Out of awe and respect everyone prostrated at the lotus feet of these great people. The truth is that human beings have always and everywhere paid tribute to social values, but never, not even for a moment, has anyone respected human cardinal principles. Human cardinal principles are the silver lining between the psycho – spiritual and spiritual strata of human existence. The meeting point of the spiritual and psycho-spiritual strata is called the human cardinal stratum. Human existence is trifarious, a combination of three currents: physical, mental and spiritual. Most people cannot transcend the limits of their physical existence: crude worldly pleasures become the only enjoyment of their lives. They embody all that is instinctual or animal in nature, goaded and tormented as they are by ordinary and physical desires. The subtle feelings of life, the subtle expressions and practices are beyond their reach. Their world is limited to their bodies and physical requirements. Other people are more concerned with their minds. They feel that it is the supremacy of the mind that has differentiated them from animals. Their lives are guided by their desires for mental satisfaction. By virtue of their endeavours they create poetry, art, music, sculpture, etc. They express the finer human feelings of mercy, sympathy, love, friendship and pity. They believe that the mind flows for the sole purpose of attaining some higher state of self-realisation - of realising the Infinite - and hence they focus their energies on the contemplation of the Transcendental Entity. They are the spiritual aspirants; they alone are worthy of being called human beings. Drawn by the magnetic attraction of the Cosmic Consciousness they speed forward and reach the stage, which marks the consummation of mental existence and the beginning of spirituality. At that stage one no longer identifies as merely an ordinary human being – one see the Cosmic in all. It is the duty of every person to reach this confluence of the mental and spiritual strata. It is the pinnacle of human progress. The point where humanity reaches a pinnacle as it merges in divine beatitude is the aspiration of such personalities. The culminating point of animality is the commencement of humanity. The highest peak of human progress is the beginning of divine bliss or spirituality. Where animality ends, humanity begins, where humanity ends, divinity begins. The meeting point of the highest attainment of humanity and the blossoming of divinity is the base on which the cardinal human principles are established. A glimpse through human history reveals that nowhere have human values been truly honoured. What is worse, nobody has looked upon humanity with sympathy. Only those were respected who, by serving their self-interests, climbed onto the higher rostrum of society. It is difficult to step down from the high position of vainglory to rub shoulders with the downtrodden. The neglect of humanity was particularly acute towards the end of each era of the social cycle (ie movement from labourer to warrior to intellectual to capitalist eras). While each era starts with providing benefits to humanity, because of lack of spiritual outlook it succumbs to exploitation by the ruling psychological class. The progeny of the noble warriors on gaining power engaged themselves in the pursuit of creature comforts utterly neglecting their sacred duty to serve their subjects. They never cared to know people's suffering. They were not concerned by the bent old man, decimated by poverty in the Himalayas, being mercilessly beaten by a royal servant for default on tax payment. Kind-hearted and philanthropic kings did exist, but was there any king who, besides meeting the psycho-physical needs of his people, opened the gateway to realization of the Infinite? That is, actively made the spread of genuine spiritual or intuitional practices the hallmark of their reign. For self-aggrandizement and in a bid to conquer the world they invaded countries, one after another. How could they afford to inquire into the tragic plight of the common people? Notions of vice and virtue, codes of justice and scriptural texts – which are claimed to be the word of God – have been formulated by different religions to further vested interests. Those who oppose the scriptures or the system they propound are subject to severe punishment. Irrational scriptures say that to socialize with a person of a different caste is a great sin and those who commit such sacrilegious acts will be excommunicated. They will have to make atonement according to scriptural decree, and sometimes the magnitude of their penance may be the cause of their death. If they plead for a milder dose of punishment, the priests express their helplessness: one cannot defy the scriptures! Those who are ensnared by the scriptures cannot be expected to know the value of human life. Nobody knows how many invaluable lives have been nipped in the bud, how many innocent lives have been slaughtered at the altar of the scriptures. The present age and human values At present life is valued on the basis of money. “ Good family, wisdom, beauty … all good qualities lie in money. ” (Canyaka) These days, a person who possesses wealth is respected and revered, whereas a person without money is a person honoured by none. The poor, whoever they may be, have to woo the rich just for the sake of earning their livelihood. Human values have become meaningless, for human beings have become the means for the rich to earn money. The rich, having purchased the human mind with their money, are busy playing a game of chess with the other members of society. Bereft of everything, people toil round the clock to earn a mere pittance. Today the motto of people is, “I am to send some food particles into the apathetic stomach after somehow taking a dip in the muddy water amidst hyacinths.” The discrepancies we see are due to wrong social values. To ethical and spiritual revolutionaries / leaders the value of human life surpasses all other values. Be it state or scripture, society or religion, the significance of everything lies in developing humanity to the optimum point through knowledge, culture, health and affluence of life. It is for the unfoldment of humanity that civilization has so many implements, the State presents various forms, theories multiply and the useful scriptures abound in ordinances and regulation. What hell does the State stand for, what is the use of these regulations or why are the marvels of civilization if a person is deprived of manifesting himself or herself; if s/he does not get any scope to build a good physique, to invigorate his/her intelligence with knowledge and to broaden his/her heart with love and compassion? Instead of being conducive to lead people to the goal of life, if the State stands in the way then it cannot command loyalty, because human is superior to the state. According to Ravindranatha, “Justice and law at the cost of man are like a stone instead of bread. Maybe, that stone is rare and valuable, but it cannot remove hunger.” It is customary to prefer social values to human values. Those with universal / spiritual vision and courage want to strike at the root of this custom. To them, human value precedes social value. Human beings form the society and hence the human values will lay the foundation for the social values. In other words, those who pay respect to human values will be entitled to social values. It has been said earlier that human value is nothing but to treat joys and woes, hopes and aspirations of people sympathetically and set them on the pedestal of divine majesty after leading each to the a sense of self-realisation - the actualisation of their higher consciousness. And if each person is to elevate himself/herself to that sublime height, s/he will have to be supplied with an environment suitable to their physical, mental and spiritual existence. It is the birthright of everybody to make headway in his trifarious existence. It is the duty of society to accord recognition to this right of human beings. The society has failed to do its duty and that is why life is full of sorrows and sufferings. Nobody can say for certain that no great man would have emerged from among the wayward boys whom society is wont to slight and hate. The woman who has embraced whoredom for the sake of her physical existence might have grown into a noble personality if her agony were appreciated sympathetically and if she were repatriated by society. But since society has nothing to do with the human values, a good number of great personalities are withering away in their embryonic stage. The moral and spiritual revolutionaries will pick up this neglected humanity and arrange for its revival. To them no sinner is contemptible, no one is a rogue. A person turns into a satan or a sinner when for want of proper guidance their depraving propensities goads him or her. If his or her depraving propensities are sublimated, he or she will no longer be a satan; he or she will be transformed into a god. Every course of action of society ought to be judged with an eye to the dictum: “Human beings are divine children.” This attitude allows for the highest outlook. Social responsibility When the question of social responsibility arises, it must be considered with care and caution. An irresponsible person cannot be entrusted with social responsibility. Those who will shoulder it will lead people to their all round development and correct the ways of life of the anti-social, but if they themselves are sinners and if they go on with an evil bent of mind, then it will not be possible for them to discharge social responsibility. It has been said, “The society is the name of the group of those unified individuals who are engaged in minimizing the gap between the two points, one of the first expressions of morality and the other of establishment of universal humanism.” So social responsibility should be entrusted to those who are capable of discharging it creditably. If society starts from morality, then those who will be at its helm must be moralists, of ethical outlook based on cardinal human values. And moreover they must be universalists, since society aims at establishment of universalism. If the gap between morality and universalism humanism is to be conquered, then intuitional or spiritual practices is a must. Therefore, the practice of sincere spiritual meditation is necessary. The philosophy of life will be: “Morality is the base, spiritual practice is the means and self-realisation (of the Infinite) is the goal.” This great, great responsibility must not devolve upon those who themselves are guilty of exploitation. Unless and until they correct themselves, they will not be given any social values, though they will in no way be deprived of human values. At present social values are given importance, but those who are selected for discharging social responsibility do not possess the aforesaid qualities. They have occupied the posts either for money or for recommendation, but no social good has been possible. So there is an instruction “Nobody should be overwhelmed by tall talks.” Competence is to be judged on the basis of one's activities. Whatever sphere you might have been in, you have ample scope to serve your society. Those who contravene cardinal human values and morality/ethics should not get the opportunity of representing the people. If power is given to an incompetent person, it will be equivalent to lead society astray in cold blood. The necessity of good people who are courageous and who have spiritual insight is to cultivate the highest human values of persons in power, and the social order which will be evolved by virtue of their leadership will give due importance to each and everybody. In this new society based on neo-humanism every person will find his/her life worth living. All persons will get back the positions of honour.” --- The principle of social equality P.R. Sarkar The moving relative world Dynamism is the essential characteristic of this world. “The world is always in motion. The world is an entity that has an inherent tendency to move. Just as there is individual movement, there is movement in collective life as well. This very movement requires three things: first, an inspiration--an impetus from behind. When someone stops moving, another will have to push from behind saying, “Move ahead!” Secondly, the capacity for movement; that is, the one who moves forward must have the requisite strength to do so. In the absence of adequate strength, how can one move forward? Thirdly, the goal of movement. These three factors are absolutely essential for any movement. The movement that the ancient human beings started, individually as well as collectively, has not yet come to an end. Nor will there be any comma, semi-colon, colon or period to check that movement; it is uninterrupted. There will never be an end to history. Now the question arises, by what inspiration, by what strength, and towards which goal do human beings move? It has been observed that human movement is inspired by two ideas: the principle of selfish pleasure and the principle of social equality. Limitations of selfish pleasure Whatever human beings do, motivated by the principle of selfish pleasure, is for the sake of pleasure. It is limited. This principle of selfish pleasure rests on dogma. All the social, economic and geographical forces that motivate human beings in this approach are guided by dogma; and this dogma is entirely based on the principle of selfish pleasure. Human beings yield to this dogma with the sole intention of attaining selfish pleasures; even educated people knowingly submit to dogma. They know that they are surrendering their intellect to dogma, and that the outcome will be undesirable; they know and understand everything – why, even then, do they knowingly submit to it? They are all deliberately restricting progress and intentionally accept dogmas as truth. They observe that these dogmas are based on the principle of selfish pleasure; but they think, “I don't care whether it does good or harm to others, because at last I have enjoyed some pleasure!” Being motivated by this idea, they enslave themselves to dogmas. In the civilized world, even educated people knowingly follow dogmas because they have a desire in the back of their minds to attain some mundane pleasure in this physical world. Even in this civilized world where so much progress has been made in the field of knowledge, people are still following these dogmas, as if they are blind. The snares of these dogmas have to be shattered to pieces; the iron prison gates of dogma will have to be crushed to dust. Expansiveness of social equality The second principle is the principle of social equality. In this approach a universal outlook is the goal of everyone. We are all moving towards the spiritual, both individually and collectively; but we will not be able to move ahead if we compromise with all the disparities and inequalities of collective life. We should eradicate all these inequalities, while at the same time we move together towards our spiritual goal. The progress of all would be accelerated if the inequalities were uprooted, if this were the motivation behind our movement. This spiritual or universal approach realises the temporariness and fallacy of mere pleasure and strives for the enjoyment of spiritual peace and pure spiritual bliss in the self-realization of Cosmic Grace. So the endeavour to advance towards the ultimate reality by forming a society free from all inequalities, with everyone of the human race moving in unison, is called the principle of social equality. We must totally and categorically reject all those hypocritical ideas that are contrary to this the principle of social equality, and we must welcome all those ideas, which will help human beings to be established in social equality. All opposing theories must be removed mercilessly, just like thorns from our path. And in this process we must not give indulgence to any dogmas or supernatural ideas. This should be the task of the present human beings; all people should combine their efforts and strive unitedly to accomplish that end. It is futile to think of an individual's past--we must not discriminate whether one is black or white. We should only remember that we must establish ourselves in the ultimate reality, by forming a new social order based on the principle of social equality. When we have embraced the ideal of the principle of social equality, when we have attained the physical strength, psychic intellect and spiritual wisdom to materialize it – should we not play a successful role to implement this noble and sublime ideal? Our coming to this earth and our remaining here, our every breath, every vibration of our existence – should this not attain supreme fulfilment? By utilizing all our physical, psychic and spiritual powers, should we not attain the pinnacle of human glory? 31 December 1981, Anandanagar The Liberation of Intellect--Neo-Humanism --- Religion in disrepute Plato asserted that this world is unreal and that beyond it exists a world of eternity, of truth and ideal. He said we are like captives sitting in a cave with our faces to the wall. The only inkling we have of the world outside is some dim shadows inside the cave. This analogy was the way Plato explained our minimal contact with the real world beyond this earthly dimension. The philosopher could experience the outside world having escaped from the chains, but when he returned no one would comprehend what he told them about it. A fundamentally pessimistic view crept in here and prepared the ground for subsequent religious emphasis on suffering, sin and guilt. The idea of a great gap between heaven, the abode of God, and Earth, the home of mortals, took root in many of today’s religions. God was seen as a remote figure, bestowing his messages to us through prophets, stone tablets left on a mountain top, or natural phenomena like the parting of the waves in the sea to save His chosen people. Daily contact with this remote deity was the monopoly of the priests. They could relay God’s will through divining the entrails of a sacrificed goat, through the interpretation of holy scriptures which God had dictated to his prophets, or even by translating the incoherent rambling of an oracle. Temples, mosques and monasteries became centres of learning. However, all too often the information taught was distorted to fit the dogmatic views of the religion in question. The mystical sides of major religions provided a direct channel to the guiding force behind creation. Yet, these were made secret or even suppressed so that the power of the priests and the religious hierarchy could be consolidated. In the West, dissenters from religious teachings and doctrines faced stern punishment like being burned alive, and many were forced to publicly recant their heretical views. Galileo was dragged into a religious court to apologize for his claims that the Earth actually went around the Sun and was not stationary as the Church preached. Deviations from religious teachings were risky, and ritualistic practices like the selling of religious relics and holy absolutions for all one's sins brought religion into great disrepute. Religion can now go beyond its disrepute. From A look at Prout, neo-humanism and self-reliance by Krsnadeva ---