We have to work for all-round development rather than economically empowering only a few. There is also a need for cultural and spiritual democracy, says Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj Ji
The world is caught up in a vicious circle and we won’t deny it because most of our problems are interlinked. They feed each other. They are tangled and intertwined so much that it has become difficult to extricate the world out of it.
One of the reasons why we cannot solve these problems is because we don’t have a common solution for them. In other words, our approach to the problems is not holistic. So when we try to solve them individually, it takes time. Meanwhile, there is an increase in other problems too.
We have infatuation for the old theories. We don’t realise that our present problems have been caused, directly or indirectly, by such socio-economic, psychological and political theories and concepts that gained currency during the past. We should know that these theories have proved not only ineffective in the long run but have also given rise to new problems or have aggravated the old ones. We should, therefore, discard them because the world and its operations have changed tremendously since then. Even now if we don’t liberate ourselves from the constraints of these crumbling ideologies and unconfirmed assumptions, it will be too late. In fact, we should be aware of our wrong approach to the problems of elimination or alleviation of sufferings in the world, and our paradigm of a better world.
Today, our main emphasis is economic development. We measure the advancement of a nation by its GDP and per capita income. The major concern is to see whether this paradigm of development has been able to raise the economic standard of the people? This has been based on the assumption that greater enjoyment of material goods leads to greater happiness. It has thus given us a wrong model of development. It is wrong because man does not live by bread alone. He needs mental and cultural development and so does he needs peace of mind. Our goal should, therefore, be his well-being rather than material wealth.
This clearly indicates that there is a need for a shift in our emphasis. We have to work for all-round development of everyone rather than economic development of a few. Along with political democracy, we need to have cultural and spiritual democracy too.
Currently, the disparity between the techno-scientific and psycho-spiritual development has grown tremendously. This has resulted in great imbalances and social, cultural and moral distortions. It has eroded the true perceptions of ourselves and the society we live in. This has resulted in identity crisis.
The critical situation we face today is a result of the deterioration in morals and an over-emphasis on the material things. This has led to fixing up of wrong priorities, imperatives, attitudes and goals.
Our knowledge of nature and its forces has tremendously increased during the past few centuries but our moral and spiritual development has not kept pace with it. As a result, our relations at inter-personal, inter-communal and international level have degenerated. If we cannot solve the problems of nuclear race or poverty today, it is because our relationships are not based on goodwill, friendship, love and co-operation.
The present crisis is, therefore, a moral one. All our current problems arise from lack of moral and spiritual strength and absence or lack of co-operation. Therefore, if we wish to reduce sufferings to build a better world, then we will have to create the necessary moral climate and build up goodwill and co-operation on a global scale. We need to focus on the moral imperative to build goodwill otherwise there will be a great destruction.
It is not an Utopian belief that there can be a world without sufferings and problems. It seems Utopian when we use the current assumptions and paradigms.
The paradigm-shift would make it look quite feasible. Let us, therefore, follow the moral imperative in order to gain co-operation of all.
