Violence - Education and the Media

Recently, a violent massacre of school children in Germany by a seventeen year old former student was all over the media. It was reported that the seventeen year old had the same sort of violent media games on his computer as perpetrators of other similar massacres in the past.

However, just as on earlier occasions there has been no concrete move to ban the sale of such violent games by the concerned authorities. There is a case for banning such games and the banning of violence from other media such as TV and movies as well. The human mind is conditioned by whatever it is exposed to. Most are able to distinguish reality from games but there are others who cannot. These few are enough to perpetuate violence on others.

It is time that violence in all forms is banished from the media. There is far too much of it in society as it is. Humans can reach the next level of evolution only when they can overcome all forms of physical violence that lurks in their psyche from their animal origins. Cases of rape and road rage are a daily occurrence in most countries of the world and recently the media in India has reported the death of students in a professional college due to violence perpetuated by other students. Any form of education is of little value unless non-violence as a primary human value is inculcated. There is a need to include the teaching of non-violence in educational curricula. Schools and educational establishments that have suffered violence need to ask themselves if they had included such education in the character building programs for their students. If not, are they not partly responsible for the consequences ?

Various spiritual ideas have been discussed in this blog but the beginning of virtue is the abandonment of violence and the cultivation of the opposite virtue of compassion and universal love. Those who cannot eliminate physical violence from their behaviour must undergo therapy programs designed specifically for the purpose. Perhaps the only conditions where violence can be justified is in self defence against violence besides the violence humans are compelled to commit on the plant and animal kingdom during the production of food. There is a need to ban violent sports as well such as boxing, wrestling, bull fighting etc. At one time humans entertained themselves through far more violent fights such as in Roman Gladiator sports. Since then, extreme violence has been eliminated in sports. However, even the modern human has not fully overcome this tendency to be entertained by violence. Humans will become fully human only when they outgrow such tendencies. Until then they are undoubtedly still partly like a evolutionary lower animal, more fit for the forest rather than civilized society.

Dr. Deepak Chopra, the reknowned Spiritualist has recommended the following vow

" I Deepak Chopra, vow non-violence in my thoughts, in my speech, and in my actions. Please Join me"

He goes on to say that a vow is a sacred commitment and do that only if you are honest and sincere in your intention and then go on to encourage atleast two other persons to take that vow. That way the message will spread to millions.

Taking the vow does not mean that we will never react with anger due to old habits. It simply means that we have decided that it is a poor way to react and will make a conscious effort to change that habit. One must believe at all times that reacting with physical violence is a very poor and inhuman thing to do not just in actions, but also in speech and thoughts.

The Best Business and Investment in this Recession

A severe recession has set in, especially in the developed part of the world. No one is sure how long it will last. The recession has left many persons in debt and jobless. For such persons its time to take hard decisions, such as moving out of their homes by renting, selling, foreclosure or filing bankruptcy. The sooner a person makes a decision the better. Postponing the inevitable may be lead to the situation worsening. Once they have done that it will be a good idea to explore new employment opportunities in rural areas. It does not look like like many new opportunities are going to arrive in urban areas any time in the near future, perhaps not for a decade even. However, there are others who may have lost their jobs or are in fear of losing it but remain in positive territory as far as their financial assets are concerned i.e. they do not owe banks more than the worth of their savings, value of property, and any other assets. These are the fortunate ones yet such persons may be wondering as to the best possible investments and business opportunities in these hard economic times so as to secure their future.

The safest investment, especially in uncertain economic times appears to be gold or silver. In this regards gold or silver as bank issued bullion or coins is the route to go rather than jewelry that entails a loss both at the time of purchase and sale. It cannot be readily valued or liquidated when the necessity arises. The safest place to store gold when purchased is perhaps in a hole inside the ground on one’s own property provided it can be secured with care and no one else is made a party to the secret. The next best investment is agricultural land provided one can put it to productive use.

Agricultural activity goes on even in the worst of recessions because people must eat. Besides the fact that a farm can provide shelter and food, it is secure from the worst possible downturn. Moreover, it provides the opportunity for a healthy lifestyle close to nature. A farm can provide shelter and occupation not just for the owner but also for the entire family, including grown up children who may loose their jobs or homes in a city at some time in the near future. Producing food also leads to the satisfaction that one is making a positive contribution to the world as compared to a manufactured product such as a cosmetic that adds no real value to life. Membership of a country club and participating in the farmers market can provide quality social interaction. Besides, one can generate employment for other younger persons hired to help on the farm by providing them with board and lodgings and a modest salary.

For those who have the money and aptitude for acquiring agricultural property and living on a farm this may be the right time to liquidate their urban assets and make the move. For governments seized with generating employment and shelter it can be a positive policy move if they assist such ventures through policy initiatives and even financial investments in the associated infrastructure. It is better than building a highway or bridge to nowhere and will produce quicker results. The economic activity of the past century has resulted in the expansion of urban areas. We now have polluted cities that are bursting at their seams. It is time now for the growth of rural areas and villages in a new phase of human civilization that this recession may be leading to. The widespread prevalence of mobile telephony and the Internet will make the change a feasible and enlightened one. Perhaps the time has come for humans to loose their unbridled fascination for the wonders of modern science and return to their spiritual roots. Moving away from a crowded city may be that first step.

Small Farms in the new Economy

With a raging recession proceeding towards depression many persons are losing their manufacturing and city jobs. Some are considering returning back to the land and becoming small farmers.

Living close to nature can be a delightful change and if one can afford it, and make an outright purchase of irrigated agricultural land. It makes good economic sense to acquire a small farm of even five or ten acres. However infrastructure costs can be steep in starting a new agricultural venture. It would be a mistake to meet such costs by getting into debt. That would probably be a move from the frying pan into the fire. However for a new small farmer who can take it easy and slow and avoid getting into debt, the move can turn out to be a brilliant one over a period of time. There is lots that can be done on a small farm –poultry, fish farming, orchards, timber farming, mushroom growing, wine and cheese making, bee keeping besides growing vegetables, flowers and corn or wheat.

With and Without God

There are many persons in the modern world who believe that there is neither any God nor any gods, or any other intelligence higher than their own in the Universe. They uphold that this world is godless and brought about through the random movements of matter and some feisty sex, what else? There is no place for a Supreme Creator or Intelligence in their superior minds. It is a different matter that they are not able to create even a single cell of their own bodies or alter the tiniest fraction of the laws of this vast and infinite universe in which our own individual selves is an incredibly small fractional thing.

It is quite amazing that a human mind or ego can regard itself as the highest of intelligence in the universe. One may wonder at the cause of the belief that there is no intelligence higher than the human one. Some believe it is because of a delusion. Perhaps the Love of God is involved in this belief and He lets any one of His beloved creatures believe that he or she is the greatest if it pleases him or her, just out of plain and simple love. In some vague way this is similar to a parent that will let a small child think that he is the most important person in the house and everything runs because of the child if it please the child to think like that.

However just as an infant will call out to his mother as soon as he gets into serious trouble or difficulty, many humans too remember God when in difficulty. And just as a child forgets his mother when engaged in play, there are humans who promptly forget God just as soon as the difficulty is over and they get cozy. God permits that once again out of Love. God or the Universal Intelligence appears to care most for the least capable or least evolved. It is because of that perhaps that cows can become healthy on a diet of wild grass whereas humans have to make far greater efforts for acquiring food. Many animals are happy after a meal just once a weak or even once a month. The camel is happy with a drink of water once in many days. The universal intelligence is indeed full of love for all of its creation and continues to nurture all irrespective of the fact that they regard or disregard Him.

It is up to humans as intelligent beings to respond to that love or ignore it. The Universal Intelligence has granted humans the freedom to do that. God does not impose His views remaining subtle and behind veils so that if we wish to ignore Him we may do so with ease. No human or human religion should impose a belief either if it wishes to be something of God. A human cannot make himself or herself love another from the heart let alone another. These are matters for personal discovery. However, it is good to share any good news that anyone may discover about Him just in case that helps. Just as it is possible to love a human only after our attention is brought to rest on that human, the love of God is only possible after we withdraw our attention from other things and bring it to rest on the Lord of this Universe. It will touch our hearts although words will be inadequate to describe it. If our love for Him grows our knowledge of Him will Grow. If we serve Him, He will pay us and he is the best of pay masters in the Universe. If a human can remain happy and satisfied by ignoring God, by all means he should continue that way. However, In my experience that is not possible except for brief periods of indulgence.