Back to Nature and the Spirit

Many of my recent posts have focused on economic, political and social issues. The hope was of making a contribution, howsoever small to alleviating human distress and increasing human happiness. However, the fact is that focusing on such issues does not purify the soul as easily as communing with nature does, and it is the purest of souls, the yogis whose consciousness is united with the universal consciousness who are able to make significant and dramatic contributions towards improving the human situation. It is because of the contribution of innumerable such yogis that human civilization has been advancing slowly but surely over time.

Although many complain about the present day one per cent economy, an economy in which one per cent of the population controls 99 per cent of the resources, not very long ago in human society it was a one person economy, where one person controlled and owned 99 per cent of the resources of a nation. Indeed in a few countries of the world it is still like that. Whereas now nation states have raised an unbearable debt burden perhaps to sustain a political party in democratic power, not very long ago, nations raised unbearable debts to wage a war or to build a new palace for the King. Whereas now some nations sponsored the forced taking away of children from their loving mothers for adoption, not long ago it was for trading them as slaves.

Slowly but surely human society will continue to move forward perhaps from a one per cent economy to a 25 per cent economy, an economy in which 25 per cent of the population owns 75 per cent of the resources. Such an economy would be more in line with the rule of ten mentioned in an earlier post. Perfect equality is unsustainable and it is foolish to hope for it. Inequality amongst humans is as natural as inequality amongst the trees of the forest and it this inequality that drives growth.

Therefore while changes continue to take place in the world as they must, personally for me the time has come to return my focus to nature, the beautiful mountains, forests and blue lakes of the Himalayas, the beautiful face of mother Earth. As one gets close to Nature and Mother Earth one comes close to Father too - Father Universe - because Father and Mother live in such close unity that they are both one and the same. A sexual distinction is required only for intermediate life forms for perpetuation. It is not required by either the simplest of life or the most advanced. The unity of the minute with the immense is a paradoxical characteristic of the Universal spirit that dwells simultaneously in a tiny temple chamber as in the infinity of the Universe.

The individual spirit moved by individual ego, desire and selfishness might enjoy the finite individual pleasure of such pursuits temporarily. It has to be temporary because the finite is subject to time. The yogi, with his consciousness united with the infinite on the other hand may in the limit enjoy eternal and infinite bliss because true to its paradox the smallest living particle of the universe, a particle of light and the Infinite are both beyond time.

Prisoner's Choice

In the past prisoner’s were kept in very poor conditions such as castle dungeons and fed on leftovers. With time humanity has advanced so that conditions of prisons have vastly improved. With that has increased the expense of maintaining these prisons.

Criminal are put in prisons for many reasons, the primary one being that society should be protected from criminals and that imprisonment is a deterrent for crime. There is also the hope that the criminal would reform. However, let us see if these aims are being met. First of all the expense is something that the public bears and because of it public debt rises. The living condition of prisons has improved to the extent that at least in the poorer countries of the world prisoners get better food for free than a large segment of the population at large. There have been cases of persons who commit petty crimes just so that they can get free lodgings in prison. Recently there was the case of an old man who begged to be kept in prison after his sentence was over because he said he had no other place to go to.

On the one hand society is protected when a criminal is imprisoned but on the other hand it suffers because of the economic burden. The public first pays for investigation and public prosecution and next it pays for the prison and living expenses of the prisoner. Few prisons reform the criminal rather more petty criminals become hardened because of their newfound company and return to society as such posing greater dangers. Humans tend to maintain historic continuity in their institutions, however it may be wise to consider a break from them too.

It is worth questioning if human society can greatly minimize the system of imprisonment if not do away completely with it. Other forms of punishment are possible that can be a deterrent as well as reformative while not causing any expense to the public. For examples rapist and sexual offenders can be rendered impotent and non-erective by medical techniques and they can even be castrated to nullify their sexual drive. Financial offenders can be punished financially and in cases of major offenders like Bernie Madoff they can be stripped of all their assets so as to be rendered paupers and then left free. Once discovered, they are no longer a threat to society at large. Violent criminals causing death or serious physical impairment may be executed through humane medical procedures that cause no pain and thus be removed from society. Minor offenders such as those who physically hurt other people or get into physical fights can be sent away to mining camps or isolated islands for prescribed periods where they work for their living and suffer similar companions. Minor financial or other offenders can be dealt with fine or public service sentences.

There is also a need to review if certain things can be removed from the crime list. One is a drug related offence. Until a few centuries ago possession and trade in narcotics was not a crime and there were no drug crimes except national ones like the opium wars. Ever since drugs have become illegal drug related crime has emerged. Mexico and Columbia can be rid of drug wars overnight if drugs are made legal. Portugal has led the way by doing it already. There is an old post on this in this blog. A portion of the law enforcement expenses is then spent on rehabilitation centers and public education about the dangers of addiction. The public of many countries supports the legalisations of drugs such as cannabis however the authorities remain obstinate. Not all the reasons for this obstinacy are honorable. Politicians and law enforcement agencies derive kick- backs from drug dealers in many places around the world.

It really is time for society to reconsider the prison option in majority of cases where such sentences are routinely awarded around the world. The money saved can be spent much more honorably on reducing public debt and also in creating shelters for the homeless. This blogger intends to write a separate post on such shelters in the near future.

Green is Life

Several posts in this blog have suggested the presence and enhancement of green spaces to increase the well being of humans. Now modern research studies have confirmed this assumption. See for example this link . The study is the first scientific one to show effects of green space on stress in everyday settings. Green space has been associated with a wide range of health benefits. The research team was led by by Catharine Ward Thompson, at OpenSpace Research Centre.

Living in green surroundings combined with sunshine, fresh air, clean food and water along with personal cleanliness and moderate exercise does much more to improve health – physical, mental and spiritual – of humans than any doctor, medicine, shrink or guru can.

The Rule of Ten: A Way to strengthen Democracy and Capitalism

Recently there has been a hue and cry about the high salary and bonuses that some corporate executives, especially bankers are drawing. The occupy movement that has erupted in many countries around the world represents this anguish of the people. There is a simple way to fix the problem. It is called the rule of ten here. If adopted such a rule will not only strengthen capitalism, it will also strengthen democracy. Simply stated this rule states that within any corporate or government organization the cumulative annual benefits (that include salary, bonuses, shares and all other benefits) of any individual within that organization shall not exceed ten times the total benefits of the lowest paid individual. This will immediately put a cap to the high bonuses and perks some individuals are enjoying in various organizations. The rule has to be corporation wide not country wide in order to allow corporations to compete.

The basis of this rule is that no individual is less than ten times as capable, hard working or talented than the most capable individual in any organization. Incase he or she is, he/she should be in a care home instead. It is only just that the salary structures reflect this reality. Why ten and not nine or eleven? Well some number has to be chosen and a round number is simple to implement.

How will such a rule strengthen democracy? If a referendum is to be called for such a law an overwhelming majority shall support it. Any rule or law that is in accordance with the just aspirations or wishes of the people and is workable strengthens democracy. What about the argument being put by some bankers etc. that this will lead to a flight of talent. That is just nonsense. Such a rule will not lead to a flight of talent. It shall lead to a flight of greed and exploitation instead.

What will happen to the campaign contributions of political candidates if some individuals and corporations are not allowed to get disproportionately rich? No just human society needs campaign contributions that ride on the back of the homeless and the struggling while the likes of Berlusconi have perhaps taken off to their island spa for another bunga bunga party. Quite likely he has enough room for other leaders to join him as other economies around the world collapse under the burden of debt.