Dictatorship of Economy
"Money has to serve, not to rule". Pope Francis gave a strong call for the reform of world financial system on the lines of ethical principles.
What do you think? What kind of reforms do you propose? Is there a danger that under the garb of reforms, supported by world's spiritual leaders the poor may lose out once again?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Seth Edwards on
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The Zeitgeist movement is the best idea I've seen regarding the economy. It proposes a resource-based economy, so everything available on earth would be cataloged and mathematically formulated to be dispersed as needed to the global population. I have no idea how the transition from capitalism to this would come about, but I hope it does become reality. It's like communism, only with no money at all to deal with. Hopefully, no money would equal no greed and no power trips- the downfall of communism itself...
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Permalink Reply by Capt. Anand Kumar on
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Thanks Seth. Not too long ago here at theosophy.net we explored several such ideas in our group study New Economy.
The problem as I suspect, is not the failure of politics or economy. It is the failure of spirituality to integrate itself into the lives of people.
The Pope by laying the blame on someone else's door is only making my suspicion stronger.
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Permalink Reply by Jeffrey Smart on
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True change be it in the economic realm, social realm, etc can only be brought about by change within each individual. We all have to believe together, really believe and be on the "same page" to effect solid, lasting change. The Pope has the rght idea, the problem is that people with less than alturistic intentions will probably mess up any real attempt at good change. It is sad, but it always seems that selfish, negative intentions and behaviors win out and the poor and inoncent suffer all the more. This is an important and excellent conversation, I hope many of us join in and take part in it!!!!
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Thanks Jeffrey,
There is no denying that if individuals can transform themselves, the society, politics, government, economy all will be transformed overnight. But that is a utopian dream, unsupported by evidence. Despite countless great teachers having graced humanity with their presence, like Buddha, Jesus, Gandhi, has even a fraction of humanity transformed itself? Should we continue to tread the beaten track mindlessly.
The mainstream spirituality and the major traditions of the world lay great stress on individual and his progress. This creates some kind of insulation between the individual and the society in general. All traditions require that their followers shun other thoughts, in a way promote individuality again. Of course they all preach universal brotherhood. But what is the evidence on the ground level?
Could that be a starting point?
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Evidence on the ground level is pretty bleak. I think within society at the level of small groups there is more compassion and benevolence, whereas in greater society the individual is simply another face in the crowd forgotten in the greater scheme of things. I know that the idea of individual change creates greater change throughout society is an old idea, but I believe it is the one idea that has the most merit. All real change happens within the human heart, it takes root there and comes alive. The Buddha said to look within one's self for enlightenment and Christ said that the Kingdom of God is within you. They seem to be saying the same thing and I think they are both right. For society to change any other way it would have to force it's ideas, beliefs, etc on those who don't want them and this could cause many negative events (look at Syria's civil war, societal change does not come cheap).
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Excellent comment!!! I feel more positive about my fellow humans already!!! Thanks Joe!
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I feel positive about the fellow humans too. It is the form of spirituality currently under practice that one has misgivings about.
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Thanks Joe.
One may argue that the number of conflicts raging in the world has gone up substantially. It is just that the form of war, like everything else, is also under transformation. It is no longer tanks and missiles every time. It is war for markets and resources and not territory alone. Information being the key content,it is largely invisible. One of the most striking example of such war is the use of Stuxnet worm by the US & Israel to disable or retard Iranian nuclear program.
However, the point is that as long as spirituality promotes individuality to the exclusion of society, we may not be able to overcome the challenges of the future. There is an overwhelming amount of evidence around us to establish the interconnectedness of all beings. From the depths of Quantum Entanglement to the effects of Global Warming, everything appear to be interconnected.
Yet the reward and punishment system of spirituality focuses on the individual. That needs transformation as well,
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HH Dalai Lama prescribes maternal love for the lawmakers,
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HH Pope Francis did declare that the crisis is not just an economic crisis but that of values, on Saturday. There are several unusual statements from this address reported in newspapers:
Today, and it breaks my heart to say it, finding a homeless person who has died of cold, is not news. Today, the news is scandals, that is news, but the many children who don't have food — that's not news. This is grave. We can't rest easy while things are this way.
We cannot become starched Christians, too polite, who speak of theology calmly over tea. We have to become courageous Christians and seek out those (who need help most),
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Yes, Francis is right. And I believe that this all. again, points to the need of individual change and enlightenment which will then change society. And I believe that this is what religion in general and Theosophy in particular are trying to create: Good, beneficial change in each person's being to the point that society and the world as we know it changes for the good of all. It can't come too soon.
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