by sushilydv » Mon 13 Aug 2007, 03:16:02
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('I_Like_Plants', '
')When I was a lot younger I was actually pissed off by the Indian goal of, in old age, living simply and using little, even eating little. That was the exact opposite of what American life, the life I was brought up in, was all about. In the US I'd say at least 90% of the people believe that the more you have, the better person you are. When you die you should leave behind 2-3 houses, about 5 cars, lots of kids, tons of grand-kids, the houses full of all the latest consumer goods or conversely, "vintage" or "antique" stuff you paid way too much for, etc. Person = consumer and consumer = person. The bigger the consumer the better the person. I think it's pretty obvious big = good in the US!
I realized that if the Indian "swami" goal is correct, then the world works VERY differently than I was taught, that the world has limits, that we're not going to have endless progress and all take vacations on the Moon like the books we read as kids taught us.
It's only upon learning about Peak Oil that I have learned the swamis are right.
I_Like_Plants,
Thanks for expressing your views. In the East saints and sages had discovered thousands of years ago that we find peace and happiness when we learn to control our breathing rate - when we learn to slow down the breathing rate the subjective state of Mind becomes peaceful.
The tragedy is - after Industrialization and Globalization, India [and all countries of East] are becoming just like West. The East no longer exists - the entire world has become West.
Today 50% of world population - 3 bilion people are living in cities. The necessary work of growing/producing Food is being done outside cities - in villages and countryside. Most of the people living in cities are engaged in unnecessary work - making things, buying things and selling things. The switch-over from Physical work to Mental work/ Desk job has led to an endless cycle of unnecessary and destructive work.
Life was never good in the past.
Life will never be good in future.
Life can never be good.
Suffering is a part of life - an inherent feature of life. Suffering can never be eliminated.
There is Physical suffering - There is Mental suffering.
In pre-industrial society there were physical diseases caused by virus and bacteria.
In modern society there are hundreds of lifestyle related physical diseases - Cancer, Stroke, Diabetes, Obesity, Multiple Organ Failures.
Mental suffering will always exist. It exists in agrarian society. It exists in industrial society. As soon as we stop working we experience mental suffering.
We avoid mental suffering by working ceaselessly.
There is no higher purpose behind work.
People do not work because they want to work.
People work because they cannot stop working.
The energy generated by the food we eat forces us to work ceaselessly.
Energy = Energy[Physical Work] + Energy[Mental Work] + Energy[Suffering/ Subjective Experience]
All three energies on the right side are inversely proportional to one another.
When we do hard physical work or hard mental work or a combination of physical work and mental work almost all energy is used up in doing work.
When we stop physical work and mental work the unused energy is experienced as suffering/ anxiety/ restlessness/ discomfort. This suffering is so intense - so unbearable - that most people cannot stop physical activity and mental activity simultaneously for even 2 minutes - they can stop work/activity only under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
People do not work because they want to work.
People do not work for their family.
People do not work for their nation.
People do not work for any reason.
People work because they cannot stop working.
It does not matter what kind of work we do - whether it is physical work or any kind of mental work. As soon as we stop working we suffer from restlessness, anxiety, uneasiness and discomfort.
[ In Yoga and Meditation the goal is to stop Physical Activity and Mental Activity simultaneously - and then transform the subjective-experience of restlessness/ anxiety/ suffering into peace. This requires ability and years of effort ]
For most people the choice is between physical and mental work.
The switch-over from physical work to mental work is disastrous for the planet.
Man can do the same physical work every day.
Man cannot do the same mental work every day.
When man used to do physical work ( farming and related activities ) he could do the same repetitive work day after day- generation after generation.
After the Industrial Revolution when man switched-over to mental work he began a never ending process of making new machines / things / products-- a process which can only end with the complete destruction of environment ( planet ).
When society switches over from physical work to mental work it starts making thousands of consumer goods. People start calling them necessities. They are not necessities at all - 90% of consumer goods that we see today did not exist 50 years ago.
Food, Water, Air, Little clothing, Little Shelter - these are necessities.
Close your nose and stop breathing for a few minutes - you will then know what necessity is.
Stop drinking water for a few days - you will then know what necessity is.
Stop eating food for a few days - you will then know what necessity is.
Today people are making thousands of consumer goods - not because they are necessities - but because they cannot stop making them. People cannot stop doing work - After switching over to mental work they will keep on making thousands of unnecessary consumer goods. Industrial Society is destroying necessary things
[Animals,Trees,Air,Water and Land] for makng unnecessary things
[Consumer Goods]. This is the reason why the switch-over from physical work to mental work is so destructive. This is the point of no-return - once this is crossed the destruction of Environment/ Nature is inevitable.
If we live a simple life there is individual suffering - but no largescale destruction of Environment.
If we live a consumerist life there is individual suffering - plus largescale destruction of Environment.
sushil_yadav
Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment
FreeInfoSociety
ePhilosopher
Corrupt
ForeignPolicy
).
