Growth Online > Knowledge Base > Society's Growth  > New Insights into the Nature of Society New Insights into the Nature of Society Society has evolved to its current mental stage, and is just beginning to perceive its spiritual possibilities. Whereas the 20th century was of the common man, the 21st will be of the Spiritual Man.   Introduction to Page Stages of Society's Evolution The Emerging True Individual in Society Potentials & Possibilities for Society Principles of Social Development Organization in Society Recognizing our Progress Anachronisms & Other Negatives in Society Society's Culture (of Behavior & Values) Going Beyond Nature's Slow Progress Supporting Attitudes & Values for Progress Change in Politico-Social Systems Unity & Oneness Thoughts on Human Evolution Misc.   INTRODUCTION TO PAGE (top)   In this section of the Growth Online Knowledge Base, we present our original thoughts, as well as links to our original articles on the Society's Growth topic of "New Insights into the Nature of Society." (If you wish, you can see our other Society's Growth categories.)   STAGES OF SOCIETY'S EVOLUTION (top) What Society Is Society is a Living Organization Society is a living organisation, not a mere functioning organisation. With each part born the society becomes alive and at once each part of the society endeavours to relate with that new part or the newly developed part with a view to integrating with it ultimately. Causes of Social Evolution Causes of the Evolution of Social Life of Collective The social life of the collective is continuous evolving under pressure of its own aspiration to manifest greater powers of life. It is also evolving under the influence of higher-level spiritual determinants working behind the scenes to express higher powers of consciousness. This evolutionary intention expresses subconsciously as the will of the society. This collective will expresses through the actions of individual members of the society pursuing their own interests and aspirations. (MSS)   See Thoughts on the Causes & Process of Development and Evolution in Society   Physical, Vital, Mental, and Spiritual Stages of Society Four Planes of Human Evolution The movement of civilization is Man's evolution  from physicality to vitality to mentality to spirituality. (MSS) Four Stages of Civilization Society has developed through three overlapping stages -- physical, vital, and mental. Over the course of tens of thousands of years humanity has evolved from a society mainly concerned with the physical realities, such as our survival, a life of fear and threat from without, and the need for complete deference to authority; to a stage in which our individual vital needs and wants, including our desire to expand and trade, come into their own; to the present emerging mental stage where peace, freedom, democracy, the fulfillment and empowerment of the individual, the emergence of fast, complex organizations, and the extraordinary power of thought to shape our world for endless progress emerges. Beyond that is the spiritual stage of social evolution where mind is more fully developed to allow multi-sided awareness of truth, instead of the current limited capacity of mind, and where one connects with the spiritual Force that enable the ultimate flowering and transformation of life. Stages of Social Development Society has been developing throughout history through the three overlapping stages - physical, vital, and mental. Each stage is characterized by the predominance of one of the three attributes of human consciousness. The progression from one stage to the next stimulates an exponential increase in the productivity and accomplishments of society. Evolutionary Stages of Society -Just as the universe evolved from matter to life to mind; and the individual parallels that development in his body, his vital, and his mind, so too the society has evolved from a physical state of survival beginning say 100,000 years ago, to a vital stage during the middle of the last millennium, focused on trade, and interaction with others; to a mental stage that he is now currently unfolding in which we see the emergence of freedom, democracy, higher organization, education, and individual self-fulfillment. -There have thus been three stages of social development: the Physical (marked by survival, deference to the collective, etc.); the Vital (marked by human interconnections, travel, business, etc.); and the Mental (freedom, fulfillment, higher organization, etc.). There is also the possibility of a future Spiritual stage.    -The currently emerging Mental stage of social development is indicated by an increase in freedom, democracy, mental inquisitiveness, human fulfillment, and higher levels of organization.   -The Internet is reflective of the further emergence of the power of Mind. The Internet is an outer reflection, form of the Mental stage of human development.   -The more complex and interrelated the systems of an organization is, the more development and evolution there is in society.   -Beyond the mental age of society is the spiritual age, indicated by harmony, unity, collaboration, peace, spiritual connectedness, unlimited infinite potential of accomplishment, success, and joy. There is also the utilization of the Divine Spirit, i.e. the Force (which can also be accessed even in the mental age) to create instant life response, accomplishment, and possibility in life.   Man Emerging into the Mental & Spiritual Dimension A thousand years ago man was physical. His life was elementary. He survived. Today he has multiplied his comforts, enjoyment, reach, mastery a hundred or even a thousand-fold. The progress in one millennium has been phenomenal. This occurred because man moved from being physical to being mental. Though he has not yet acquired a fully formed mental life, a rational life, certainly he has moved away from the physical to the vital life. Both body and vitality accept the guidance of the mind, at least in material matters. Thus, we can say that man today is mental.   If this phenomenal expansion was the result of moving from the physical to the mental, moving from mind to the Spirit can bring another phenomenal expansion of similar magnitude. Today's life will further expand in its richness, inner peace, outer security, harmony and, especially, in Prosperity a thousand-fold. (MSS) Human Relationships in the Three Stages of Social Development Man and society are in the process of transition from the physical/vital to a more vital/mental stage of evolution. Human relationships during the physical stage are determined by blood and physical proximity centered around the family and the local community. Attitudes, ideas, opinions, sentiments, feelings, and emotions toward others derive from this basis and are extremely narrow. Those from a different location are looked on as strangers or foreigners, those of different ethnic background as inferior, those of different religious persuasion as infidels. The most important social value is loyalty to the family and intense emotions of affection and attachment are restricted to members of the family.   As society evolves, human relationships become less dependent on physical factors. Man associates more with people of other communities, nationalities, races, castes, classes and religions. The importance of family ties declines, the importance of social relations and occupational associations increases. The joint family gives way to the nuclear family, social institutions like the company and government offer security and companionship formerly derived from the family. Man offers his loyalty to larger social units -- the company, the class, the nation. His attitudes, sentiments and emotions widen considerably to embrace a much larger segment of humanity beyond his family and locale. He comes to smile at the stranger instead of eyeing him suspiciously. He enquires with curiosity about others' beliefs and cultural traditions, rather than maintaining an aloof sense of superiority. These changes represent a development in human consciousness from the physical to the vital and mental planes. Relationship at the physical level is mere physical attachment to others who are felt as part of oneself, i.e. of the same body. At the vital stage, relationship is based on feeling and sensation, nervous stimulation, the intensity and pleasure of food and sex and companionship with those around. Only when man goes beyond this level can pure emotions and sentiments develop which are not confined and restricted to physical circumstances. Communities have attained this level of cultured relationship in the past, but it has been confined to a small section of the population, usually an aristocratic class freed from the preoccupation with material concerns by generations of wealth and comfort. Today society as a whole is making the transition to this higher level. The spread of education, the extension of social freedom to women and minorities, the dissolution of rigid class barriers, increased social mobility, are aspects of this process which we have described earlier. March of Civilization It is said that civilization began in Mesopotamia. Man took to agriculture and urban living. It was a physical life of the civilized man. Mind was developed in Greece in later centuries. The evolution of Man continued, but elsewhere. It was Rome that developed law, art, and empires. Again it moved. Europe developed science. Now that center of that movement is in USA, which is focusing not so much on Science as Scientific Technology. Before this movement began the Spirit was discovered in India. (MSS) Advance of Civilization and Role of India and US Advance of civilisation arrives at revelations which later become their culture. The Greek's intellectual culture, the Roman's love of law, the European scientific enquiry, British patronage of democracy and the American's excelling in practical organisation are such consummations. The Indian discovery of the Spirit as the underlying principle for all these expressions and their reliance on that spiritual approach to shape their daily life are unique to India.  This is the basis of Sri Aurobindo's statement that India would become the Guru of the world. The world is treating USA as the leader and is taking after her culture. Even in India this is true. I consider this movement in the historical perspective that Nature develops her several facets at several parts of the globe before she achieves her desired consummation. The full cycle of human capacities having been developed successively, what remains now is to unite them all. I see Indians moving to the West in that light. (MSS) Ease in Society Since WWII because of Moving from Vital to Power of Mind Life was negative with a vengeance until 1900, maybe until the end of World War II. It made survival difficult. Most people struggled to hold on to what they had. The question of opportunity was unheard of. When Benjamin Disraeli became the Prime Minister of England, he described his rise as, ï"At last I have reached the top of the greasy pole." In an expressive proverb it is said here that if we rise six inches, there is a slide down of 12 inches awaiting us around the corner. It was so because Mind was not sufficiently organised in those days. Life is a lower force, which was stronger than Mind. (MSS)   The Evolution of Mind/Mentality in Society   The Evolution of Human Consciousness through Three Levels of Mind, and Its Descent Into Life The evolution of human consciousness can be described as the gradual emergence of mentality in the body, life and mind of humanity, reaching its acme in the development of the pure thinking mind in ancient Greece. This ascent of consciousness has been followed by a progressive descent of the power of thinking mind from the development of theoretical, abstract ideas in ancient Greece to the application of mind to organize social life in the days of the Roman Empire and for the conquest of matter in modern times. (MSS)   Hamlet as Symbol of Emergence of the Mental Individual in the Human Collective Hamlet represents the beginning of a new phase in the evolution of Western society - the birth of thinking mind and the emergence of mental individuality in the human collective. Instead of immediately seeking to revenge his father's death, Hamlet begins to contemplate the nature of human existence. He perceives the pretense and falsehood of society. He becomes conscious of his own personal defects. He comes to question the very purpose of life and action. All this is possible, because the thinking mind has been born in Hamlet and that mind is giving shape to his individuality. ... Hamlet is a symbol captured in fiction of a real historical phenomenon that was occurring at the time the play was written .. the collective development of thinking mind and mental individuality in Europe. ... Around the time of Hamlet, some 500 years ago, thinking ceased to be the sole prerogative and preoccupation of a rare few and became the common right and heritage of humanity as a whole. (MSS)   From Thinking Mind to the Spiritual Individual of Tomorrow The emergence of thinking mind has made possible the emergence of mental individuality in humanity. But this is not the end of the journey or the last stage in human evolution. Mind is only a transitional stage and point of departure for our further progress into the realm of spirit and the gradual emergence of the spiritual individual in humanity. While much of humanity has yet to acquire the capacity for conceptual thinking that forms the basis of true mental individuality, our real future lies beyond thought in the application of spiritual power to inform and elevate life. As the pioneers, adventurers, discoverers, inventors and thinkers of the past blazed new trails for humanity to follow, the future of humanity lies along a course that will be blazed and in territory that will be first settled by the spiritual individuals of tomorrow. (MSS)   From Tyranny of the Past to a Future of Fairness The Future is for fairness, not for tyranny. Man was physical at the dawn of civilisation. The physically strong man became the ruler. He was not elected or selected. He foisted himself on those who were weak. People worshipped his strength. The original meaning of the word tyrant was leader. That was so in Greece, where democracy was born. Today man is not so physical or even vital. Mind has emerged in action, if not in mastery. Cruelty is frowned upon... The logic of human existence led the oppressed to worship the oppressor. The present has bid good-bye to tyranny and surely the Future is NOT for tyranny in any form. (MSS)    New Mental Evolution in Society The last 50 years has seen a vast development of the mental consciousness, surpassing the previous 500. Humans are ever more frequently having subtle and psychic experiences indicating a movement towards higher mind. The greater globalism, through greater economic development and dependency, increase in communications and media, indicate an accelerating movement towards the outer oneness of life.   Achievements of Modern Civilization are Mental All achievements of modern civilization are products of mind Democracy Science Technology Industrialization Education Economic development Money Social Organizations - Green Revolution Internet  (MSS)    Rising Expectations in Mental Stage Media, communications and technology is creating rising expectations of all individuals of the world to attain one's individual fulfillment. This is an indicator of the mental stage of development.   Mental Basis of Humanity's Success, and the Spirit & Supermind Potential Beyond Life is Vital, Nature is physical, but man is mental [compared to these]. Humanity's successes were successes of Mind over the lower planes of life and matter. Beyond this lies another plane known as Spirit. It is superseded by the plane of Supermind to which Man and his Mind do have access. (MSS)   Evolution of Civilization from the Physical to Subtle Mentality We do believe that man is becoming more and more civilised with the passage of time. The nomad settled down in one place. He began to grow his own food, learned to build a shelter for himself, acquired a language for communication, and made tools to make work easy. In our view, these were landmarks of civilisation. They were comforts of life. This is how man ceased to be physical and showed signs of becoming mental. Moving from gross physicality to subtle mentality is to civilize oneself. (MSS)   The Vital, Mental, and Spiritual Frontiers of Life to be Organized Life consists of matter, the animus of life, mind, and spirit. In society we are moving well along towards the organization of matter, which enables infinite possibilities in the of the physical realm as seen in machines inventions, technology, roads, infrastructure, shelter, life sciences, medicines, etc. The US is of course in the vanguard here. And yet the rest of life beyond the physical matter remains unorganized. There is pain, suffering falsehood, ignorance, evil, conflict, contradiction, disharmony, hate, desire, attachment, and on and on. This reflects as poverty, war, disease, famine, and many other social ills. This is the vital realm of humanity unorganized. It is the next frontier beyond the organization of matter that we have now been passing through. Such organization inevitable requires the organization of thought, ranging from logical thought to thought that comes as light, illumination, vision, revelation, inspiration, and intuition from spiritual descent, that will be necessary to help organize the vital life. The subtle vital, mental, and spiritual existence remains for all intensive purposes a frontier unexplored. The mental capacities of certain citizens and the deeper spiritual truths of India, now more well-rounded through its acceptance of evolutionary theory, can help the material-oriented US and West, and inevitably the rest of the world, exploit the new opportunities to organize life within across borders of the new frontiers of our vital, mental, and spiritual existence. Development of and Outgrowing the Vital Life of Man Man started on earth with a physical life. He built his house with his own hands and therefore cherished it with a fine sentiment of attachment. He was attached to his wife, children and parents. The attachment ennobled him. He was proud. With the passage of time, his emotions developed and presently he lives by his mind. The mental progress will be impeded if he does not wean himself away from his vital physical attachments. The course of life breaks those attachments and helps him progress in the mental plane. (MSS) Other   Historical World Movements The world evolved from spirit (as in ancient India) to Babylonia as civilization to Middle East as religion to Greece as birth of mentality to culture, trade of the Renaissance to invention of 20th century Europe to practical organization of the US. Now the US in its full materialism meets the ancient Indian spirit through Indian programmers, completing the cycle and tying the head to the tail.   Self-Existing Force of Society Society is a self-existing force which instantaneously converts energy of any level into the next higher level, here force into Power. (MSS) Achievement, Human Choice, and Infinite Capacity In the last 100 years the world has achieved more than it achieved in the previous 500 years. Man's choice has inherently had that power within...The human mind is always capable of that power, because it is Infinite. (MSS)   Economic to Common to Spiritual Man The last few centuries were marked by the emergence of economic man. The 20th century saw the emergence of the common man. This new 21st century will see the emergence of spiritual man.   Physical Vital Evolves to Vital Proper The urge to interact with others beyond one's self moved the vital consciousness of the human from its physical basis to the vital proper. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)   Birth of Freedom and Democracy Sri Aurobindo says that the earliest preoccupation of man is the search for God, Freedom, Light and Immortality. That is man's spiritual quest. This is reflected in his social life as the quest for equality in Knowledge, Power, Status and Capacity. The first visible sign was Martin Luther's break with the Church by which he proclaimed to the world that every man born is equal in the eyes of God. The priest's special right to represent God to others was denied. Man, the Individual, was thus emancipated from the thraldom of Church, the organisation. Kings ruled the nations. The divine right theory sanctioned their right to rule. Democracy was ushered in and every citizen was accorded the right to choose the ruler as well as become the ruler if he is chosen. (MSS) Civilization Building on the Essence of the Past The essence of civilisation is to give up past experience and build upon the essence of that experience. (MSS) The Knowledge or System of Education that enabled Stages of Historical Development Mesopotamia led the world of civilisation. Greece, Rome, Europe, England and USA led the world in succession, Greece by knowledge, Rome by law, Europe by Reformation, England by sea trade and empire. Now USA leads the world by economic power, accumulated wealth and technology. It is noteworthy to see knowledge behind all these movements either in the shape of collective knowledge or system of education.  (MSS) Themes of Each Generation Each society and each man organizes himself around one theme and lives the best part of his life for that. At different periods, society fashions a dominant motive to more fully fulfill itself. It was marriage once, money in another period, name or fame, freedom as in the 1960's, etc. Essence of Past Generations are Carried Forward The essence of past generations is carried forward to following generations. What has been the essence of your generation; the hard work and determination of he WWII generation, the inner and outer freedom of the baby boomers, unprecedented technology of the current generation? Can we recognize each of the essences of previous generations and times? What are they? Nature of Society Society is a sea of nourishing human sensations that constantly inform, educate, organise and lead. (MSS) MSS Articles on Social Evolution Social Evolution Social Evolution in Pride and Prejudice  Also See Thoughts on the Major Stages of World History Also See the Nature of, Potentials, & Possibilities of Individual Nations Also See Society's Movement Toward World Unity     THE EMERGING TRUE INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY (top)   The True Individual of the 21st Century The 20th century was of the common man; the 21st is of the True Individual, the fulfilled psychological and spiritual-oriented Man.   The Spiritually Freed Individual The 20th Century was called the century of the common man. The 21st Century will be the century of the spiritually free individual. (MSS)   Economic to Common to Spiritual Man The last few centuries were marked by the emergence of economic man. The 20th century saw the emergence of the common man. This new 21st century will see the emergence of spiritual man.   The Ultimate Basis for the Emergence of the True Individual The 20th century has been hailed as that of the Common Man. Things that were once only available only to kings -- e.g. education, health care, and a level of abundance -- was now readily available to many if not all. That movement continues to spread around the world until this day. And yet the new 21st century may be known for something even more significant -- the emergence of the true Individual. What is this era about? It is a time where every person on earth is given the opportunity to express his true individuality, the full flowering of personality, a true psychological and spiritual fulfillment in life. It is a huge step beyond the era of the Common Man. The full, true flowering of this New Individual is ultimately made possible through the realization of our True Selves; i.e. where one has penetrated the depths of consciousness within, and has approached and eventually discovered our evolving Souls within. At that point, we are in truly touch with who we really are, our True Nature, which is the ultimate foundation to support the full flowering of our Individuality. All the steps up to it -- e.g. total customized education for all, entrepreneurship that enables us to enter any field and become anything we wish to be, doing what one is inspired to become instead of following the dictates of the social order, the full emergence of personal and social values in life, etc -- will surely facilitate the emergence of this next stage of human evolution. If this is the destiny of the world in this century, is there any leader to guide us? Surely, there will be individual leaders and pioneers of this New Individual Person. However, we already see a general, wider pioneer emerging and leading the world to this new age of the true Individual. It is the United States. For all its crass materialism and its bullying political tactics, it is the evolutionary pioneer leading the world towards the emergence of this New Individual in our young century. The USA is the evolutionary pioneer because within its borders it has allowed for unprecedented individuality amongst its own people. In addition, it is working out all of the conflicts of society amongst a highly varied populace. This attempt to grapple with the varying sides of issues amongst a plethora of people types, is a semi-conscious attempt for further evolutionary progress. This generates a vast internal energy that spreads in various forms throughout the world enabling her to be in the evolutionary vanguard. Ultimately, of course, each of us must find our own way in this emerging new age of individual fulfillment. It is there to be discovered on the outside in fulfilling careers, but it is also to be found within, in ever-higher levels level of consciousness. As we move away from the surface of life towards a deeper poise, as we learn the subtle laws of life, as we are able to move life outside ourselves from within, as we discover the spiritual Power at our disposal, as we connect to the transcendent spiritual reality above and find our true Soul selves within, as we move from ego and selfishness to connection and self-givingness, we experience true fulfillment, which is the true and ultimate basis of an emerging Individual. It is the ultimate foundation and base of the emerging true psychologically and spiritually fulfilled Individual of the 21st century. Positive Social Development Characteristics of Western World in Past 500 Years Over the past five hundred years the entire Western world and more recently the world as a whole have been moving along a course of development that has several identifiable characteristics. (1) Emergence of individuality Societies in the past promoted the development of the collective by constraining the development of their individual members within narrow fixed boundaries. They now seek to actively develop their individual members and to release their energy and initiative as a means to foster the progress of the collective. (2) Benefits spread from elite to wider sections of society Societies in the past developed by a concentration of benefits of development (knowledge, power, privilege and wealth) among a very small portion or an elite class of its members. They are now distributing more of the achievements of the elite to wider sections of the population out of recognition that this makes the society as whole stronger and more stable. Democratization, universal education, human rights, social security and economic opportunity are expressions of this movement. (3) Emergence of weaker sections of society Societies in the past suppressed, exploited or ignored the lower or weaker sections of the population. They are now striving consciously to protect, support and develop those sections through equal rights and equal opportunities for less fortunate individuals and weaker nations. The Emergence of the True Individual in Society Today America rules the world as Great Britain did till the world war. Greece, Rome, and France had such eminence in their time. We see Greece had it on the strength of a culture that enabled it to flower Mind. Rome ruled Europe because of her law. France dominated Europe by her Freedom. Britain's eminence was made possible by her trade. North America dominates the world because the Individual is emerging there in the physical plane. Maybe the Americans are aware of their military, political strength and abundant wealth and do not really see the emerging Individual. That is the route social evolution has chosen. Army, wealth, political power, etc. are the results of the emerging Individual, not vice versa. In the twenty-first century, the Individual will certainly emerge and it will be credited as the century of the Individual. Emerging at the physical level, he ushers in prosperous plenty. At the vital level, he will be the harbinger of Peace expressed as international law and order. At the mental level, the emerging individual will establish the rule of Rationality, abolishing all kinds of superstition, which our present life abounds in. At that level, he will be a psychological individual and his goals will be psychological growth and ethical standards. The real individual is truly spiritual. He will accomplish things from inside and not move in the outer life. (MSS) The True and the Spiritually True Individual Recently the state of California bet on the future of stem cell research in the United States, while most other states hedged their bets for what they considered moral and other considerations. California looked out into the world of possibilities and perceived that this new technology had great promise. Most others were unwilling to make the commitment for a variety of reasons. Rather than listen to the herd (of states), California thought the issue through and made the decision to move forward. As she has done countless times in the past, California thought for itself, rather than follow the pack. As a result, infinite benefit has followed for her and the world in a plethora of domains of life -- including environmentalism, the personal computer, the Internet, biotechnology, the human potential movement, and many others. The 21st century has been marked as the era of the True Individual - i.e. the age where people truly begin to think for themselves. This Individual is no rebel, taking to his own position simply to part with the herd, but is rational and balanced; open to and perceiving the myriad sides of any issue. As a result, that person takes to truth-filled decisions and actions that tend to attract positive outcomes. By making rational decisions based on the multiplicity of truths -- rather than guarding a single truth related to that issue -- that person is far more likely to have an array of facts and insights at his disposal that enable him to rise to the heights, show a particular genius in a field, or be creative in ways unknown in that field.  Whereas the 20th century saw the emergence of the Common Man, the 21st opens the way for this True Individual. Utilizing that earlier-gained freedom, this new person chooses to go further and be rational in the extreme -- thinking for himself beyond the herdal view; seeing all sides of an issue, excluding none; and making judgments that flow from the true truth of things. The emergence of such individuals will not only open the way for accelerating insight, knowledge, and accomplishment, but portends an evolutionary leap for humanity. And yet, to truly perceive the myriad of truths surrounding any object of inquiry requires a consciousness that is open -- that is truth-seeking in the extreme. That capacity however is not readily available when one lives at the surface of life. At that level, one tends to focus on the superficial and mundane; to what is pleasing rather than what is necessary; to what corroborates our own limited opinions, instead of what is true. As a result, we miss out on the preponderance of insight and knowledge that can lead us in the right direction. Or, to put it another way, surface living -- dominated by the auditory and visual inputs from the world around us -- leads to limited perspectives, miscalculations, and error-prone decisions and actions that thwart success and achievement in life. And yet, if one is centered in a deeper consciousness within - in mental and emotional silence; as detached "witness" looking out on the world - then we will be far more receptive to what is unfolding around us; to the wider possibilities in the environment; to the insights and position that others have to offer. As a result, we will have the necessary knowledge to make the right decisions that attract powerful positive outcomes; accelerating both accomplishment and happiness in life. This movement toward a deeper consciousness within that is able to open to vast knowledge and insight is another hallmark of the emerging True Individual. In addition, the way this new person absorbs that knowledge is quite different from the ordinary human method. Not only is information absorbed and processed into ideas and understanding through the normal channels of rational and logical thinking, but it also descends into this person through illuminations and intuitions of thought. Because our consciousness is deeper, wider, and more open, we continually develop new insights; continuously arrive at "aha moments" -- as a myriad of intuitive and revelatory knowledge-experiences enter our minds from the universal planes. As a result, we are able to acquire a many-sided, deep, penetrating knowledge of any matter, which becomes the basis for very right behavior and action in life. This ability to attract knowledge and truth in a flash from the universal domains of life is another hallmark of the True Individual. Yet another dimension of this person is that he or she is constantly creating the new and the dynamic. Through a calm poise, that perceives a many-sided knowledge; through a persistent openness to the life's possibilities, the True Individual is opened to the portals of creativity -- enabling him or her to become the dynamic leader, the ultra-artist, the pathmaker to future realities, the visionary who carries others into a most unexpected future. As this individual moves deeper still to the True Self -- i.e. to the Evolving Soul within -- the descent of truth-knowledge and these spontaneous eruptions of creativity will only accelerate. In fact, whereas the True Individual derives his power predominantly by opening to the myriad of possibilities before him, the True Spiritual Individual opens the doors to the vast array of possibilities of the universal and cosmic planes. The more this person encounters his Soul and True Self, the more knowledge rushes in from the heights; the more creative possibility reveals itself; the more positive outcomes to situations rush to his doorstep. Thus, if I want to know the solution to a problem, I center myself in the deepest depths within, aspire for the solution, and offer it to the Higher Power. As a result, answers quickly, if not instantaneously, pour in from all quarters, as I am able to engage those higher planes directly. At that point, I am not only miles beyond the limited view of the herd, but I have even surpassed the multiplicity of truths that I can garner from my own personal vantage point. I now have a direct, continuous link to the highest planes of consciousness, with the infinite possibilities it continually offers. As a result of these developments, I am no longer just the True Individual, but I have entered the realm of the True Spiritual Individual. The question then is how can we make this somewhat abstract vision of our future real and concrete? We can begin the process of becoming a True Individual by considering any issue that comes before us from all possible sides. As our mind focuses on a subject matter, we should actively seek to know as many sides as possible, while giving up our tendency to focus solely on our own dogged viewpoint or limited perspectives. By taking this approach, we will constantly absorb the necessary knowledge that will enable us to live more dynamic and successful lives. The second step we can take to become a True Individual is to develop a deeper center of consciousness. We can begin to do this by moving our central focus away from the surface of life - from the visual and auditory influences of the surface of life that impinge on and overwhelm our thought processes. Through concentration, meditation, and other means of drawing our focus inward, we are able to shift to a deeper center of awareness from which we are able to perceive the wider possibilities, the multiplicity of truths unfolding around us. As a result, we begin to become free thinkers -- unfettered by the influence of the social imperative; unshackled from our ego sense that is attached to one position at the expense of others; unburdened by our wanting, limiting attitudes and opinions. Through this deep basis, we deep insights continually unfold, we perceive issues from a variety of sides, enabling us get at the heart and essence of any matter. We do so not only through rational, logical thinking, but also through descents of knowledge from the universal planes of life.  As a result, we become free thinkers, dynamic creators and great accomplishers, which in turn energizes us in the extreme -- filling us with deep delight and joy in being alive. By taking these steps, we have the opportunity to partake in a noble experiment. We have the chance to be forerunners of a new type of person, whose existence is not determined by the outer conditions and influences of life, but by one's inner status and being. By taking up this golden opportunity, we can become the pioneers of the 21st century, the pathfinders of tomorrow -- helping humanity take the next decisive, evolutionary step. The Individual is Becoming the New World Leader After the World War, the world has not thrown up a leader of world stature. After the procession of intellectuals who wanted to shape the world according to their ideas - Rousseau, Voltaire, Marx, Russell, Sartre - in the last twenty-five years no single intellectual has attained their stature. Leadership in war and thought has passed away from the collective. This is a phase of social evolution where the INDIVIDUAL emerges. Presently we have a leaderless world. It only means the individual is coming into his own. We see more and more the initiative of thinking is moving to the public, which means the individual is becoming more responsible to the nation. It is high time that the citizen, at least mentally, must take greater responsibility for the future of the country. We do see the phenomenon of public opinion being taken into greater account. The saga of great leaders has gone and the era of the individual is being born. Mind cannot offer that leadership, as even intellectuals of that caliber are vanishing. It is for each individual to become a thinker of the nation's political future. It is better that that individual is the Spiritual Individual who invokes the Spirit and lives by that Spirit. (MSS, abridged)   The Emergence of the True Individual Beyond the Collective Mass -Mankind is a collective mass. Its first step of progress is the emergence of the Individual. -Martin Luther was a symbol of the individual soul awakening. [Man threw the tyranny of the church and kings.] -Democracy is the institution that symbolized that awakening in politics. -It's further expression is the rational Individual in public affairs. -Its height is the Spiritual Individual coming into his own and becoming the leading light in the world. The twenty first century has this mission. -Today, in any field, including science, the voice of the Individual is not heard. The reputed members, the presiding organizations, are the deciding factor today, i.e. society is still a collective entity, not yet an individual phenomenon. The IDEA has not gained importance on its own. -The Spiritual Individual, having discovered himself, goes on to discover the universe. [his universal self through his spiritual self. (MSS extracts; with our comments)   Roark as Example of the Emergence of a True Spiritual Individual The hippy movement originated in the USA as a revolt against the establishment. It was the distance beginning of the emerging individual. Though they were absorbed by the society later, the spirit of their revolt is still alive. The 20th Century was called the century of the common man. The 21st Century will be the century of the spiritually free individual. The novel Fountainhead was published in 1947 by a Russian emigrant who became an American citizen. The hero of the novel is Howard Roark, an architect. To him architecture is his life. He speaks of the integrity of the buildings because he sees them as a whole integrated with every aspect of the environment. Though architecture is an insignificant part of life, for a civilization that is physical, architecture and the buildings are a major part. The hero has all the characteristics of a pioneer and society responds to his pioneering effort as of old. What is new in Howard Roark is his detachment, non-reacting equality, ability not to seek anything, even the woman he is passionately in love with. He never wavers from truth. All these are preeminently features of the spirit. How many rishis [Indian spiritual seekers] will past the test of equality [i.e. non-reaction to positive or negative] is a valid question. In that sense, Roark exceeds the rishis. The author portrays him as a supreme egotist. He describes himself as a selfish man. He is obviously without the vital, mental ego. He is not aware of the spiritual character of his endowments. If such a character is produced in a novel written in 1947, though it is written by a Russian emigrant, it means in the collective - USA as well as the world -there must be a readiness to produce many more of his type. Liberated Individual Can Solve World's Problems If this shall be the century of the liberated INDIVIDUAL, we will see that he will abolish all of the problems of the world himself when freed. (Paraphrase of MSS) What Society Passes to the Individual, & What He Can Be Beyond This Influence -Act - Activity - System - organisation - institution - culture - collective sensitivity - Individual sensitivity - (Physical, vital, mental) is a continuous chain. -Society passes social organization to its individual members in terms of values, attitudes and sensitivities at the physical, vital and mental level. The person who expresses these attributes is expressing a social endowment not an individual one. His sensitivity is an acquired expression of the collective will. His insistence on cleanliness, punctuality, honesty, loyalty are characteristics of the society internalized. Their becoming individual traits take sit to perfection as well as impersonalisation. -The individual absorbs the social endowment but is not limited by it. -The inspired leader acquires the skills, attitudes and values of the social collective but does not allow their attitudes or expectations to limit his vision, aspirations or actions. He becomes a true vital individual who acts on the society expressing his individual inspiration rather than acting out the social formula. He becomes a leader like Gandhi. The genius acquires all the knowledge and though processes of the society but does not permit his thought processes to be circumscribed by them. He moves back from the collective inheritance to the individual capacity for thought and opens to inspiration and intuition from above. In that measure he becomes a true mental individual. He becomes a genius. Beyond that is the spiritual individual who is not limited by the formulas or realizations of the past but is moved by an original inspiration from the soul. (MSS-GJ) Organization to Institution Power is greatest and most efficient where its exercise is automatic, subconscious as in the body's autonomic nervous system and in the systems of a company. Very true. At this stage, society calls it culture, tradition, custom, way of life. We say at this stage organization changes into institution. (MSS) Continuum of Being from One's Manners to the True Individual Being We can know ourselves on a continuum from the outer social person to the innermost True Individual being of the person. The most outer social aspect of the person is his manners. A level deeper is the behavior of the person, which is the observation of the social person that there is a truth in manners. Deeper still is the person's character, which reflects the combination of predominant human traits he expresses. The person tends to be born with such a character, and it is unlikely to change much in the course of his life. Deeper still is the less organized personality of the person, which forms in times of new challenging situations in one's life. Deeper still is the Individuality of the person (capital I), which is the person's ability to touch his inner, psychic being, his personal soul that has attached to his particular body. Man Must Step Forward to Claim All His Rights Man has the right to vote, he has the right to liberty, right of assembly, right to express his opinion and enjoy many other rights. Still, he does not have all the rights that are his due. There are rights granted to him by the government or society as a concession, perhaps in the spirit of condescension or charity. Only when he emerges as an individual, asserts his presence, comes forward to TAKE his rights as his birthright, not as a matter of consideration, will he come into his own RIGHT. [This is as MSS says elsewhere the voicing of the Right of MAN, the individual. -editor] (MSS)   See Additional Thoughts on the Emerging True Psychological Individual   See Thoughts on the Emerging True Spiritual Individual   The Role of the Pioneer Individual in Society   Thoughts on Spirituality for the Individual   Thoughts on Spirituality in Society   POTENTIALS & POSSIBILITIES FOR SOCIETY (top)   The Evolutionary Intention Expressing through Society and Individual The social life of the collective is continuous evolving under pressure of its own aspiration to manifest greater powers of life. It is also evolving under the influence of higher-level spiritual determinants working behind the scenes to express higher powers of consciousness. This evolutionary intention expresses subconsciously as the will of the society. This collective will expresses through the actions of individual members of the society pursuing their own interests and aspirations. Untitled There is no limit to what we as a person or as a society can achieve. We are only limited by our own belief systems. "We become what we believe we can become." (Bhagavad-Gita).  Society's Potential Society has infinite potential for accomplishment, joy, and evolution.   Infinite Potential of Society One of my perennial arguments is society has an infinite power in potential. No society, it is my belief, can ever decline unless its ways of management strangles its sources of productive energies. It was a great truth in 1929. Half the world was ruined because of the crash. At such a moment, one section of the society exhibited the above vigour. (MSS)   A Definition of Development Development is the process of continuously enhancing the capacity of society to respond to opportunities and challenges by increasing its level of organization. (MSS) Evolution of Society Like the individual, like society as a whole, each country is evolving.   Survival, Growth, Development and Evolution Life exists in the grades of survival, growth, development and evolution. An agriculture society changing into an industrial society is evolution. A famine stricken population avoiding extinction by its brave struggle is survival. A middle class family that faces a slide down into a lower class fighting back successfully is also survival. An empty house of a middle class family acquiring all consumer durables is growth. A self-employed person having moved into that position from salaried employment is development. (MSS)   New Evolution and Oneness in Society The last 50 years has seen a vast development of the mental consciousness, surpassing the previous 500. Humans are ever more frequently having subtle and psychic experiences indicating a movement towards higher mind. The greater globalism, through greater economic development and dependency, increase in communications and media, indicate an accelerating movement towards the outer oneness of life.   Society Knowing Process of Creation Society will radically accelerate the rate of its development when it understands the process that makes it grow and develop.   Achievement, Human Choice, and Infinite Capacity In the last 100 years the world has achieved more than it achieved in the previous 500 years. Man's choice has inherently had that power within...The human mind is always capable of that power, because it is Infinite. (MSS) Man Emerging into the Mental & Spiritual Dimension A thousand years ago man was physical. His life was elementary. He survived. Today he has multiplied his comforts, enjoyment, reach, mastery a hundred or even a thousand-fold. The progress in one millennium has been phenomenal. This occurred because man moved from being physical to being mental. Though he has not yet acquired a fully formed mental life, a rational life, certainly he has moved away from the physical to the vital life. Both body and vitality accept the guidance of the mind, at least in material matters. Thus, we can say that man today is mental. If this phenomenal expansion was the result of moving from the physical to the mental, moving from mind to the Spirit can bring another phenomenal expansion of similar magnitude. Today's life will further expand in its richness, inner peace, outer security, harmony and, especially, in Prosperity a thousand-fold. (MSS) Trade as Preliminary of World Union Now that Nature has completed one round [of its evolution of civilization], all the different aspects must be brought together as a whole on earth. Sri Aurobindo says it will come about as World Union. Trade is now globalize. It is a movement of bringing all of the nations together in the field of trade. It is a natural prelude to a united humanity on earth. (MSS) Mind's and Spiritual Mind's Multiplier Effect in Society The computer and Internet revolution are indicators of the further emergence of the mental consciousness in society. Anything that enhances that movement has a multiplier effect. E.g. for each information technology job that is created, a dozen or more other related jobs are created directly or indirectly. The mind and its mental application through works in society has that multiplier power. Society's implementation of mind centered in the spiritual consciousness has that potential effect to the infinite degree. A Resource, a Multiple Resource, and Resourcefulness -If one can go to a source several times, it becomes a resource. -One can do so for the same purpose or different purposes. That source which lends itself to be of use again and again for different purposes is considered a multiple resource. -Minds that are so, are described as prolific. -Sand is one such resource when apart from being a raw material for house building and glass making, it lends itself to be used for making chips. Electricity was found useful for hundreds and thousands of purposes. Coal proved to be so earlier. When we look at these phenomena closely, we may feel that it is our MINDS that make raw materials resourceful. -Mind is far more resourceful than matter or material objects. -Spirit is the origin of the Mind. Logically, it must be more resourceful than mind. (MSS, extracted, reorganized) Inner Well-being of Society The collective of humanity seeks inner well-being when its external needs are over-fulfilled. (MSS)    Real Underpinnings of Today's Social Change Social and cultural changes are having even more impact than technological change. Recognizing this will put computer and Internet in its proper perspective. And that will make the Internet socially creative. The Courage to Take up Society's Opportunities Society is constantly throwing up new opportunities. But individuals in the society have no courage to resort to the new opportunities created by the society because the very same society will condemn such a pioneer effort. So we must learn to have the courage to take up the opportunities despite what society says. This applies to the average individual in his or another field, the leader of the company or of the nation, etc. Sometimes we must take up such pioneering efforts outside of or in spite of the normal bounds of the current organization or structure. People see the results of opportunities taken up, but not the opportunities that arise. (MSS) World is Unreceptive to New Ideas: We Can Find out Why -The world is not receptive to new ideas, particularly new boons. If one goes on the Internet and learns how the major discoveries were received by the world, one will be appalled at the treatment they had received. The world was conservative. It is conservative to the core today. -Man is conservative, traditional and will oppose tooth and nail every good thing that develops.     -It will be a GREAT project for a PhD student of an advanced university if he lists all the BOONS at our doorstep - organisational, political, technological, educational, social, etc. - and evaluates them in terms of their contribution and records the reception they get at various levels of the society. Man's dire need is AWAKENING to the new world that is springing up around him. (MSS) Accepted Givens of Modern Life are Being Thrown Out Several such statements - a leader is born, intelligence does not grow, the throne is not for us, you must be born into the royal family - are giving way to the modern realities. In modern times, all kinds of people are becoming heads of state, PhD is awarded to people not innately intelligent, based on training. It means leadership and intelligence are acquired. (MSS) Higher Values that Have Not Come Yet into Society Truth has never been valued in any society like any of the above.  Values, devotion, loyalty, and purity have not yet come into their own in any period in any country. (MSS)   The Emerging Creative Class Those regions of society fostering great independence of thinking, more creativity, and dynamic individual lifestyle attract those individuals that develop into a creative class that enables regional boom. It is yet a further instance of the educated class being the catalyst of great society. Creativity is the highest aspect of education, which has been the catalyst and spearhead of our society. Thus the Creative Class is the highest aspect of the education spearhead, giving it its most power. Moreover, this Creative Class is unconscious of its own dominant role in society. If it becomes conscious it can lead our society in many ways, including overcoming many of its problems. (Paraphrase of MSS) Power of Creativity in Society Even more significant than our being an information or knowledge economy is the fact that we are a creative economy. We are becoming conscious of the power of creativity to enable success, and we are systematizing this fact in work and in our lives. It is the decisive source of competitive advantage. The economy by definition becomes creative when it self-generates jobs, service, and Prosperity. The Internet enables this. See Comments on Creativity for the Individual and Society   The Vital, Mental, and Spiritual Frontiers of Life to be Organized Life consists of matter, the animus of life, mind, and spirit. In society we are moving well along towards the organization of matter, which enables infinite possibilities in the of the physical realm as seen in machines inventions, technology, roads, infrastructure, shelter, life sciences, medicines, etc. The US is of course in the vanguard here. And yet the rest of life beyond the physical matter remains unorganized. There is pain, suffering falsehood, ignorance, evil, conflict, contradiction, disharmony, hate, desire, attachment, and on and on. This reflects as poverty, war, disease, famine, and many other social ills. This is the vital realm of humanity unorganized. It is the next frontier beyond the organization of matter that we have now been passing through. Such organization inevitable requires the organization of thought, ranging from logical thought to thought that comes as light, illumination, vision, revelation, inspiration, and intuition from spiritual descent, that will be necessary to help organize the vital life. The subtle vital, mental, and spiritual existence remains for all intensive purposes a frontier unexplored. The mental capacities of certain citizens and the deeper spiritual truths of India, now more well-rounded through its acceptance of evolutionary theory, can help the material-oriented US and West, and inevitably the rest of the world, exploit the new opportunities to organize life within across borders of the new frontiers of our vital, mental, and spiritual existence. Filling in the Gap A gap is its potential; whether it is between concentrated wealth at the top of society and the paucity at the bottom; or between the rich nations and the poor; or between my infinite potential and my current status; or between an Integral Knowledge supported by universal consciousness and my Ignorance supported by my ego-sense and separateness. Filling in the gap is then an important reason why we are here on earth. The Organization Differential that Shows as Suffering The differential between the energy that is blossoming as a new expansion in society and the organization of that society to sustain that expansion shows itself as the acute pains, problems, and sorrows we see all around us.    On "Doubling" Silicon Valley's famed Moore's Law suggests that emerging technologies will double in their power every 18 months. Can't we apply this law to other parts of society? Couldn't we double our productivity rate in that period, or as improbable as it seems, double Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in that period? A practical concept of infinity says that we can bring in the higher consciousness and spirit to enable infinite results where we now see finite possibilities. If that is the case, then who is to say what we are limited by.   What other areas can we apply Moore's technological law to? How about doubling our consciousness! In one sense, this is much easier to do, once we know the method. It's just a question of True Education, which we can learn on our own by knowing one's True Self, or which can be acquired in the future by the public through an education system of True Knowledge.   How a New Opportunity Taken Up Spreads [Here's how a new opportunity taken up spreads:] The pioneer, the leader, the Avatar, etc., broaches the subject to the world. It comes to be accepted long after. Some token experiments succeed. It spreads as an initial wave. Slowly either the government or the society or both take it up, give life to it and sponsor it, give support in the form of a new organisation. That has been the history of any successful social movement until now. (MSS)   Emergence of New Leader Reflecting Undercurrent Change in Society Subconscious collective society in its self-conceptive self-determinism throws up a conscious leader when it is mature, having changed its old attitudes into new ones, so that it may move from its physical vital experience to mental comprehension by its own conscious awakening of discarding its anachronisms. (MSS) Reconciling Material Prosperity and Spiritual Realization in the World -The world fulfils itself by relating the two ends of Material Prosperity and Spiritual realization. It is its destiny. -The spiritual realization of India which was at one point partial has become whole in recent decades as a result of the evolutionary realizations of individuals such as Sri Aurobindo that took India beyond her static spiritual wisdom. -The practical organization of the US is currently physical which enables material prosperity. However, the practical organization of the US must rise from its physical basis to a spiritual basis. -One or more individuals, by living a life that includes both, can build the bridge between, reconcile the two worlds of material prosperity and spiritual realization. Such individuals can then develop their shortest method into The Formula of life, which the whole world can then readily follow, fulfilling its purpose and destiny. (Paraphrase of MSS) One's Spirit Connecting to Society's Spirit Enables Boom When a writer or the leader or other skilled individual has touched the Spirit in his own inspiration in his field, it touches the Spirit of the population also. This individual Spirit calling the social Spirit creates a live ever-increasing movement, a boom, e.g. of sales or popularity. Anyone who is patient enough to invoke the Spirit in his own life, who acts on his own faith in Spirit rather than his own individual capacities to succeed, will witness such a boom in his own life. How far it will rise depends upon how far he is in tune with the Spirit of the Times. With the spiritual Force ever-increasing in the atmosphere, this phenomenon of interrelated Spirit is ever-more likely to burst out into boom. (Paraphrase of MSS) Overcoming Society's Falsehood If society is Ignorant and (especially) False, what are the direct strategies that will enable it to become Knowledgeable and True? In whatever they do, in their present professions and homes, members should discover their personal evolving souls. Current Movements Appeared Mildly in Distant Past -The integral nature of society or creation is such that any farfetched ideal humanity has had, had its distant mild echo in the past. -Our rule is nothing can emerge which is not in the Absolute. That Absolute seems to be peeping at us from the distant past. (MSS) The Future is for Sincerity of Truth The future is not for Ignorance or Superstition. Nor is it for the insincerity of the art of diplomacy. It is for the Truth of Sincerity. In one of Her messages the Divine Mother says, ï"Men, countries and continents, Truth or the abyss". The Future is not for rituals and ceremonies. It is not for religion or religious worship. The Future is for the Spirit. (MSS)  The New in Society Emerging from the Lowest The new always emerges from out of the lowest level of society, as its lack of formation permits the new to emerge.  (MSS) Bridging Material Prosperity and Spiritual Realization in the Hour of God It has been said that the Hour of God is here. On earth it is fulfilled by relating the two ends of Material Prosperity and Spiritual Realization. One person can join these two ends, and through his experience present the Formula of Life for all the world to take up, enabling the rapid fulfillment of this auspicious time for Man. (Paraphrase of MSS) God Seeks Man Since 1956 Since 1956 when the Force descended on earth, God seeking Man more than Man seeking God has become a greater reality. We see no God, we see only how prosperous we are. Prosperity is the God for the householder. The Force came down on earth in 1956 but began to act through the governments in 1967. From then onwards its action is more and more pronounced. Just now Man is surrounded by a plethora of social opportunities. Psychologically it is greater. (MSS) MSS Articles on the Nature & Potentials of Society Organization of Personality ... MSS Article Movement of Freedom from Agriculture to Internet  MSS Articles on Social Evolution Social Evolution Social Evolution in Pride and Prejudice  Also See Society's Movement Toward World Unity Also See Development of Individual Nations PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (top)   General | The Process of Social Development     General The Fabric of the Social Organization The social organization consists of a single interconnected fabric. The threads and the weave of the fabric are formed by the multidimensional interaction of social activities, organizations, institutions and values. The fabric varies in thickness and density of weave, being most concentrated in large, highly developed urban centers. Development is the process by which the fabric of the social organization increases in density, quality, complexity, and geographic extension.   Definition of Development for Society Development is the process of continuously enhancing the capacity of society to respond to opportunities and challenges by increasing its level of organization.   Development is a Process Development is a process not a program. Development is not the result of a set of policies or programs. It is the result of a process by which society moves from lesser to greater levels of energy, efficiency, quality, productivity, complexity, comprehension, creativity, enjoyment and accomplishment. (MSS)   Unconscious to Conscious Development The natural process of development is unconscious. It proceeds by a slow, cumbersome, trial and error process from experience to knowledge. Conscious development moves in the other direction from knowledge to experience. The more conscious the process, the more rapid the progress. Education is an essential prerequisite for conscious development. (MSS)   Historic Stages of Social Development Society has been developing throughout history through the three overlapping stages - physical, vital, and mental. Each stage is characterized by the predominance of one of the three attributes of human consciousness. The progression from one stage to the next stimulates an exponential increase in the productivity and accomplishments of society.   Development for the Individual, Organization, Society The same principles are applicable to development at the level of the individual, the organization and the society. (MSS)   Principles are Similar at Various Levels Political, social, economic and technological development are various expressions and dimensions of the development of the human collective. The same principles of development are application to all fields of social existence. The same principles are applicable to development at the level of the individual, the organization and the society.   Relationship of Social Development & Individual Development All development reduces to the development of human beings. The continued growth in the capacity of human beings to conceive, design, plan, allocate, systematize, standardize, coordinate and integrate actions, systems, organizations and knowledge into larger, more complex and productive arrangements is responsible for the process of social development. (MSS)   Theory of Social Development Theory of Social Development is a formulation of the higher intellectual consciousness in such a way as the million facts of life are systematized into a single system.  (MSS)     The Process of Social Development   Stages for Process of Development for Society There are three essential stages in the process of development for society. In the first stage the society is prepared to move to a higher level of development through its surplus energies, awareness of possibilities, and its aspiration to see the possibilities through. In the second stage pioneer individuals in society express the aspiration in various ways. Finally, in the third stage the initiative of pioneering individuals are accepted, organized, and integrated in society. (MSS)   Energy and Social Development A society is prepared for development when it possesses the requisite surplus energy, awareness and aspiration. Surplus energy is the fuel for development. Each developmental achievement requires an enormous investment of energy in new and higher forms of behavior. Surplus energy is generated when society has fully organized and mastere