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Growth Online > Knowledge Base > Society's Growth > Society's Movement Toward World Unity
Society's Movement Toward World Unity
by Roy Posner and MSS
What World Unity Is | Methods and Stages of World Unity
Recent Developments in World Unity
World Unity as Evolutionary Destiny
World unity is the evolutionary destiny of the world.
Goal of Humanity is Unity
The goal of humanity now, as it has been from its ORIGIN, is unity of diverse groups. (MSS)
Unity and Oneness
Unity and Harmony are manifestations of the source spiritual quality or aspect we call Oneness.
The world is moving toward greater unity and harmony.
The unity of the peoples of the world would become deeper and more profound, more encompassing, as we evolved as a species.
Our Destiny of World Unity
Ultimately there is the Oneness of the world that is trying to emerge. A Oneness of heart among the people of the earth; and understanding that we each have a spark of the Divine within ourselves, and that another's spark is as relevant to ourselves as our own spark. World Unity and Oneness is our destiny, and the current difficulty is an important marker and milestone along the way.
World Unity as Expression of Unity of the Divine Source
The Divine Source of all is unified in all aspects of being. In the evolution of life in the universe we rediscover that inherent unity. It expresses through ever greater levels of world unity.
Unity Within Diversity
Sri Aurobindo spoke of "unity within diversity". In terms of nations we can say the world is moving towards world unity, all the while embracing the full rich diversity of every member nation.
Sri Aurobindo and World Unity
Sri Aurobindo, the Indian sage and visionary wrote about the inevitable movement toward world unity and harmony in his voluminous writings including The Human Cycle and The Ideal of Human Unity. In fact many of our own conclusions have their roots in insights and trends that he envisioned so many years ago, and which are interestingly more relevant than ever today. For example, over seventy years ago he envisioned a united Europe, and then later a united world.
See Thoughts on the Evolutionary Destiny of the World
See Thoughts on Unity and Oneness in Society
Methods and Stages of World Unity
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Methods by Which Unity is Achieved
Unity is achieved by coexistence, cooperation, coordination, partial integration, and full integration by complete assimilation. (MSS)
Harmony for Individual, Society
Just as a human can evolve to create harmony and integration of his being, so society is moving toward unity and harmony.
Movements Toward Human Unity
-Just as an individual can grow and evolve, so can an institution, a nation, and the world itself. In other words, the world, like the individual, is undergoing its own growth, development, and evolution.
-Likewise, just as we as individuals can progress and evolve by creating a higher level of unity and oneness with others and the world around us, so can institutions, nations, and the peoples of the world. As the world moves in that direction it is in essence moving towards higher levels of world unity.
-There are many levels of world unity, ranging from the political to the economic to the social to the cultural to the psychological to the spiritual. The European Union is a recent example of political and economic integration, as was the UN earlier on. We are for the most part now at a relatively early point of political and economic integration and unity.
-If we deeply bond with the social and cultural values of other peoples, we will be taking an even greater leap towards world unity. Look for that to occur in the coming decades. Beyond that is the psychological unity of the world, where the peoples of the world are so connected with one another that their shared purpose and emotional intensity toward one another is as great as one might feel towards members of one's own family.
At the spiritual level of world unity, there is the greatest bond and unity, as we have a shared experience of the Spiritual Reality, which reveals our ultimate purpose of life on earth, and an extreme delight and joy of being.
Stages of World Unity
The world is moving to ever higher forms of unity from economic to social to cultural to spiritual. We are barely well into the first phase, yet there is a rapid movement underway towards these ultimate goals. Economic globalization, the UN, the European Union are merely the first signs of greater forms of world unity, culminating in a Divine life on earth.
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)
Conflict Economic Globalism and Energy Issues Bring World to Higher Unity
The conflicts of the emergence of economic globalism is bringing the world to greater world unity. The issue of energy and oil supplies does the same.World Unity Now Shallow
The movement toward world unity is only shallow at this point. We care for others in other countries mainly because of the trade and economic benefit we derive through out interactions. At a higher level of unity we would care about their culture. At a higher level still we really care about the well-being and happiness of people in that country as we would our own community.
Stages of World Unity
World unity goes through several stages from physical to vital to mental to spiritual, which explicitly manifest as a sequence from military to economic to social and cultural to spiritual unity of Oneness. We are currently barely into the economic stage.Movements Toward World Unity
This movement from a kind of tolerant cooperation, to a deeper collaboration, is a movement of unity between nations; in this case of economic unity. The same applies to political unity, cultural unity, and even a spiritual unity.In a way you can say it's a movement from self to other; from Ego to Whole. From the self and ego of the nation itself to the whole of the integration with neighbor and to the world at large. I think each country goes through this in relation to every other country.
This also implies that in it own development within itself it moves towards higher levels of integration. So the nation itself just like the individual becomes more integrated. This then creates the personality and character of the nation, which then integrates with other nations on the world stage. If we can evaluate nations and the integration of nations this way it will greatly help us develop more positive strategies that will lead to greater integration and unity.
World for the Individual; Individual for Collective All
The ever-increasing interconnectedness of the peoples of the world is a sure sign of an ever-accelerating world unity.
There is a dual movement in the world; the empowerment and fulfillment of the individual (i.e. the perfection of "the one") and the unification of the people's of the world (i.e. perfection of "the many," the collective).
Social unity evolves from the vital impulse of commerce, travel, and interaction (where we are as much concerned by what we get as what we give) to higher impulses indicated by our identity of the needs and concerns of others as to opposed to what we get in return (e.g. concern for economic prosperity of others, their political and social stability, their culture, interests, even their accomplishment, happiness, and joy. At the higher spiritual level of impulse their is a complete identity and oneness with other societies, where there needs cannot be separated from our own.
Sub-social units are evolving similarly. For example, family unit may be evolving similarly, where we evolve from our main concern for only our own families, to other families, friends, and associates beyond. Businesses are most successful when the leaders are not merely concerned with their interests (sales, profits, success), but with the concerns of the customers, and even more so to their own employees. Total concern for employees brings the business to a state of unity, which can attract infinite accomplishment.)
"All for one, and one for all." (Dumas)
Sri Aurobindo’s Multi-Faceted Dream
The great seer and sage Sri Aurobindo imagined five steps that would usher in the evolution and transformation of humanity, enabling what he called a Divine Life on earth. The first was the emergence of Asia into prosperity and cultural influence. That has surely begun, especially in the past decade or so. Her influence upon the thought of the world is bound to grow by leaps and bounds in the years to come.
The second was the prosperity and emergence of India. That too is well under way. For until she attains economic well being, she cannot ascend to her rightful role as the spiritual Guru of the world -- another of the five steps Sri Aurobindo dreamed of.
Another mighty step towards a spirit-base Divine life on earth is the emergence of human unity, which is presaged by world alliances, culminating in world governance. The European Union (EU) is perhaps the first step in that direction in that it creates an alliance and unity of closely aligned nations. In the EU, disparate cultures are aligned to create a single entity that unifies all of them. Even the united states that make up the USA is not such an alliance. In the USA, the coming together of the states, actually gave the individual states identity, whereas in the EU the identify of each nation is fully formed, and yet they are wiling to unify for a higher identity and purpose.
Other such regional unifying alliances, along with a world parliament and perhaps a world army would be further steps in the march towards the unity of nations and the unity of the world.
There is also a spiritual component to Sri Aurobindo’s vision. One is for India and one for the individuals of the earth. For India, she can rediscover the great spiritual wisdom of the ancient Rishis -- perhaps the greatest inner spiritual wisdom and experience ever known to Man -- and apply that spiritual knowledge to the economic, social, and cultural life of her people. In that way, she can become a living experiment of the power of the spirit. If she succeeds, she can take her rightful place as the Guru of the World.
Finally, disparate individuals around the world can begin to come to know the spirit in their individual lives; discovering it within in the depths of their being down to the evolving Soul and by opening to and surrendering to the descending Force above, and then applying that Spirit existence in the details of their lives. In the process, they will invariably transform all aspects of their being – mental, psychological, vital/emotional, and physical, and develop capacities to attract good fortune around them instantaneously from within. When a cadre of such individuals emerge around the world -- especially when they have made what Sri Aurobindo calls the ultimate Supramental change, where the descending Force and Truth Consciousness has permeated all aspects of their being -- then they will create the fifth and final condition for a Divine life on earth to come about.
The emergence of Asia, the prosperity of India, the movements towards world unity, the spiritual emergence of India and her ascent to become the Guru of the world, and the full blossoming of transformed spirit-oriented individuals are the intervening steps that can usher in a Divine Life on earth and fulfill Sri Aurobindo’s ultimate dream for humanity.
See Thoughts on the Evolutionary Stages and March of History
Recent Developments in World Unity
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Vast Evolutionary Profess in Last Fifty Years
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.End of Cold War and World Unity
The end of the Cold War because is probably the most significant event in the last twenty years. Obviously the agreements between the US and the former Soviets has reduced tensions greatly in the world. This allows more of the world to live out its potential; unfettered and reigned in by the ideological conflicts of the past.I think the most significant thing in this regard is that this is yet another step in the movement toward human unity, which I believe is the greatest underlying force and movement in the world. The end of the Cold War, economic collaboration, cooperation, and integration, the emergence of the European Union, the interest in the world's environment highlighted by the Kyoto accord, and other global associations and agreements, are all further signs of a movement of the world toward greater world integration and unity.
At Growth Online we talk a lot about the development of the individual. How a person unconsciously or consciously, very slowly or very quickly, moves in the course of one's life towards a higher state of being and consciousness. This is normally referred to as "personal growth," or even "personal evolution."
Well the world is going through a similar process; a process that also takes place consciously or unconsciously, quickly or slowly, to higher states of growth, development, and evolution.
I believe that the events I just mentioned are further indications of the world's growth, evolution, and even transformation. Furthermore, just as the destiny of the individual is to integrate the different aspects of one's own self, so the destiny of the world is the integration of the many aspects -- social, political, economic, cultural, and spiritual aspects -- of its being. That overall resulting movement is toward world integration and unity.
Levels of Collective Change in Consciousness in the World
Is there a collective movement in higher consciousness under way?Undoubtedly we are in a new age where a new consciousness is emerging. It is happening in ways that for the average person are too subtle to be perceived. Even for the conscious person, it is happening in ways that are beyond the spiritual traditions or even the New Age movements. That is why Sri Aurobindo's perceptions of this new world are so helpful, because he lays out the general parameters so clearly. Karmayogi has extended this knowledge into the major fields of life.
If it is a collective movement, it is certainly not a conscious one. That is why I listed out several of the outer manifestations of collective change, because it can be more readily seen there. For example, people are speaking about the environment with one very strong, even loud voice. It is a great development, but only the most surface form of collective unity. It addresses the purely physical plane of existence. When humanity address the psychological issues -- i.e. the fulfillment of the individual, the encouragement of his full potential, the overcoming of all problems that impede his progress, etc. -- then there would be real collective progress. In other words, we would be collectively sharing the need to embrace the deepest of human values. Environmentalism addresses physical values of cleanliness, security, etc., not the deeper psychological values, let alone spiritual values. Still it is a significant step.
Spiritual values of Harmony, Unity, Oneness, Love, Wisdom, Delight, Timelessness, Infinity, Peace, et al are the deep beliefs that would be embraced for a true spiritual evolution. That is an evolutionary leap beyond; though it can infiltrate earlier forms of collective progress.
We can also see evolution along a spectrum from political to economic to cultural to spiritual unity. We are well under way towards economic unity, with the others hardly addressed.
It is in outer events/unfoldings that we can see the inner appreciation of values. The Internet is a perfect example, as it embraces the deeper aspirations of man. The common man does not see the deeper values that the Internet represents.
Perceptions of deep human values at the collective level would be a great sign that human evolution is on its way, and is being shared, communicated, and embraced. It would be a great step in human evolution.
Of course, the overcoming of ego, ignorance, exclusiveness, possessiveness, separateness, et al; plus the purification at the physical, vital, mental, and spiritual levels of the person are the essential steps of progress for the individual. They would readily contribute to the general collective movement forward; to the progressive evolution of humanity.
Ancient & Modern Spiritual Wisdom Emerging in the World
India and China have cultural and spiritual values that are deep, penetrating, and profound, and yet the West caught up in its semi-rational modernity can hardly perceive it. The Upanishads, the Vedas, the Gita, the Tao te Ching, et al, plus all of the spiritual evolutionary Eastern teachings of the modern era can allow the world to fulfill the individuality that the West championed for humanity.Asia will outgrow its current superstitions -- religious and material -- and discover the profound basis of culture that is at its roots. She will also take the evolutionary Science and perceptions of the West and integrate it into their subtle, spiritual view, opening open up a new era of consciousness and awareness for humanity.
The Indian sage and seer Sri Aurobindo presaged this all 50+ years ago, and the world is now taking its first small major steps in that direction. Cultural, social, and spiritual integration will follow the current economic basis of unity rising in the world. When the spirit is applied to the details of life, then the ancient wisdom and modern evolutionary spirituality will begin to take hold, ushering in the next stage of human evolution.
Emerging World Unity Amidst the Chaos (2006)
On the surface, it seems like the world is going to hell in a hand basket. Actually, such disturbances are indicators that we are accelerating towards greater world unity.The threat of the annihilation of the entire world was eliminated for the most part by the end of the Cold War. This was a vast leap for humanity. When Gorbachev disengaged the failing system from within without bloodshed, he took the world across a great threshold. Now the other, smaller problems of the world have reared their heads, hidden from view in the shadow of potential world annihilation. There are so many of these difficulties to be solved: with poverty, disease, terrorism being the most noticeable. Even conflicts on these fronts indicate that through the resolution of these issues the world will further progress, develop, and unify.
The problems of the Arab world, Africa, anguish, poverty, et al have seen ignored for decades, if not centuries -- particularly recently in the umbra of the Cold War. It is the most obviously unorganized part of the global system. With the end of Cold War hostilities, they can finally be addressed, and with it will come not only greater economic unity, but greater political, social, and cultural harmony and integration amongst the peoples of the world.
We must understand that this is the Hour of the Unexpected. All unknowns become known; with impossibilities becoming possibilities. One hundred years ago, the Europeans laughed at America at her crudeness and backwardness, and now she is the most prosperous nation in the world. Similarly, this was the view of Ireland a quarter century ago, and now she is booming. Likewise, for 100 years, the West has ignored or laughed at India and China, and now they are rapidly moving toward prosperity and serious global influence. The still ignore the East for her vast social and spiritual contributions to the world. Now the rest of the world laughs at Africa and the Middle East. I say they both will be well on their way to great prosperity within 25 years. In fact, they have to -- not only for their sakes, their own stability, but for the sake of the world, for its stability, and ultimately for its further progress, harmony, and, yes, its further unification.
The Force of Nature is pushing the world towards its further evolution; including the movement toward global human unity. The only question will be whether it will be through conscious evolution, where we use our power to create our own future, or through the slow and difficult path of Nature; of division and duality, of progress through conflict. On the surface, it seems the latter is the case, but if we penetrate below what our senses tell us, we will see that there are forces at work, movements afoot, that are bringing further progress and development through conscious choice. It is quietly occurring through the thoughts and actions of conscious and enlightened individuals, who are shedding their superstitions, discovering the wider truths of life, i.e. they are becoming rational, and are even beginning to go beyond the intellectualism of mind and tap into the spiritual dimensions of life, where all problems can instantaneously be solved through genius like solutions. As the people who live at the surface acquire this capacity, or are influenced by those who live at these deeper levels of life, the world will begin to wake up. At that point, the world will consciously move forward toward speedier and more harmonious progress, which will enable the further social, cultural, and spiritual unity of life on earth.
Oil Crisis (2006) and Human Unity
Oil is the fuel that provides much of the material energy for society. The fact that there is contention and crisis over the availability of oil is both symbolic and an indicator that there is something amiss elsewhere. It is an indication of a lack of harmony in society.Sri Aurobindo says that all problems in life are problems of harmony. Never was this more true at the material level of society than the issue of oil. Nations vie for it now at one another's expense. Each country selfishly seeks it in the name of survival. It is a problem that can be solved through higher levels of harmony amongst the nations of the world. We need to move from self-interest to global interests; from our own needs to the needs of the collective of nations. It is requires a movement from ego to oneness.
Oil ironically serves another purpose. It gives us the opportunity to move to higher levels of human unity. For the oil problem is related to so many other problems: our lack of concern for the environmental well-being of society; a 100 year old distain for the nations who produced the oil; the oligarchies and fundamentalism that has arisen in these oil producing states; the poverty and misery in these and other countries where so much oil money flows; the inability of industry to have the will to develop methods of energy efficiency; and so on.
As we address these issues, we have the ability to enable rapid progress in the world. Oil forces us to look at all of these issues and get to their root cause. As we address these issues, we take major steps in human progress, as we make our way towards our evolutionary destiny -- human unity.
A Cycle Completed After the Cold War (2007)
When the Cold War ended, the West, and in particular the US misread it. It thought it was a complete victory, compelling it (the US) to unilateral action thereafter. The Russians at the time were compliant. Now BusinessWeek and other report that the hot new market in the world is Russia, even beyond India and China, especially when it comes to original scientific thinking, thereby worthy of considerable investment. This comes as Putin speaks loudly and vociferously against a defense system in Europe -- fully backed by China, and reinforced by Gorbachev. It is as if a cycle has now run its course. The failure in Iraq parallels it on the downswing. This strikes me as a significant step towards world unity at the political and economic level. It is an important power redistribution that I think is critical for the march forward. I admit there may be bumps in the road. It may also indicate that the US is ready to lead the way through an inner progress, not just wild uncontrolled outer activity it self-justified in the wake of the Cold War.Overcoming Poverty Helps Fulfill Humanity’s Evolutionary Purpose on Earth
If we look around the world we will see that poverty is driving all instability in society. Whether it is a near-slave laborer in China producing Western goods at a pittance salary, the 30% unemployment amongst young men in Baghdad and other parts of the Middle East, the fight over territory and resources in rural Africa, or the impoverished individuals stumbling out of the disaster of hurricane Katrina in America, poverty is the root cause of most anguish and insurrection -- including terrorism -- in the world.
Poverty should be attacked as a global problem more nefarious than even terrorism. The war of terrorism should be accompanied by a war on poverty. A rapid reaction force against the evil of terrorism needs to be accompanied by a global rapid reaction force against the scourge of global poverty. One without the other will prevent either from succeeding.
A plan to fight poverty involves the activation of thought, i.e our mentality. It is easier to revert to physical brutality to step the symptom. It is easier to get anguished and rail against two sides in a conflict such as we observe in the war in Iraq. It is more difficult to be rational, exercise our minds, and come up with comprehensive plans for development that will end or at least substantially reduce poverty on earth. Without doing so, the physical and vital individuals and forces will gain sway, and will continue in their brutality and rage – whether the unemployed poor, or the Western powers that seek to repulse their violent outrage.
To come together to develop plans of development that ends poverty requires the giving up of ego at all fronts. The national ego that is self-assured must be given up in order to cooperate with other nations. The self-righteousness of individuals who take sides must be abandoned to cooperate for this higher purpose and good.
Man is meant to move to ever-higher states of harmony. It is his evolutionary destiny. Poverty provides one such opportunity. Before WWII, the nations of the world were unconscious. They did not cooperate. In fact, the financial powers engaged in speculation that drove down the world’s economy and gave rise to Nazism and fascism that caused over 60 million to die. Only after did Europe learn its bitter lessons of non-cooperation in the face of a rising menace, and the earlier greed of rampant financial speculation. That is a lesson for our own times. We must cooperate on development to overcome poverty to prevent the dark forces from rising and holding sway, whatever their source. It is the time to act.
The 20th century was the time of the rise of the Common Man, where the small individual gained vast rights and was able to rise to improve himself to a level that a prince or king would enjoy in earlier times. Now man must become the True Individual, even the True Spiritual Individual. One way he does this is by discovering his deep commonality with others. Even the recognition that we each share a soul relationship with one another. Harmony of purpose is one dimension in that rise from Common Man to the True, even the Spiritual Individual. The opportunity to overcome poverty has come to serve that very purpose. It comes to help us fulfill humanity’s evolutionary destiny on earth.
Microcosm of the Coming Social and Cultural Unity of the World
Los Angeles is a vast city of suburbs that seems without end. Not only does the landscape of houses appear endless -- fulfilling the “American Dream” of home ownership -- but the multiplicity of ethnic cultures from around the world makes it a melting pot in the extreme.
Recently I flew down from the San Francisco area to Los Angeles to meet with a client who provided employees for a massive condominium construction project near the ocean. The evening before the meeting, I ventured out of my hotel to find some dinner, crossed the wide boulevard, and came upon one of the ubiquitous “strip malls” in the area. Amidst a plethora of small retail businesses, at first I discovered a typical (for the US) Italian restaurant on the corner of the mall. However, next to it I was surprised to find a Peruvian restaurant, something I had never seen in the States before. Next to it I then saw a Vietnamese eatery, and next to that a Pakistani/Indian establishment. It seemed that in this small nook of Los Angeles, the world had gathered in close proximity, creating a kind of culinary United Nations. A similar scene is repeated hundreds if not thousands of times in venues throughout the region.
Below the radar of our awareness, the world is slowly but surely moving towards human unity. It has been a slow and irregular process, but it has accelerated in the last fifty years, even more so in the last ten. The unity of humanity occurs, in essence, when the multiplicity the cultures are able to come together, interact, and establish an integral bond, a certain level of vital affection, and ultimately a commonality of deep purpose.
It is important to point out that such unity expresses across a spectrum of depth that ranges from the material to the ethereal; from the mundane to the sublime. At the most basic level, human unity begins when there is political cooperation within and among the nations of the earth. Unity then moves to a somewhat higher plane through the economic integration of nations and peoples. It then makes a vast leap through the social and cultural, and culminates in the psychological and even the spiritual unity. To be honest, we are barely passing through the first stage, as nations still struggle to live in political harmony, though we are also making considerable progress of late in the second stage of economic integration. We have yet to make any substantial inroads into the social and psychological integration, as we each live in our separate worlds, each oblivious to the depths of one another’s cultures.
If we examine life closely, we see that the smallest entity can be a microcosm of something much greater. For example, the atom and the electrons that spin around it are a microcosm of our solar system, even the universe itself. In that sense, the single nation of the US is a microcosm of the entire world. Gathered there are most if not all of the ethnic cultures, who are trying to work out a certain level of cooperation, even harmony of purpose. The US is in essence a microcosm of how the peoples of the world (the nations, the cultures, religions, world-views etc.) are trying to move beyond their differences, and enjoin and integrate their vast cultural and social resources. It seems that the symbolic experiment in America is so far working -- which is a harbinger of what is in store one day for the entire world.
The frontiers of social, cultural, and spiritual integration require a vast psychological shift in Man. On the other hand, for there to be this great inner transition amongst the races, cultures, ethnicities, et al, there needs to be a solid material foundation and basis. Physical/material stability and security must always precede the psychological to create a sustainable social environment. Practically speaking for the world that translates as economic stability and prosperity. The reason that the immigrant races/ethnicities get along in the US is that there is the sense that there is continuous economic opportunity and prosperity available. Without it, the basic cooperation that exists amongst the races would fall apart.
It is interesting to note that the US is also beginning to work out the social and cultural unity of the world’s races on its own turf. E.g., people of all ethnic persuasions come to a wide swath of meeting places, such as the ethnic restaurants in this strip mall of Southern California, and by interacting in business offices, in schools, and so forth. There, as elsewhere, we see the first glimmers of social and cultural unity. The ability to sample the world’s foods in a social setting provides not only the material foundation to explore other cultures, but provides a degree of psychological identity with that people -- enabling further social, cultural, and spiritual awareness, harmony, and integration. These developments are important milestones, flags along the way that mark critical stages in the emerging unity of the world. These are in turn the first glimmers of what Sri Aurobindo heralded for the future when he spoke of the possibility of a Divine Life on earth.
Financial Crisis (2008) and Human Unity
While the world goes through a period of hand-wringing under the shadow of the financial crisis, it does not understand that it will lead to further improvements, including several steps towards human unity. Every crisis can be seen in that light over the last several hundred years, especially the last 50. In that way, all negatives are positives in disguise. That recognition is itself an indicator of a more conscious humanity.
The European Union (EU)EU & World Unity
The coming together of the European Union is another sign of the emerging trend towards world unity.World Unity & EU
The world is moving towards human unity. The European Union is a recent example, as was the UN in earlier times.World Integration & Unity
The end of the Cold War, economic collaboration, cooperation, and integration, the emergence of the European Union, the interest in the world's environment highlighted by the Kyoto accord, and other global associations and agreements, are all further signs of a movement of the world toward greater world integration and unity.European Union and Unity
When the nations of the world shed colonialism, the world moved toward freedom, enabling the greater possibility of the emergence of unity. When it stopped the German fanatics in WWII and established the UN, it moved toward a higher unity. When the Soviet system self-crumbled, there was an opportunity to avail of greater unity. When the European Union developed, it was a movement toward unity.
Internet and Human Unity
As money has become a symbol of private property, individual acquisition and self-affirmation, the Internet is a symbol of our collective accomplishments, shared inheritance and human unity. (MSS)
Problems of World Solved Through Global Approaches
The problems in the world are global problems, yet we are trying to solve them in isolation, one country at a time or regionally, where a united effort is needed. We have shown unity in trying to integrate economically to a limited extend, though the poor have not in any substantial way participated. We will come to see the need to solve economic problems from a global perspective, with global input into the solutions, and global-based, cooperative action plans. The same is true for problems of terrorism, the environment, and others.
The world is moving towards human unity. The European Union is a recent example, as was the UN in earlier times.
UN, EU as Steps of Evolution
The UN and the European Union are semi-conscious first steps acknowledgements of this aspect of human evolution and destiny.
European Failure that Led to UN
Europe failed before the rise of fascism. 80 million died to bring the UN, and the European Union.
Sri Aurobindo’s Multi-Faceted Dream
The great seer and sage Sri Aurobindo imagined five steps that would usher in the evolution and transformation of humanity, enabling what he called a Divine Life on earth. The first was the emergence of Asia into prosperity and cultural influence. That has surely begun, especially in the past decade or so. Her influence upon the thought of the world is bound to grow by leaps and bounds in the years to come.
The second was the prosperity and emergence of India. That too is well under way. For until she attains economic well being, she cannot ascend to her rightful role as the spiritual Guru of the world -- another of the five steps Sri Aurobindo dreamed of.
Another mighty step towards a spirit-base Divine life on earth is the emergence of human unity, which is presaged by world alliances, culminating in world governance. The European Union (EU) is perhaps the first step in that direction in that it creates an alliance and unity of closely aligned nations. In the EU, disparate cultures are aligned to create a single entity that unifies all of them. Even the united states that make up the USA is not such an alliance. In the USA, the coming together of the states, actually gave the individual states identity, whereas in the EU the identify of each nation is fully formed, and yet they are wiling to unify for a higher identity and purpose.
Other such regional unifying alliances, along with a world parliament and perhaps a world army would be further steps in the march towards the unity of nations and the unity of the world.
There is also a spiritual component to Sri Aurobindo’s vision. One is for India and one for the individuals of the earth. For India, she can rediscover the great spiritual wisdom of the ancient Rishis -- perhaps the greatest inner spiritual wisdom and experience ever known to Man -- and apply that spiritual knowledge to the economic, social, and cultural life of her people. In that way, she can become a living experiment of the power of the spirit. If she succeeds, she can take her rightful place as the Guru of the World.
Finally, disparate individuals around the world can begin to come to know the spirit in their individual lives; discovering it within in the depths of their being down to the evolving Soul and by opening to and surrendering to the descending Force above, and then applying that Spirit existence in the details of their lives. In the process, they will invariably transform all aspects of their being – mental, psychological, vital/emotional, and physical, and develop capacities to attract good fortune around them instantaneously from within. When a cadre of such individuals emerge around the world -- especially when they have made what Sri Aurobindo calls the ultimate Supramental change, where the descending Force and Truth Consciousness has permeated all aspects of their being -- then they will create the fifth and final condition for a Divine life on earth to come about.
The emergence of Asia, the prosperity of India, the movements towards world unity, the spiritual emergence of India and her ascent to become the Guru of the world, and the full blossoming of transformed spirit-oriented individuals are the intervening steps that can usher in a Divine Life on earth and fulfill Sri Aurobindo’s ultimate dream for humanity.
Russian-EU Alliance at Expense of US Influence
Because the US spurned the Russians after the Cold War and practiced a go it alone policy in dealing with the world, the Russians could suddenly become formidable partners with the EU, thereby weakening America’s status and influence worldwide.See Additional Thoughts on the European Union (EU)
The UNWorld Unity and the UN
The world is moving toward world unity. The United Nations has been and can continue to be an instrument of that great progress.
See Additional Thoughts on the UN
Potentials of World ParliamentWorld Parliament
Another global institution certainly worth considering is the development of a World Parliament -- which is, in essence, the infrastructure of world governance. Humanity is showing signs that it is ready for this development as well. It is becoming increasingly obvious that there is a need for a governing body to provide a level of oversight for the problems of the globe. In addition, that organization can serve to develop and implement plans for rapid economic and social development. It would not only formulate policies for this purpose, but also have the power to implement them. This is, in essence, a strategic-oriented and empowered form of world governance that the earth secretly calls out for.
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The US, consciously or more likely sub or unconsciously, is energized to solve threats. The Europeans are mostly unenergized, yet see the US going it alone. The US sees the European weakness. The European, the US's high-handed approach. Thus, they are contradictory complements.A world army, parliament, etc can resolve this difference. Or Nature will take its course, and it will come through a slow painful process. Or it can be a major negative event that unites the two sides, forcing them into a new common strategy.
On World Parliament
World Parliament is a centre of mental light, not an organisation that can implement anything. UN itself is a forum of that type, since its power is only in persuasion.
In this sense World Parliament is capable of an effectivity which information or ideas possess.
World Parliament can enhance INFORMATION in areas where information is efficacious. It can offer ideas that will readily be received.
World Parliament can try to further activities which were initiated already, but which have come to a stop or are moving slowly. (MSS)
Solving the World’s Problems through World Parliament
Recently statesman Henry Kissinger proclaimed that the problems of the world are so great that they can only to be solved at the global level. He explained that when the citizens of a nation ask its leader to solve incessant national problems, that leader throws up his hands, proclaiming that they do not know what to do, that it is beyond them, that it can only be solved at a global level. This was Kissinger’s message: that ever-increasing local problems can only be solved globally.
And yet in recent years we have heard of and seen the opposite; that the key to resolving global problems must be done locally. For example, the environmental movement has been successful because it took root locally, expanded out, and then gained traction at the wider national and international, i.e. global, levels. Surely, environmentalism began in part by the efforts of the much maligned hippies, the boomers, and their descendents from the 1970s onward. Then the society as a whole embraced it, as we see when householders throughout the world separate the recycled from the non-recyclable trash. Even leaders, business, and the nations themselves are speaking out as if they invented the concept! They were merely followers of movements that began locally and spread globally.
Thus, even as Kissinger has made his plea of top down approach to solving national problems globally, we know that the very movements that advocated the solution to many of the current problems of the world through this global means came from visionaries and pioneers at the local level. The process of unfolding is often the same. The advocacy of the local is at first ignored or rejected by the global, reaches a tipping point (usually because of difficult situations), and then it moves into the mass where the leaders claim its origin, ignoring its true roots. It is a great irony of progress.
To return to Kissinger’s urging, how then do we resolve local problems globally? For one we need the institutions in place with power to implement them. Few of these exist now. The United Nations has served a great purpose, but it has no power to legislate changes in the world. Besides, it is an undemocratic institution due to its insistence on allowing the Veto power that enables a single nation to cancel the will of the majority, even the overwhelming 90% majority. How can they be a vehicle for fair change when they cater to the powerful?
This suggests that something more effective, with more power needs to be set in place. That overall solution is world governance, and the specific organization can take shape as a World Parliament. Such an institution would have the power to legislate and solve the problems at the global level, which will in return also resolve the local problems that could not be settled by an individual nation’s leaders.
The Indian sage and seer Sri Aurobindo has spoken of the evolution of society that has taken place in the course of history. That movement is not only an upward movement of progress, but is secretly a movement toward world unity. More precisely, it is actually unity in diversity. I.e. greatest diversity of cultures and viewpoints that work together to bring among harmonic outcomes that affect all members including the whole itself. Through this great diversity, more creative insight is brought to bear to create the most dynamic solution to the world’s problems. A World Parliament can be the instrument to solve local problems globally, and all problems of the whole of the world through the infinite diversity of solutions provided by its members.
There has been a steady movement toward world unity; one that has in fact accelerated in the last fifty years. As nations give up their ego (i.e. heir sense of separateness) and embrace the needs and concerns of other nations, world unity takes place. As wealth spreads around the word, and cultural influences move out from the source nations to other nations, the possibility of world unity takes shape. As common purpose is necessitated by events and circumstance, the need for and the pressure that brings about world unity in diversity accelerates.
The environmental movement is the most obvious example of this phenomenon. This is not only a compulsion of Nature that is forcing us to deal with a problem that affects our common environment, the earth, globe, but is also Nature’s secret way of bringing us closer together, to creating more world unity – i.e. to create Oneness. It is an outer pressure put upon us that we are reacting to avoid potential catastrophe, but it is secretly a pressure to advance the course of our human destiny of Oneness.
Article on the Role of a New World Parliament (MSS)
Unity through Higher Consciousness vs. Nature
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Conscious or Unconscious Unity
World unity can be brought about by conscious cooperation or through the methods of Nature which are slow and painful; i.e through conflict and calamity. We are currently following the path of unconscious unity with rays of conscious unity interspersed.
Cooperating on World Catastrophes and World Unity
The fact that the natural disaster could have been avoided through proper communication indicates a lack of international cooperation -- suggesting that the world must evolve towards greater unity to solve its problems. Individual nations must give up their egos, their superstition, and falsehood to collaborate to solve world issues, which is greater than their individual capacity to deal with them. The world at large must also extend its technological competence to all peoples of the world. The leading countries must give up their global ego and embrace all nations of the world, no matter what their social, political, military, or economic status. It is in their interest (as we see in the deaths of many tourists from these nations in the event.) These are required step towards our inevitable destiny of human unity.
Unity of All Nations through Unity of Individual State
The unity of all the nations is the compelling future of the world. But for the unity of all nations to be possible, each nation must first realise its own unity. (The Mother)
Nations Should Evolve Themselves Fully to Contribute to a United Humanity
Gone are the days of great partial achievements. The time is NOW for each nation to acquire what she does not have [e.g. economically, socially, psychologically, strength-wise, value-wise, spiritually, etc.] to enable her to contribute to the whole of a united humankind. (MSS)
Evolution of the Nation State
Just as an individual evolves by overcoming his limited sense of self (ego) and enjoins the needs of others around him so too the nation state overcomes its limiting self-importance and enjoins the nations of the world. Global trade is an example of this movement. Global unity is a greater example. A potential divine life on earth would be the greatest example.
See Thoughts on the Evolution of Individual Nations
Sri Aurobindo's Vision of the Unity of the World's Peoples
-There is nothing then in the development of events since the establishment of the United Nations Organisation, in the sequel to the great initiation at San Francisco of the decisive step towards the creation of a world-body which might end in the establishment of a true world-unity, that need discourage us in the expectation of an ultimate success of this great enterprise. There are dangers and difficulties, there can be an apprehension of conflicts, even of colossal conflicts that might jeopardise the future, but total failure need not be envisaged unless we are disposed to predict the failure of the race. The thesis we have undertaken to establish of the drive of Nature towards larger agglomerations and the final establishment of the largest of all and the ultimate union of the world's peoples still remains unaltered: this is evidently the line which the future of the human race demands and which conflicts and perturbations, however immense, may delay, even as they may modify greatly the forms it now promises to take, but are not likely to prevent; for a general destruction would be the only alternative destiny of mankind.
-We conclude then that in the conditions of the world at present, even taking into consideration its most disparaging features and dangerous possibilities, there is nothing that need alter the view we have taken of the necessity and inevitability of some kind of world-union; the drive of Nature, the compulsion of circumstances and the present and future need of mankind make it inevitable.
-The ultimate result must be the formation of a World-State and the most desirable form of it would be a federation of free nationalities in which all subjection or forced inequality and subordination of one to another would have disappeared and, though some might preserve a greater natural influence, all would have an equal status. A confederacy would give the greatest freedom to the nations constituting the World-State, but this might give too much room for fissiparous or centrifugal tendencies to operate; a federal order would then be the most desirable. All else would be determined by the course of events and by general agreement or the shape given by the ideas and necessities that may grow up in the future. A world-union of this kind would have the greatest chances of long survival or permanent existence. This is a mutable world and uncertainties and dangers might assail or trouble for a time; the formed structure might be subjected to revolutionary tendencies as new ideas and forces emerged and produced their effect on the general mind of humanity, but the essential step would have been taken and the future of the race assured or at least the present era overpassed in which it is threatened and disturbed by unsolved needs and difficulties, precarious conditions, immense upheavals, huge and sanguinary world-wide conflicts and the threat of others to come. The ideal of human unity would be no longer an unfulfilled ideal but an accomplished fact and its preservation given into the charge of the united human peoples. Its future destiny would lie on the knees of the gods and, if the gods have a use for the continued existence of the race, may be left to lie there safe. (Sri Aurobindo)
See Thoughts on the United Nations
Enabling World Progress through Our Higher Consciousness
All conflicts in the world serve the purpose of bringing us steps closer to world unity, including psychological and spiritual-based world unity. We can accelerate the process by using the self-conceptions of our mental intelligence and spiritual intelligence, which enables rapid progress without conflict.
Harmony as Solver of All Individual, Social Problems
All problems of life can be solved through greater harmony. Likewise if there were human unity on earth, then any problem of social development can be overcome.
The Next Goals of Life on Earth
The next goal of the collective life on earth is World Unity.
That will be followed by the spiritually emerging individual and society, culminating in the ultimate goal of a spiritually transformed humanity and a divine life on earth.
World Union, the Collective, and Spirit
World Union is the advancement of the collective on the basis of the Spirit. (MSS)Divine Life on Earth
Beyond World Unity is the emergence of a Divine Life on Earth.Sri Aurobindo's Vision of Divine Life on Earth
Sri Aurobindo envisioned World Unity as a step towards a Divine Life on earth.Evolution of the Nation State
Just as an individual evolves by overcoming his limited sense of self (ego) and enjoins the needs of others around him so too the nation state overcomes its limiting self-importance and enjoins the nations of the world. Global trade is an example of this movement. Global unity is a greater example. A potential divine life on earth would be the greatest example.
The Force Compels World Unity
The Divine Force is compelling the world toward world unity. World unity is a movement toward greater and greater connectedness, oneness, which is a property of spirit. The evolutionary spiritual Force is the power and spirit behind the movement of globalization.
See Article on the Emergence of a Divine Life on Earth
Thoughts on Divine Life on Earth
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)
New Definition of Survival of Fittest
Survival of the fittest is not through territoriality and conflict, but through harmony of purpose, oneness, and love of others. In that way the race survives and evolves further. If women instinctively know this, why not men?
See Thoughts on Development of Individual Nations
Global Movements
We have many currencies on earth; perhaps now we are ready for a world currency. We have many methods of defense and security; now we need a world army. We have many forms of coming to the Divine; now we are ready for a shared universal understanding and approach to Consciousness.
World Army
The presence of an army in each country implying that the nation must be ready for war at some time is a belief that can generate subconscious tension in the people. The tension Cold War generated was palpable in the sixties and seventies. Also, the relief when Cold War ended was equally tangible.
It was Robert Van Harten, the Member from Holland, who mooted the idea of a world army at Moscow at the meeting of the International Commission on Peace and Food. The Commission endorsed it.
Recently, the European Union is considering the idea of one Army for all its members. It is at the stage of an idea. An idea is valuable. But people in the field have to implement it. They see all the practical issues they will face in implementing an idea. No idea is practised before it is fully prepared in all its details anticipating all the hurdles.
When an idea becomes a scheme or a programme, it meets with not only obstacles but opportunities. The realities are accepted and a working scheme is prepared. In other words, an idea is organically dynamic. So its growth is organic too, not fully prepared previously.
The World Army that will replace the national armies is one such dynamic idea capable of organic growth. If it ever comes into existence, it will be the world police or a Peace Army. It is worth examining again in the present context of the post-Iraq war. (MSS)
Thoughts on Role of a World Parliament
Thoughts on the European Union (EU)
Auroville
The international, UN-sanctioned township of Auroville in India was built for the purpose of preventing future great wars. It is its spiritual foundation, not any moral or social structure, that enables that possibility. It's purpose is for collaboration in the creation of World Unity. www.auroville.org
Auroville
Auroville has been established as an experiment in Human Unity where each individual is freed from bondage to moral and social conventions and the necessity of working for material possessions. There is no religion practiced there, nor is there ownership of property. The emphasis is on each person discovering his/her own inner center behind the social, moral, cultural and racial heredity and appearances, and actively living from that center, expressing it in outer work for the community. Auroville is a UN sponsored endeavor that attracts people worldwide because of its openness, new age lifestyle, and dedication to a vision of a new humanity.
Movements Toward Higher States of Unity
Just as an individual evolves by overcoming his limited sense of self (ego) and enjoins the needs of others around him so too the nation state overcomes its limiting self-importance and enjoins the nations of the world. Global trade is an example of this movement. Global unity is a greater example. A potential divine life on earth would be the greatest example.
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Life normally evolves through conflict. Things we perceive as conflict are the means of social evolution. Things we perceive as "bad" are necessary in the scheme of things, as are the "good." The "good" and the "bad" are necessary to each other for the greater development and emergence of all. E.g. WWII led to UN and the first glimmers of a new emerging movement toward world unity. Problems in Bosnia focuses European role in future of confrontations in region. And so forth.
Thoughts on the Emerging Stages and Possibilities of Society
Thoughts on Recent World History, World Movements, United Nations, etc.
Principle of Oneness of Life, Unity in Diversity
Also See Sri Aurobindo's Treatise The Ideal of Human Unity
