Growth Online > Knowledge Base > Society's Growth  >  Propensities & Possibilities for Individual Nations of the World


Growth Online		 Propensities & Possibilities for
Individual Nations of the World
 		Knowledge Base
by Roy Posner and MSS

The world is evolving as nations see their interdependence at the social and cultural level. Each nation has its own character, including its unique strengths & weaknesses. By overcoming its weakness and building its strength, it can reach its ultimate potential.

INTRODUCTION
(top)

On this Growth Online Knowledge Base page there first is a discussion about the nature of nations, their propensity to express character, and how they interact. This is followed by an analysis of the character, history, and status of each of a number of influential nations of the world.

 

INTERRELATIONSHIP AMONG NATIONS
(top)

Untitled
The greater the density and complexity of relations between the nations of the world, the greater the deterrence to conflict and war.

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)

The Next "Leaders of the World" Will Use the Spiritual Power in Life
Over a period of a hundred years, the world looked up to London as its capital. The Britisher had conquered several nations and established an empire on which, it was said, the sun never set. It was political power. To be precise, it was military power. Today the USA plays that role. This is because she is an economic power. Of course, behind it lies the political and military power.

It is true that neither military might nor economics can lead the world forever. That is not given to money or the sword. That privilege is given to the Mind. Science is of the Mind when it is seeking after the whole or the ultimate cause. When science branches off at the utilitarian level, Science becomes efficient technology.

The future leadership of the world is not even for the Mind. It goes to the Spirit. Whoever goes after the Spirit will qualify for the leadership of the world. There is a further step. It is not the partial Spirit that seeks to shun life; it is the Spirit that emerges in Life to enrich life spiritually. Material welfare is highly desirable, but a partial aim. Any partial aim will have the other side that troubles. No partial goal can any longer serve the world. The world needs a whole aim or an aim of the whole which will not have side effects or negative fallout. That goal is the Spirit in life. The leadership of the world will go to those that provide this whole aim. (MSS, modified) 

[India could well qualify in this way, as it knows the spirit; if it can apply the spirit to life (in an original way); as could others like the USA if it learns true applied spirit. We also see in this discussion a movement from Britain's military power which is physical, to the economic power which is vital, to the potential of the power born of mind, and spirit beyond mind. Thus we see an ascending scale from the past, in the present, and to a future leadership. The world has moved fro the physical to the vital to the current beginnings of the mental stage to a future spiritual stage. -Editor]

Multiple Experiments in USA Puts Her at Evolutionary Vanguard
The USA in many ways is trying several experiments in social evolution. So she is in the evolutionary vanguard. (MSS)

Liberal Democracies and War
Liberal democracies do not go to war with each other.  Self-defence is an exception. (MSS)

Invasion and Strengthening of Nations
It is interesting that nations have often been only fully formed after they have invaded and conquered by an outside power. It seems to coagulate the country and strengthen its nationhood. The same could also be said for the world (e.g. after World War II the United Nations is formed).

The Formerly Oppressed Oppress
A very desirable change has come for the oppressed, not for the oppression. Oppression still survives but is an instrument of those previously oppressed. (MSS) [We can see this in part in the current world situation, where poor nations who were in the recent past oppressed, now oppress their citizens or others outside. We need to reconcile this contradiction with new solutions, beginning with education and higher standards of living.]

Undemocracy of UN
The UN is false because it is undemocratic in that for one the Security Council is run by the few determine the outcome for the all. It fails in its self-proclaimed intent of being democratic and just.

 

 

The Ridiculed of the Past (as in USA) Become the Admired
Until the First World War, America was a contemptuous word. Before the Second World War, the continental people lost their contempt and replaced it with ridicule. No longer does the word American excite any ridicule in any nation of the world including England, though it is nowhere received with respect.

American military prowess is unrivalled. Its political eminence is seen all over the world. Her economic power dominates more than half the world. She is becoming a cultural leader of every nation. Her food items, dress style, and way of life are welcome all over. One may question their desirability or not. But this remains a fact. She has reached this position because once she was a neglected continent, if not oppressed.

The oppressed of yesterday will be the adored of tomorrow, is a rule history has honoured. (MSS, extracted)

See Thoughts on the Unity of Nations
 


EVOLUTION OF INDIVIDUAL NATIONS
 (top)

 

Overview | United States | India | United States and India | Russia

Great Britain | Ireland |  France | European Union (EU) | China | Japan | Africa | Also see East vs. West
 

 

Overview
(main)

The Evolution of Individual Nations
Just as every individual is an amalgam of positive and negative attributes whose being is growing and evolving, so too each nation of the world has an evolving character that expresses both positively and negatively. Each nation can in fact be said to represent a different aspect of human consciousness and capacity. For example, France is said to represent "clarity of thought;" Russia "the brotherhood of man;" the USA "practical organization;" and India "the spiritual teacher (i.e. guru) of the world." Each nation then expresses a ray, or several rays of truth, knowledge, and capacity, reflecting the best of human character and consciousness. Similarly, every nation also expresses its own wanting propensities for falsehood, ignorance, and incapacity. By accentuating the former, and overcoming the latter, the growth, development, and evolution of nations is made possible.

The Group Soul of the Nation that Can Evolve Like the Individual
Most nations have actually come into being as a result of a group or an individual who articulated in some way a tiny spark of the spiritual soul of that nation and began to bring to it a sense of coherence and direction.  The great Indian sage and political reformer Sri Aurobindo said, "The nation or society, like the individual, has a body, an organic life, a moral and aesthetic temperament, a developing mind and a soul" [I]t is a group soul that, once having attained a separate distinctness, must then become more and more self-conscious"

Just as individuals must struggle with the process of personality integration, bringing the physical, emotional and mental components of their personalities into a coordinated, working whole, so too must a nation become an integrated personality before it can successfully invoke its soul.

Just as developed, individual personalities which haven't yet integrated with their soul  tend to be separative, self-centered, arrogant and materialistic, the same is true of the developed personalities of nations.  Nations identified primarily with their personalities tend to be self-aggrandizing and assume their nation is superior to others. (Corinne McLaughlin and Gordon Davidson from 'The Soul of Nations')

Overcoming Individual, Business, and Social Ego
Just as an individual evolves by overcoming his limited sense of self (ego) and enjoins the needs of others around him so to the business overcomes it's limited sense of self (e.g. by involving its customers heavily in it's decision, by participating in the needs of society when considering new products), and so too the nation state overcomes its limiting self-importance and enjoins the nations of the world (e.g. global trade, global unity, a divine life on earth). 

When one overcomes the ego one opens to the greatest possibilities, even infinite possibilities. That's because when one goes beyond he ego of self one moves into the domain of unity, harmony, connectedness, which is in essence a connection to the unifying spirit of the All, the Divine. When yoked to the All one enters the realm of infinite possibility.

Outgrowing a Nation's Illusions
 Like an individual, every country harbors in its own unique set of illusions. It can of course outgrow them, just like the individual.

Each Country Developing Its Unique Capacities
Each country Should discover its own unique capacities and contribute that to the world. India has developed the spirit. She can take that process to its climax of helping the spirit manifest in the physical plane. France has developed intellectuality. She can now move to the next evolutionary step of developing Insight which is a subtle capacity. Russia has a tradition of mysticism. She can now try to develop her mind. Her experiments with the socialist style of life have failed. She can try to perfect them at a higher communist level without the state domination that ruined the soviet experiment. China has for long been used to dictatorships of one type or another. She can now experiment with democracy. How much each nation will succeed in progressing to the next step is something only time can answer in the future. (MSS, N. Asokan)

From Nationalistic Ego to Internationalism 
An individual grows when he takes inventory of his own limitations, identifies several deficiencies, and makes a concerted effort to overcome them in life. There is no more admirable exercise taken in an individual's life. It is sometimes known as "personal growth"; and if it is great, it can even blossom into personal evolution.

Individual nations are in many ways like the individual, and likewise have the potential to identify wanting qualities, and overcome them. It is happening for all nations to a degree, whether consciously or unconsciously. The best of nations bravely identify their weakest part and make a full effort to overcome them. Otherwise, they overcome them through Nature's way, which is of conflict, pain, and suffering. In the mental age we have entered, the ability to consciously determine our futures is the way of Soul, overcoming the slow and painful way of Nature, which has essentially been the way of the past.

One way an individual progress is by overcoming his own ego. He sees that he is not separate from others, and the world, and therefore works in ways that are not only in his own best interest, but of the world -- i.e. the people, the institutions -- around him. Nations also have that capacity; i.e. to see themselves not merely as distinct entities apart from everything else, but as part of an emerging collective of nations. While it is best to become a True Individual People, with unique concerns and interests, with a unique culture, it is not wise to exercise that nation's ego at the expense of the other nations of the world. Practically speaking, the ego of a nation expresses as nationalism, over the more positive internationalism that is emerging in the world. It is a sure sign of future difficulty, if not extreme pain and conflict.

When the Germans marched across Europe before WWII, nations were unable to cooperate to halt that movement. Each nation pulled in its own direction, asserting its own nationalistic identity; in other words, their ego. As a result, cooperation was not gained to halt the march of the ruthless Nazis, who were able to sweep across Europe, until they had no other choice but to join together to stop the Evil. In the meantime, over 50 million died because individual nations asserted their nationalistic ego over their efforts of international cooperation.

The world is moving towards international cooperation, as expressed in the United Nations, in the various world alliances, and in the European Union. We also see that same energy expressed through economic globalism, which is slowly moving towards the even higher social and cultural globalism. These are indicator of a gradual movement toward World Unity, which is our ultimate economic, political, social, cultural, and even spiritual destiny. When nations express their nationalism over the movement of internationalism, they are acting counter to the tide of evolutionary history.

 

 

Soul Expressions of Particular Nations
The soul of America responds to every form of idealism and humanitarianism and to compassion for all suffering. The soul of Russia responds to brotherhood, to sharing, and to linking the cultural gifts of East and West. Great experiments in fusing many racial types are going on in both the United States and the former republics of the Soviet Union, which are very different and yet equally important experiments in government by the people.

The soul of Great Britain has been a great champion of liberty against autocracies, such as Phillip II of Spain, Louis XIV of France, and Kaiser Wilhelm and Adolf Hitler in Germany. The soul of Japan expresses loyalty, sacrifice, hard work, reverence for moral codes, and orderly organization. (Corinne McLaughlin and Gordon Davidson from 'The Soul of Nations')

When the Soul of a Nation is Invoked
As with individuals, the soul of a nation is often called upon only in times of great need or emergency, such as during war, famine, or oppression. (e.g. the great French contribution to world evolution that emerged during their revolution of 1789, the Declaration of the Rights of Man.  This document enunciated the principles of freedom, equality, and brotherhood as rights for all peoples, during a period of upheaval and bloodshed in that nation's life.) [We can perhaps call this the Personality of the nation emerging. -- editor]

Another way the soul of a nation is invoked is when an inspired leader, along with his or her accompanying soul group, emerges as an expression of the national soul and takes difficult action for the greatest good of all citizens. (Corinne McLaughlin and Gordon Davidson from 'The Soul of Nations')

Individuality and Collaboration
 Perhaps the most interesting rivalry in the business world over the last generation has been the competitive battle between Apple and Microsoft. The twists and turns that these two companies have gone through are legend -- as have been the experiences and action of their leaders, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. One interesting way to look at their success is to examine some essence, quality, and core value that was critical to their accomplishment.

On the Apple side, it has been the ability to express people’s individuality through breakthrough technology. From the very beginning, Apple has seen itself as a company doing battle with the establishment, embodied in the perceived IBM-centric world of hierarchy and conformity. With breakthrough, easy to use, people-oriented products, Apple has aimed to break down these barriers, allowing the individual to express his capacities in full. This ability to bring out human individuality is one of the hallmarks of Apple’s values, drive, and success. The result has been products that have revolutionized the computer world, and indeed the world at large.

In the years I have observed Microsoft’s success, an almost opposite quality, essence, and value stands out. It is an extraordinary ability to collaborate with its partners and users. Microsoft at every stage has sought to open itself to creating relationships with hardware vendors, corporations, and users in order to extend its technology into the wider sphere. When Microsoft developed its original DOS personal computer operating system, it encouraged dozens of PC manufacturer to use it. That more open-ended model continued with the release of Windows and then Windows Mobile. Likewise, any developer who has worked with the company knows how they have bent over backwards to forge relationships with partners, while expanding Microsoft’s market. The result has been a 90% market share in PC operating systems, creating a company that is a virtual money making machine.

These same two factors -- individuality and collaboration -- are central dynamics of life itself. On the one hand, there is the need to express one’s self and individuality in life, even as there is the necessity to cooperate with others. This is a central dynamic that is perpetually working itself out in society. For example, in America, individuality is there everywhere, almost in the extreme; and yet its collaborative capacities – i.e. its ability to work for the common good, and to cooperate with a collective of nations -- is often sorely lacking. If the US embraced collaboration as much as individuality, it would almost certainly maintain its role of evolutionary leader of the world. In Asia, we see more of the other side, where collaboration is at the forefront, and true individuality is too often missing. That too is working itself out.

Of course, each alone -- individuality or collaboration -- is limited; but a part, not the whole of what is necessary for human progress. However, working in tandem, these two dynamics are fully capable of harnessing the best of society, and releasing the infinite potentials of life.

Inner-Outer Correspondence in Nations Experiences
The law of inner-outer correspondence says that the outer reflects the inner condition. This is true for the individual or the collective, such as a nation. (E.g. it would be worth considering what condition would have attracted Pearl Harbor and 9/11 attacks would be a useful investigation into the limitations of the US's consciousness, including its physical consciousness. E.g. the US was reluctant to get involved in WWII.)

Individual Nations Governed by Personality
Just as developed, individual personalities which haven't yet integrated with their soul tend to be separative, self-centered, arrogant and materialistic, the same is true of the developed personalities of nations. Nations identified primarily with their personalities tend to be self-aggrandizing and assume their nation is superior to others. Sound familiar?

When a nation is governed primarily by its personality, it will be materialistic and self-seeking and see itself as the center of the world. There will be an attempt to manipulate relations with other nations solely for its own advantage, with little likelihood of cooperating with other nations. The world will be viewed through the lens of realpolitik (the politics of expediency), and all relations will be seen as struggle for power and dominance.  This type of expression governs most nations in the world today.

The United States, for example, is idealistic and chauvinistic to a fault and thinks all other nations should adopt its particular political and economic values and in fact, often pressures other nations into adopting them.  England thinks it is superior to all others because of its age and long experience as a colonial power.  France has relied more on its brilliant intellect than on its spiritual soul. China has thought it could stay separate from the rest of the world to protect its authoritarian governing system.

A deep-seated flaw in the Russian personality is "the slave that lives within every Russian soul," as Chekhov put it - the psychology of the victim.  The centuries-old Tartar yoke of oppression was thrown off, yet the command system under which Russians have lived for so long has left a deep imprint on family as well as political life and is hard to eradicate. (Corinne McLaughlin and Gordon Davidson from 'The Soul of Nations')

Knowing the Solution to a Problem in Society Before the Event
When a puzzling problem harasses one, everyone tries to help him with an idea, but in vain. At last when somehow the problem is solved, its solution looks simple and obvious. To know what is obvious after the event beforehand is wisdom. It is said anyone can suggest meaningful alterations to a house after it is built, as it requires no intelligence. To do so before the construction, one needs forethought.

Anyone can be wise after the event. But very few can be so before the event. If you want to acquire that wisdom, recognize the direction in which the nation and society are moving and take your decisions accordingly. (MSS)

Future Leadership of the World
The future leadership of the world is not even for the Mind. It goes to the Spirit. Whoever goes after the Spirit will qualify for the leadership of the world. There is a further step. It is not the partial Spirit that seeks to shun life; it is the Spirit that emerges in Life to enrich life spiritually. Material welfare is highly desirable, but a partial aim. Any partial aim will have the other side that troubles. No partial goal can any longer serve the world. The world needs a whole aim or an aim of the whole which will not have side effects or negative fallout. That goal is the Spirit in life. The leadership of the world will go to those that provide this whole aim. (MSS, modified)

Evolution of Organizations

  • We can see a progression of organization of various institutions as they move from physical to vital to mental to spiritual
  • In nations of the past -- e.g. Japan, China, and European nations long ago etc. -- there were often two armies of that nation fighting against one another for power.
  • This became [evolved into] the political parties of democracy. This is a movement from the physical to the vital, with an emerging mental support of idealism.
  • Still the two parties (today) are often at each other's throats, as they are intensely attached to their own position; a vital (still somewhat close to physical) tendency.
  • One possibility for the future is for the two party system to be replaced by two groups, each holding various points of view, who come together to collaborate to find common ground, or even better, new fresh ideas, policies, possibilities, etc. They are not attached, or are at least are far less attached to their own position, which reflects the mental stage. Perhaps it will be multiple groups who come together for this purpose, or one group with individuals of various points of view. There are many possibilities.
  • At a further stage such individuals can aspire to truly embrace the other side's view, see the wisdom in the opposite view, see the integral relationship between various ideas presented, see the relationship to the whole, to the emerging possibilities, etc. This could be a first movement toward the spirit, i.e. of spiritual mind. Members can even open to the higher power to receive answers, and to gain the cooperation of life; or go within to enable thereafter intuitions of knowledge, etc. etc.
  • The specifics I am presenting are speculations, though we can anticipate the possibilities along an arc from physical through spiritual. If we can thoroughly know the history of a particular organization, including its segment of the arc to the present, we can sense what that organization could become in its next highest iteration; or at least individuals could sense through their new spiritual sense what they individually can do to bring a further integration of the members, of the ideas, of the forms of organization.
  • This approach can be adopted for understanding, evaluation, and recommendations for any organization.
  • Perhaps a discipline of Knowledge of Emerging Potentials could be developed based on a mental and mento-spiritual foundation.
  • Expert systems or other new forms of software could prove very useful.

[MSS Comments] The rule the whole is more than the sum of the parts can help one cross the border at each transition.

Callousness of the West and Negative Life Response
Thousands die every day in Africa of AIDS and Malaria, but little is spoken of it here in the West. It is callousness of the worst sort. It attracts "bad karma," which is the principle that what you sow is what you reap in life. 9/11 and situations like it thus comes as a negative response from life in return for our callousness to a variety of the world's problems.

We do not see that our lower consciousness --whether our own or that of any collective -- is constantly attracting negativity from the field of life. Look around and examine your life, and watch for negative circumstances that come to you. It is most likely related to lower movements of our consciousness; it is especially there in our wanting attitudes. Let us try to identify a negative attitude and then change it. Life will then respond to you ON ITS OWN with sudden good fortune. Problems will suddenly solve themselves, and sudden opportunities will arise from out of nowhere. It is the instantaneous miraculousness of Life Response.

If Western callousness can turn into true concern -- including true follow-up to our positive public statements -- new solutions to the problems of Africa, the Arab world, and elsewhere can instantaneously spring forth on their own. The key is to move out of our narrow, self-centered attitudes that separate us from the conditions of the world around us. It applies not just to the West, but to any country, any culture, any individual.
 

United States
 (main)

Click Here to See Entries

 

India
(main)

Click Here to See Entries

United States and India
 (main)
 

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)

 

 

On Indians and the US
Indians respond to the US, as the US is now the leader. Indians are unaware of their own spiritual values, which are vast and incomparable should they resurface in the consciousness of its people. (Paraphrase of MSS)

Force Moving through US and India
The Force is moving through technology in the US. Rather than moving directly from spirit-oriented India, the Force has taken an unexpected path, moving through the emerging subtle technology of Internet in the US, which extends in collaborative service work with India, where the Force returns to meet its true earthly Source. Then together these two nations can enable the infinite to emerge in the finite, not just in the material plane, but in all planes.

Movement of Force in US and India
The reason the Force has moved through the US rather than directly from its source India to the world is that the US needs to brings its practical organization, including the infinite attracting Internet, to energize, focus, and make practically real the lessons of spirit.

The British Empire, US, and India
The US began its war of independence and secured its freedom in 1776 from Britain. Incidentally it was in 1774 only that Britain won the battle of Plassey in Bengal and began the consolidation of the British empire. As Britain's capacity to maintain an empire was limited, the moment India was gained, America was lost. (MSS, N. Asokan)

How the Indian and Westerner Combine to Bring a Great Power to the World
The Westerner has material success in matter because he has applied true spiritual values to that endeavor such as honesty, orderliness, systemization, etc. Yet he knows practically nothing of spirit. Spirit on the other hand is in the body of the Indian, yet he is not prosperous because he lacks the spiritual values that the westerner has toward matter. If the Indian can learn to acquire this in the outer life of matter, then with the already existing profound spiritual insight of the Rishis that he embodies, he will in tandem with the West unleash a tidal wave of power on the world. (Paraphrase of MSS)

On Indians and the US
Indians respond to the US, as the US is now the leader. Indians are unaware of their own spiritual values, which are vast and incomparable should they resurface in the consciousness of its people. (Paraphrase of MSS)

Untitled
The New Age movement has its soul in India, its energy and leadership in the US.

Brainpower and Spirit
Business Week sees the brainpower of India and its technology playing a positive role in US business. ... Brainpower is the distant shadow of the emerging power of Indian Spirituality. (MSS, slightly altered)

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)

The Intuitive Capacity of an Indian; Exchange between Indian Subtlety and Western Practical Efficiency
 Yesterday I trained 10 young people, most in their 20s or early 30s. They were all bright and each contributed to the discussion. There was an Indian fellow who was bright beyond compare. A number in the group who work with him commented about his extraordinary intelligence. I noticed a particular capacity he had to probe to the heart of an issue, connect with the essence, and turn around and explain his position brilliantly through the necessary complex logic. This struck me as genius. His psychic-like method also struck me as something particularly Indian. It was the first time I had this experience.

MSS Comments: R's email is perceptive and penetrative. Some Indians do have the perception R describes. Unless that insight is in the social atmosphere, it won't emerge in a few. [I.e. if the nation and culture won't admit of it, it will occur in only a few there.] Still, it cannot be seen in all.

In 1975 I conceived of an exchange programme between India and US. The subtle knowledge in Mayan, Egyptian and even in the European civilisation before the mind developed is enormous. In India, it is spiritually subtle. A thorough reading of the Mahabharata, Ramayana will give that knowledge. India lives that knowledge unconsciously and is in the process of losing it because of contact with Britain. But it is still very much alive in the villages. This is of rare value for the American youth who are inquisitive. An American youth taught the Indian dialect (not the language) in a US institute staying in a village, cultivating a small plot ONLY to learn the subtle knowledge by first hand observation will feel an enormous reward, while the Indian village will see an efficient model for practical efficiency in farming or in a craft. A year or two stay here will make the youth possess rare knowledge. One such youth in each Indian village would be a great programme of integration.

The Indian Scientist's Advantage to Vastly Succeed by Utilizing the Process of Creation
Science is knowledge of the process. Experimental science discovered innumerable such processes that enable man to produce the objects thus studied. Beyond the process is the essence. The knowledge of essence enables one to know the theory of creation. USA has become the cultural leader of the world by virtue of its economic status. For anything to be valued in India, the population here needs the sanction of US life-style. The Indian scientist need not look to an economic giant for scientific inspiration as the Indian masses do. Science is inspired by the sources of knowledge and possibilities of such knowledge.
 
Should the Indian scientists examine the Theory of creation given to the world 80 years ago by an Indian sage [Sri Aurobindo], they are in a better position to appreciate its inherent value for science. (MSS)

How India Can Benefit from, be Set Back by Western Influence
It is more than fine for India to adopt the ways organization of matter of the Westerner and particularly America, but it is important to keep its spirit. A synthesis is to recall the spirit in the plane of action and matter. India should not however should not be enticed by the vulgar lower influences of America. That would cancel India's spirit power to affect the world.

Indian Peace, Dryness of Prosperous Nations
 Indian soil carries that Peace. Indians are not fully aware of it till they leave the shore. Even then, when they set foot in the land of plenty, many people feel an elation and elevation they have never felt. The sight of Prosperity is so gratifying that they fail to notice the emptiness of life there. Only those who have lived in a spiritual atmosphere feel the dryness of life in other nations. (MSS)

India Has Produced No Original Scientist, the US No Saint
India has not produced an original scientist in the last few hundred years, nor has USA produced a saint. 'The individual expresses what the collective possesses subconsciously' is what I call 'in the atmosphere'. [I.e. the two nations have failed to produce these because the atmosphere of the nations has not been conducive to do so. (India lacked practical efficiency, and US spirituality.)] (MSS, expanded on)

 

Russia
(main)

See Entries on The Origins, End, and Aftermath of the Cold War

Great Britain
(main)

The Empire, Democracy, Heights/Lows of British Consciousness

Roots of British Empire
 It was not the aim of the British to found an Empire. Their main interest was in trade. Trade became a source of Empire by circumstances. (MSS)

The Great Character of, and the Decay of England
 England, the mother of democracy, ruled over the seas with an empire on which the sun never set. Having undergone subjection under the Romans, Normans, and French for centuries cherished democracy and the values of democracy. That build up leadership of courage and character. They could save democracy for the world or the world for democracy [in WWII] because they were men of character.

Had their character sprung from spiritual roots, it would not have become rigid as it has now done. So, she cannot be in the evolutionary race any more. It is a character from physical hard work. By definition it will ossify and lead to rigidity. We see them worshiping the rigidity of permanence, not realizing that it has no life. Their Royalty is the symbol of their decay. (MSS)

Spirit of British Freedom and WWII
 In Britain Freedom awoke about thousand years ago and we saw the Spirit of Freedom becoming Self-conscious in their fight against Hitler.

Liberal Democracy and Empire in Britain
 Liberal democracy and empire have co-existed in Britain. Hence, one will find conflicting urges in her in the 19th and 20th centuries.

European and English Character, their Success, and Values
 The Europeans, especially Englishmen, are men of character, integrity, self-respect, individuality, and independence. They practise the work ethic of Protestantism and work tirelessly. Modern science, the several empires, post-war development, and conquest of disease are the direct result of these VALUES, all of which are spiritual in origin and content. (MSS)

Trade Culture of Britain
 Britain and Holland are trading nations. Nothing enters their culture if it is not sanctioned by trade. (MSS)

Cause of the Industrial Revolution in Britain
 The cause of the Industrial Revolution in Britain is traced by one thesis as agricultural surplus. Sociologically it can be traced to the freedom it won over centuries after about a millennium of slavery to foreign powers. It comes from the individuality one has which is seen in commerce as entrepreneurship. (MSS)

Promises Kept and Truth as Source of Britain's Dominion
The ideal of the English gentleman was a man who always kept his promises and was incapable of speaking anything that was not true. It was on the strength of that character that tiny Britain for a time extended its dominion over more than half of humanity. (MSS)

The Empire
 The Empire that spread all over the world had to fight for and pay for the entire world and be impoverished in the process. (MSS)

The British Empire, US, and India
The US began its war of independence and secured its freedom in 1776 from Britain. Incidentally it was in 1774 only that Britain won the battle of Plassey in Bengal and began the consolidation of the British empire. As Britain's capacity to maintain an empire was limited, the moment India was gained, America was lost. (MSS, N. Asokan)

British Did Not Interfere in Indian Culture
When the French came to India they tried to impose their religion on the Indians while the British chose not to interfere with the native culture and traditions. The result was that while the British added India to their empire, the French could only rule a few pockets. (MSS, N. Asokan)

English Colonial Obliviousness
England established her empire, not so much to attain territories, but to gain markets. She was oblivious to the ramifications, however. (MSS)

End of British Empire
 The conscious rule of the British that divided the Hindus and Muslims directly ended in the dismemberment of the Empire. (MSS)

Conquered is "Conquered" by Culture of Subject Nation
The UK went to the Middle East and Asia for trade and conquest. It ended up in the conqueror being conquered by the culture of the subject nations. The British Empire was the main reason for the interest of the West now in Zen, Buddhism and Eastern mysticism. (MSS, modified)

Britain Now Nowhere
The wave moves by an undulating motion. The unmoving sheet of water is quiet. The wave rises and falls. The rise and fall causes the movement. There is no movement without that rise and fall.

Britain that ruled the whole world is now nowhere. They could rule the world, as they were ruled for a thousand years by various European powers. (MSS, extracts)

Bravery, Arrogance
Her astonishing bravery has, but her arrogance (seen in its colonial empire and elsewhere) has not served her well.

Energies Depleted from WWII, England Relinquishes Her Colonies
 With its energies depleted defending Europe in WWII, Britain how no energies remaining to uphold its colonial territories. Soon after WWII, most won their independence.

Untitled
The British "unified" the US and then India by their exploitation. Looking for resources and markets, she unconsciously instigated freedom. Likewise Nature shapes our own individual lives, evolves our being slowly or quickly over time in ways we are unconscious of.

England Unites India
From a subtle perspective of the march of Nature we can say that England came to unite India.

Insincerity of Europe, America, the Britisher
The European or American cannot be sincere as they are prejudiced and unemotional. The Britisher has organized his insincerity as diplomatic objectivity. He excels others in his incapacity to be true or sincere. (MSS)

The Rise and Fall of Empires
Every empire has risen on the basis of a strength or force that has given rise to a greater form and failed because the form was deficient to give full expression to the force.

1. Greece:

a. Rose by the power of mind. Will Durant says even today it is Hellenic thought that rules the world. Its contribution was in ideas, philosophy, the arts and conceptual sciences (Level 1 & 2) and in architecture (level 3). Sri Aurobindo says Greek thought could not develop further because it was limited to mind and did not know the spirit.

b. On the other side, it did not fully apply mind to organize social life, which the Romans did. Its principle of democracy remained a cloistered virtue.

c. Greece rose by organizing military force, minting coins, developing export oriented trade to compensate for its poor soil.


2. Rome

a. Applied the power of mind to life and generated principles of law, administration and governance which it extended to citizens throughout the empire. It organized the military. Its strength was in organizational social mechanism.

b. Its weakness was in social vital to harness the social energies continuously. The empire died of economic bankruptcy but without any debt, which means it failed to fully understand the power of money and how government could create money. It knew organization at the mental and social level, but did not know how to fully organize the vital energies of society through money.


3. England

a. Fully knew the power of money. It organized national currency, banking and public debt and created a global commercial empire of unprecedented prosperity

b. Negatively it insisted on principles of aristocracy both at home and in relation to its colonies. Therefore it failed to tap the vital energies and aspirations of the common man and ultimately failed.


4.  America

a. Unleashed the power of the individual in democracy and applied the power of the mind at the physical level through production and social organization.

b. Negatively it has tried to resurrect and perpetuate the old power structure of the nation state rather than fully extend power to the individual and to the global society. It has tapped the power of the individual, but not the power of the social collective (only the power of the nation-state), i.e. it remains socially unformed and immature.

c. If America is to continue to be the evolutionary leader, it will have to shift from exercising national power to evolving global power through global institutions such as a world central bank, world currency, world army, world government. Otherwise the evolutionary spark will arise elsewhere.

d. Its response to the environment and nuclear weapons are critical tests of its capacity for leadership. (MSS)

 

World War II

Britain's Strength of Character in WWII
-They could save democracy for the world or the world for democracy [in WWII] because they were men of character.

-Britain's capacity to defend against German aggressive based on character was an example of national strength.

-In Britain Freedom awoke about thousand years ago and we saw the Spirit of Freedom becoming Self-conscious in their fight against Hitler. (MSS, extracted)

Churchill, England's Courage Saved the World; Using the Force
When all Europe capitulated to Hitler, he expected England to hasten to surrender. What happened was the opposite. Churchill declared, ''We shall fight, fight to the end. We shall fight the enemy on the land, let us fight him on the high seas. Let us give fight in the air. We shall fight him in the streets, we shall fight, fight and die fighting." It inspired every man in the factory, every woman in the kitchen. England won, NOT Hitler. England won FREEDOM. England saved democracy. England saved the world. That is the courage of the collective. Churchill received the SPIRITUAL FORCE from Sri Aurobindo and exhibited spiritual courage, which spread all over England and all over the world. It is true not only in the subtle plane but in the warfront too. (MSS)

The Force and Churchill
Churchill won the second world war through the Force that was sent to him, which he did not know about.

Sri Aurobindo's Force and Churchill
Sri Aurobindo was able to put Churchill into power to win the war and remove him when India was to be given freedom. (MSS)

Right Action from the Wider Perspective of the Whole
In 1938 the British Cabinet was planning for prosperity and Churchill who was pleading for building bombers was dismissed as insane. Had the Cabinet looked at the issue from munitions [i.e. a wider perspective of the whole] they would have seen that they had 238 bombers while Hitler had raised his to 758. What was considered intuition in Churchill was commonsense from facts. (MSS)

Churchill's Consciousness
 Churchill had social conscience. He was not humanitarian nor had human, moral conscience.

He was unscrupulous outside the social culture of Britain.

By nature, he was pushy in the extreme.

Britain's Strength of Character in WWII
Example of National Strength -- Britain's capacity to defend against German aggressive based on character. (MSS)

Britain as 3rd Rate Power After WWII
Britain that ruled the world became a second rate power at the beginning of the war and was relegated to the third position after the war.

Article: Observations from Reading the Biography of Churchill  (MSS)

Additional Entries on WWII

 

Recent History

Inability to Form World Government
Britain where democracy was born, unable to outgrow its sentiment to Royalty, lost its right to found the world government. (MSS) (The Commonwealth?)

How USA's Low Physical Consciousness is Challenged by War Paralleling the British
USA launched the war of Independence. Her Civil War was to overcome the physical passion for property and the ownership of slaves, an extreme form of physical possessiveness. In WW I she was a supplier and it helped her to overcome her depression. Pearl Harbour was her taste of WWII. Supplying arms to WWII, she became very rich, i.e. she found the physical fight of Europe her avenue for economic growth. After the war, the war-ravaged nations became her market. She too overcame her physicality by participating in the war. Now she is in the phase of economic expansion and is becoming a cultural leader of the world by economic, military, political power, much as England did in the 19th and 20th centuries, based on her military, imperial, and economic power. Japan challenged USA for a while and the Chinese market attracted her. These are symptoms exactly parallel to UK going to the Middle East and Asia for trade and conquest. It ended up in the conqueror being conquered by the culture of the subject nations. The British Empire was the main reason for the interest of the West now in Zen, Buddhism and Eastern mysticism. (MSS)

Diana's Death, the Crown, and the Pioneer Individual
Princess Diana moved in new, progressive directions that were not supported by the British crown. Their energy if not their direct actions contributed to her death. It is an indicator of the hostile reaction of elements of society to the pioneer individual.

Ireland
(main)

UK and Ireland
 What Britain did not do to her colonies, she did deliberately to Ireland. The UK robbed Ireland of her land, practised gross discrimination, became a police state practising state violence until the low consciousness of Ireland woke up, grabbed the economic instrument, and excelled UK in income. (MSS)

Resolution of Irish Problem Has Occurred through Higher Prosperity for Ireland
In 1921, Ireland became a republic, but a remainder of Northern Ireland remained with Britain.

What happened in Ireland in the last 20 years has a great lesson for all those who are involved in conflict resolution. Of course, this lesson is nothing new to the world, but it remains a lesson the world has not learnt till today.

Twenty years ago, the per capita GDP of Ireland was far below that of UK. Now Ireland's GDP is exceeds that of the UK. It is significant that during the same period, violence came down, from over 400 deaths annually to just five.

When economic opportunities open up, Man has no time or energy for religious conflict, i.e. economics goes deeper into man's existence than what he believes to be his religious conviction. If ethnic conflicts are to acquire life and virulence, it should be in USA, because it is there we find a great number of dynamic ethnic minorities, but the USA is more free from ethnic conflicts than elsewhere. (MSS)

Ireland's Prosperity
 Ireland was known as the sick man of Europe. All these centuries she was poorer than the poorest European country. Her mainstay was agriculture and the main crop was potato. The potato famine decimated the population. There were mass migrations to Australia, Africa and especially to America. She was poor, not as we know poverty, but by the standards of Europe. In the sixties, her per capita income was $10,000 while we were below $200. She was dominated and humiliated by Britain. Britain, who was fair to many of her colonies, was markedly unfair to Ireland. Ireland was an insoluble problem in the UK during the 16th to 20th centuries. Home Rule was a deception. In 1921, Ireland became a Republic, but, as we lost Kashmir, they lost Ulster.

The Irish Revolutionary Army, IRA, became a hotbed of terrorism. Lord Mountbatten fell to their explosion. They aimed to destroy the entire British Cabinet while they were in session. Human wisdom says the solution to a problem is inbuilt into it. If the leaders are myopic, no solution will issue. That political issues lend themselves to economic resolutions is well known, even if not honoured in practice. The column opposite to the editorial in The New York Times is of value and is syndicated to various newspapers all over the world. Recently there was an article on Ireland.

The sick man of Europe is now richer than Britain, her age-old rival, France and Germany, traditionally rich European nations. The writer says it was achieved by free higher education, low taxes, and generous invitation to foreign capital. This is not only a solution for Ireland. The problem of Kashmir can be solved thus. In one Nehru Memorial Lecture those ideas were spelt out a few years ago. It is also the solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. In fact, all the inter-state or intra-state conflicts like LTTE can thus be solved. A military solution belongs not to the previous century but to the 19th century. In Ireland no one administered the solution. It happened by itself. Sri Aurobindo said in 1925 that He could accomplish EXACTLY what He wanted to accomplish in Ireland and Turkey. He did not explain any further. I feel like congratulating The New York Times columnist but would like to add that the theoretical lesson of that experience should be drawn and applied elsewhere. This view of an economic solution of political conflict is one of the principles of the Theory of Social Evolution framed from the yogic philosophy of Sri Aurobindo. (MSS)

Irish Prosperity
 -Ireland's advice is very simple: Make high school and college education free; make your corporate taxes low, simple and transparent; actively seek out global companies; open your economy to competition; speak English; keep your fiscal house in order; and build a consensus around the whole package with labor and management - then hang in there, because there will be bumps in the road - and you, too, can become one of the richest countries in Europe

-I recently spent time in Ireland, which has quietly become the second-richest country in the E.U., first by going through some severe belt-tightening in which everyone had to sacrifice, then by following that with a plan to upgrade the education of its entire work force, and a strategy to recruit and induce as many global high-tech companies and researchers as possible to locate in Ireland. The Irish have a plan. They are focused. They have mobilized business, labor and government around a common agenda. They are playing offense. (Thomas Friedman, NY Times)
 

France
(main)

French Brought Freedom to Europe, then Fell Back
The French who were receptive to Freedom revolted against the monarchy and gave the benefit of Freedom -- rule of law -- to the whole of Europe. Then, France took to the path of dissipation resorting to wine and women. Thus, character in the leadership could not be built up. (MSS)

French Ideas and Ideals
-The English are a very material people. The French are a people of mental idealism. E.g. the writings of victor Hugo are filled with such vitality, ideas, and ideals. Napoleon is another example.

-The French mind may be the keenest in Europe, especially involving matters beyond the physical/material plane.

France and the US Helping One Another
The French saved the US during its Revolutionary War; and the US returned the favor in WWII.

What France Represents
 Each nation can in fact be said to represent a different aspect of human consciousness and capacity. For example, France is said to represent "clarity of thought." (MSS)

France Moving from Intellectuality to Insight
 Each country should discover its own unique capacities and contribute that to the world. India has developed the spirit. She can take that process to its climax of helping the spirit manifest in the physical plane. France has developed intellectuality. She can now move to the next evolutionary step of developing Insight which is a subtle capacity. (MSS)

Intellect vs. Soul for France
 France has relied more on its brilliant intellect than on its spiritual soul. (Corinne McLaughlin and Gordon Davidson from 'The Soul of Nations')

 

European Union
(main)

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.

Emergence of the European Union
 In the West, the physical age, or the era of the physicality [materiality and forceful power of nations] of man is coming to an end. It can be seen in the emergence of the European Union. The USA needs to take the next step, perhaps an even greater step. A movement to rationality, collaboration, etc. may be a necessary interim step.

EU Comes & WWII
Such things as the forming of the United Nations, the forming of a common European currency, and the European Union, would not have come into being so readily without the negative events of World War II. This is considered an "irony," but it is really Nature's way.

The Negative that Enabled the Positive
At the mental level I perceive the German intrusion as the result of a maniacal madman, a false philosophy subscribed to, the failure of European nations to collaborate between the world wars, and others. At the spiritual level I perceive that the negative is an intense power of the positive -- understanding that the physicality of Europe was broken down through the boot of war, that the UN and the EU arose thereafter, and several other ways. At the cosmic spiritual I see these events as forces of darkness trying to block the light of the emerging Force from spreading through the world.

The Great Value of Tragedy and War
Greek philosophers spoke of war as a great benefactor. The great boon to the world that lies behind the erupting of the war is not seen by us. It lies in the causal plane. Western Europe was ushered into unbelievable prosperity when she recovered from the ravages of the world war. A report of UNDP says that the world made as much progress in the fifty years of the post war period as she had done in the previous 500 years. (MSS)

Nature's Expression of Natural Disaster, War to Our Physical Consciousness
The individual and the various forms of the collective express consciousness from lowest to highest. The lowest if the physical consciousness, which is the expression of inertia, unwillingness to change, brutality, attachment to falsehood, religious and social dogma, anachronistic tendencies, etc. Nature expresses itself synchronous with such physical consciousness through natural disasters and calamities, by being attacked in war, and in other forms, down to the individual expression who experiences it as irritation and annoyance. There are various gradations for the collective and the individual.

Tsunami of 2005 in Asia is one example, indicating their limited physical consciousness. Another is the 30 million Russians who died during WWII in response matching an equal number of citizens the Soviets killed of their own previously. Even the nations of WWII who were overwhelmed by the Nazis is an indicate of the limited physical consciousness of the nations of Europe who pulled in their own individual way previous to the war. Many other events indicate this, including the attack of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor for the US. We see earthquakes in Iran and other locations shaking up the physical consciousness. Of course, the perpetrators themselves are invariably destroyed -- Nazis, Taliban, etc. -- as they express ultimate physical consciousness.

See Resolution of Problems Through Higher Harmonies
Sri Aurobindo said that "all problems in life are problems of harmony." Most of the problems we have described are problems of harmony; in this case disequilibrium between nations and people of the earth. The problems of harmony as disequilibrium have manifest in the form of haves and have-nots, the organized and the disorganized, partial, local solutions at the expense of fuller global solutions, and reactive rather than thoughtful, to name a few. When we rise to these higher harmonies, the problems will easily be solved. Solutions are endlessly available by creating more harmony, more integration, greater opening to collaborative approaches. This idea that Sri Aurobindo propounds (all problems in life are problems of harmony) will be slowly accepted by the world, consciously or unconsciously. For example, the UN and the European Union are subconscious first step acknowledgements of this aspect of human evolution and destiny.

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. 

See Addtional EU Entries Related to World Unity

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)

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.

Development of Emotion in Asia, Mind in Europe
Nature herself is a partial force. Soul and Nature together make for the whole. Nature is a part. A partial force cannot work for total progress. Hence Nature has decided to develop emotion in Asia and mind in Europe.  (MSS)

The EU
There has never been a governing institution like the European Union. In this, it is a great innovation.

Beyond Religion to the Spirit that can be Adjunct to Secularism of the EU
The secularism -- openness, tolerance, democracy, freedom, etc. has served Europe well. She has begun to reject the old religious way, which is admirable. Still she has come to the point that a secular mind devoid of the spirit will retard her. She must open the spiritual realms beyond mind, all the while retaining the great secular capacities of the past, and rejecting the religious anachronisms that seek to (weakly) reassert themselves. Europe needs to discover the spirit, not religion to take a further step in human evolution. Spirit enables the infinite capacities beyond the just material.

East Meets West to Know Infinite in All
The West is evolving material reality to infinity, even as it fails to see the Infinite behind. Now as the movement of technology moves from the US and enjoins India and the East, it can learn to recognize the Infinite behind the material. It can also know not only the material, but every aspect, dimension, current, and force of creation.

East and West Have What the Other Lacks

The East has ignored the organization and materialism that the West embodies; the West, the spirituality that the East embodies. In the new age we are entering, this is overcome.

Also see Entries on the Western Consciousness (of East & West)

World Army & EU's One 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.

Population Creates Greater Money, Currency Value -- E.g. EU; Common India/China Currency
 -There are INVISIBLE forces in the society that create money, not false money, but true money. Population is one such.

-The US population is 270 million. The dollar ruled the world market. Europe came together in the European Union and created the euro dollar which was five or ten rupees lower in value than the dollar. Now the EU is growing and has increased from 9 countries to 25 countries.

Her population rose to 480 million and today the euro dollar is at Rs. 58. 'Rise in population raises the currency value' may be voodoo economics for the traditional pure monetarist, but it is TRUE as we see in the euro dollar. Money is Trust, said Bernard Leiter, the innovator of a new form of currency. As the size of population increases, the TRUST rises too. Hence the higher value of currency. Trust, expert economists say, raises economic activity. It also raises the REAL value of currency whose basis is Trust.

-Suppose India and China join to create a common currency, the value of both the currencies will rise. We should not shut our eyes to such possibilities. [MSS]

Comparing EU and USA
-EU is not a competitor to USA. They are trying to catch up with the US. Their goal is political unity.  (MSS)

-Comparing the method of governing of the EU and the US do not admit of close comparison, since their goals are different.  (MSS)

Beyond Learning from the EU -- Inner Growth for US
Europeans often remark that Americans "live to work," while Europeans "work to live." The average paid vacation time in Europe is now six weeks a year. By contrast, Americans, on average, receive only two weeks. Most Americans would also be shocked to learn that the average commute to work in Europe is less than 19 minutes. When one considers what makes a people great and what constitutes a better way of life, Europe is beginning to surpass America."  from The European Dream by Jeremy Rifkin. Comment: There is nothing wrong in USA trying to catch up with the EU in respect to these indices, but, if they [the US] turn inward [i.e. psychological and spiritual development], it is immaterial whether they catch up [in these ways] or not. To be well fed is no sin, but it is no virtue to be sought after. It is necessary, not valuable, when one is in poverty. (MSS)

Europe's Mocking of America Makes her Fall behind
The Europeans mocked America for several hundred years, and has now fallen behind her materially. Her arrogance left her in second place.

Nature Creates New World Free of Class and Cast
If human progress is stultified by classes and castes, Nature creates a New World free of them. (MSS) [e.g. Immigrants from limiting Europe came to the wide open possibilities of the US.]

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.

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)

US Aid to Europe Makes Them Satellite for US Markets, & Lost Their Voice
 All the nations of Western Europe that received a generous dose of aid through the Marshall Plan have become satellites of the USA and her permanent market. In the field of politics, they have lost their voice to the giver of aid.

Self is the Soul of a nation. It is seen as self-respect and self-reliance. They are not worth parting with.

US and Europe [in 2005]
US and Europe are currently [2005] contradictory complements; i.e. they are in mental conflict at the surface, though secretly each knows what the other side does not, and can be of aid to them if the other side is open to it. On the surface we see a conflict of ideas. Viewed from the depths, it is an indicator of an emerging higher harmony beyond current points of view, which invariably express through events of history.
 
America has entered the vacuum created at the end of the Cold War. When attacked, she moved to fill the vacuum -- moving in fact in a hundred directions at one.
 
She put full effort to prevent terrorism in her own nation, and remarkably thus far there has not been a single serious incident since 9/11 in the US.
 
But going in so many directions to overcome evils she perceives, she has extended herself beyond her material and psychological capacity. For every victory there seems to be a defeat. Also, her conservative tendencies have rallied support for this sometimes mindless, multi-pronged approach. (The physical does not know bounds; it just moves until the mind tames her unruly tendencies, like the bridling of a wild stallion.) 
 
Europe knows this. She herself however also has no power yet to enter the vacuum. She is trying too to work that out (e.g. we see the emergence of something akin to a European rapid reaction force), though she spends as much time waving from the sidelines in protest of US unilateral action.
 
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.
 
Europe failed before the rise of fascism. 80 million died to bring the UN, and the European Union. There was also the negative role of religion as a support. We want to avoid Nature's methods, by substituting Soul. Moving out of regional ego will evoke the Soul, replacing Nature. We can thereby avoid catastrophes of all kinds in the future by moving on a common front. The more prepared we are together through common purpose, the less likely negative catastrophic events will tend to arise in the world on their own.
 
The back end pressure of Asia's rise, will also force America to consider its own flank, especially economically. Asia can be an instrument of the further unity of purpose of US and Europe.
 
Another perspective is that the US and Europe are not that far apart. It is just the current US government, representing a certain conservative element that accentuates the problem; though that force is unlikely to give way soon. The US itself has its own contradictory complements.

US, Russia, and EU
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.

Also See Article on World Army

Thoughts on Role of a World Parliament

 

TO BE CATEGORIZED

Europe/EU

Europe Gave Up Its Hard Ego Sense and Forged New Unity

Q: How did Europe give up its Ego-sense after WWII?

A: Each country pulled in its own direction before WWII, completely disregarding others, working in its own self-interest. As a result of the horror of the War, the nations were shocked out of uncooperation. The essential hardened Ego was melted away, leaving a much softer form. The nations now think more deeply on its motives and action relative to its sister nations. The European nations have gone through a dramatic evolution, though not yet transformation. There is still much scope for cooperation and collaboration, whose ultimate purpose is deep harmony and unity. Actually Harmony in Diversity.

 

 

China
(main)

China's Potential
China's greatest assets are she was not a slave country. She has the highest population and the longest tradition of intelligenstia. Taiwan, a real part of her, Shanghai, Canton, Hong Kong had won great prosperity. The country has no democratic tradition. Its culture is essentially feudal. Tyranny and cruelty have had long and intense innings there. Concubinage is a national institution. Greece lost its Mental culture in one century, because she did not open into Spirit. Like her China's intellectuality never extended to spirituality of any type. The future is not for the national collective, but for the Individual. Democracy, socialism, Individuality and Spirituality will rule the future. In the measure, she responds to any of these principles, her present Herculean effort to emerge out of poverty will be rewarded. (MSS)

China and Democracy
China has for long been used to dictatorships of one type or another. She can now experiment with democracy. How much each nation will succeed in progressing to the next step is something only time can answer in the future. (MSS, N. Asokan)

India, China Currency
Suppose India and China join to create a common currency, the value of both the currencies will rise. We should not shut our eyes to such possibilities. (MSS)

China Cash and Financial Crisis
China's huge cash reserves, due to vast exports, were used by global financiers for speculative purposes targeting the housing market, leading to the recent world financial crisis.

 

Japan
(main)

Honor (practiced in Japan) is a Spiritual Value
-Japan is a country of honour. The warrior caste of Samurai is known for upholding the sacred tradition of honour.
-For the Japanese their honour is more valuable than life. Honour is a spiritual value and values are spiritual skills. No wonder recently they rose from being a war-ravaged nation to become the second largest economy in the world. (MSS, abridged)

Universal Literacy in Nations
Universal literacy created such a stir in Japan and in many European countries. It played that role in great intensity in the USA. (MSS)

Insularity of Japanese
Those who live on an island are not easily attacked by their enemies, as the ocean on all sides is a barrier. That barrier is a protection. That self-same protection makes the population of the island insular.

Therefore, no outside influence readily reaches them. They are insulated from the influence of the external life.

Over the years, it gives the islanders a pride that they will not let in outside forces, ideas, religions, fashions, etc. The natural protection of the seas gives rise to an unnatural pride, a pride that is partly born out of ignorance.

In this sense, Japan was insular for centuries. Gradually, she began to believe that she was a sacred race, as the sun had dawned on them first. The Samurai tradition of heroism and loyalty came to be venerated, giving them a feeling that they were outstanding in any sense of the word.

In the last century, tradition began to be aggressive. No Japanese was permitted to leave the shores of Japan. To give a map of Japan to a foreigner would attract capital punishment. Dress regulations, especially for women, if flouted would be punished. The woman would be stripped naked and paraded thus.

These are obviously the excesses. The wave moves by an undulating motion. The unmoving sheet of water is quiet. The wave rises and falls. The rise and fall causes the movement. There is no movement without that rise and fall.

Civilisation marches ahead through a wave motion of alternating peak and trough. The same Japan that was so insular earlier has now conquered the world market in several products. They have set up their industries in China, USA and India. They have learnt English. They are no longer insular in the measure they seek business.  (MSS, extracted)

Japan’s Insularity and Her Future

The same insularity that led to Japan’s attacking Asia in the name of resources before and during WWII is still there in a pacific form in a very cultured society. Business fortunately preoccupies them and absorbs their energies, preventing the negative from coming to the fore. Still it builds up; negative, physical consciousness of insularity, proud separation, and homogeneity rears itself. The great earthquake and tsunami of 2011 reflects the consciousness of the time and place. Surely Japan, an island nation, will be humbled once again and learn from the experience, shedding at least part if not most of her proud separativeness. It is an awful negative that comes as a result of a virulent resistance in the people. But when learned from becomes a great positive in disguise.

 

Africa
(main)

The Future of the Blacks (in Africa) , and How the Oppressed of Yesterday will be Adored Tomorrow
Phraseology changes with time. Backward nations have become underdeveloped nations. Later they are upgraded into developing countries or the Third World. So, Blacks have come to stay.

After the war, the newly emancipated nations have shed their colonial versions and acquired names appropriate to their new status. Many towns have found the charm of going back to an earlier name. It is a great good symptom of coming into one's own. It is an indication that these nations do aspire to reach a greatness due to them. History has its lessons for us.

It has its cycles when different nations presided over the destiny of the world. The Blacks in the USA are a significant community. They have excelled in sports and athletics. Otherwise, they seem to be a contented lot.

I have a different view of them. I feel the future belongs to them. My view or claim may appear to be a high sounding NOTHING, devoid of sense. I believe in my view as it is based on a historical understanding or an evolutionary perspective. Until the First World War, America was a contemptuous word. Before the Second World War, the continental people lost their contempt and replaced it with ridicule. No longer does the word American excite any ridicule in any nation of the world including England, though it is nowhere received with respect.

American military prowess is unrivalled. Its political eminence is seen all over the world. Her economic power dominates more than half the world. She is becoming a cultural leader of every nation. Her food items, dress style, and way of life are welcome all over. One may question their desirability or not. But this remains a fact. She has reached this position because once she was a neglected continent, if not oppressed.

The oppressed of yesterday will be the adored of tomorrow, is a rule history has honoured. The sober among the Blacks have a poise, a calm, a goodwill that is admirable. Those who have distinguished themselves in any field exhibit these great qualities without exception. It may be true that so far no Black or Jew or woman has been nominated to contest the Presidency of the USA. They are slow in coming into their own. When they do so, they will be there solidly for a long time, as tiny Britain ruled over the world or tinier Greece had offered intellectual leadership to the entire West for two millennia.

It is happening in India with the support of the government. The society has not yet taken the role of offering support to its erstwhile oppressed. They will all have brittle results that are feeble. When the oppressed, whether they are Blacks of the USA or the downtrodden of India, come into their own by their choice, they will rule with distinction. (MSS; italics added)

Callous Negligence Toward Africa
[Re: Africa's plight of war, HIV, poverty, suffering.] The world is callously negligent. (MSS)

Also see East and West


MISCELLANEOUS
 (top)

The Middle East

The Arab World Left Out Till Now

The world has waited until now to include the Arab nations of the Middle East. They were left behind when the evolution moved from Africa to Europe to America in order to develop science, technology, and production; and to Asia to develop emotion and the variety and depth of the Spirit. Now the world energies have come full circle to embrace them to enable further human progress.

 

The Egyptian Revolution (2011)

For the world to move toward greater prosperity, awareness, and harmony, the left out Middle East must take part. It is the subconscious aspiration of society.

 

Middle East Change During Obama Administration

It is interesting that positive, if difficult change is occurring now in the Muslim/Arab world at the time of the presidency of Barak Obama, who has Muslim parentage in part.

 

Evolution in the Middle East and for the Evolved Nations

Helping the undeveloped countries of the Middle East evolve not only benefits them, but through that process helps the countries that are already evolved to evolve further.

 

Devotee Coming to Mother Protects Middle East from War

Karmayogi said because one American with Jewish background came to Mother and is a member of MSS for 30 long years (in India), Israel and the surrounding Arab Countries have not gone to war since 1975. The Jewish devotee came to Mother around 1973 and such has its effect been that peace prevails in the Middle East till today.

 

The Jews

The Jewish Mind
 Jews enjoy mental development. Their lack of motherland leaves a vacuum in their physical. Their mentality is pure mind often; at other moments it is physical mind. (MSS)

Jewish Prosperity
The Jews are industrious, passionate about their faith, and extraordinarily intelligent. No wonder they prosper. (MSS) 

Premises about the Jews
Here are some unformed primary premises about the Jews that need to be subjected to a severe test against the Theory [of social development and creation].
  • They remain nomads and have the energy of nomads as the body has no soil to rest on as its own.
  • Their emotions are great for the same reason -- being nomads.
  • Their vital mind is more possessive than usual.
  • They "possess" money power, the social power of Money.
  • Toynbee called them relics.
  • If this is true, they are the best material for [personal and spiritual] transformation.
  • A short chapter on American Jews by the French economist professor Andre Siegfried is illuminating.
  • The achievements of their physical mind are great.
  • But they possess in a great measure the Thinking mind, No. 1, maybe in the greatest measure.
  • They are emotional. Their emotions are confined to their families. They turn to intellectuality when that emotion is not truly fulfilled. It [emotions confined to family] is a negative endowment.
  • Their energy is inexhaustible as they have no homes for their bodies to rest. It is the 'restlessness of the physical being.'
  • Their cleanliness attracts money.
  • Self-giving will do them good.
  • Shifting from symbol -- money, family, success -- to what it represents appears to be the road to their progress.
  • Their whole life appears to be a sequel to killing Jesus the avatar. (MSS)

 

Jewish Brilliance, Limitation

Jews enjoy developing their minds. They are also industrious and extraordinarily intelligent, enabling vast success in life. The Jewish people have brilliant minds "pure minds" that can think logically, rationally, conceptually, enabling pure thought, discovery, analysis in various fields. Overwhelming accomplishment thus follows for them in so many areas of life.

Some however are fixed and unable to change. There is a sense of fear and insecurity, as they have been forced to move from place to place with no homeland for thousands of years. Now that they have one in Israel, a few on the extreme are intransigent to change, which can deeply hurt the chances of the nation's survival. Especially so in an era of rising expectations of the poorer peoples around them.

 

The Jewish Character
-Jewish people have brilliant minds, what I call "pure minds" that can think logically, rationally, conceptually, enabling pure thought, discovery, analysis in various fields. Overwhelming accomplishment thus follows in so many areas of life. They are industrious in the extreme. Perhaps no one accomplishes like the Jew. (e.g. out of the 500 Nobel prizes, about a hundred have been won by the Jews.)

-Some however are absorbed in "physical mind,: which is the fascination with the surface, which can show as being "materialistic" in its wider sense -- i.e. not just the sense of wanting lots of possessions, but a tendency to only relate to the physical reality as the only real and determining factor inexistence  E.g. there is a Jewish inventor who is very intelligent, is an inventor, but can get beyond the physical material as having any influence in the determination of how new developments occur in the world (which are just as much determined by the social, psychological, the emotional, the inner, the spiritual, etc. This is what is meant by the physical orientation of the mind. It is the mind only seeing the surface. Most Jews are not this way, but are rather closer to the pure thinkers mentioned earlier. A pure thinker is open to the possibility of various levels of consciousness determining the outcome of things, or enabling new possibilities and progress.

Due to intense oppression over centuries, Jews have compensated by becoming self-absorbed personalities. Outwardly Jews do wonders in the world, but inwardly they can be caught up in themselves. It shows in various ways, one of which is in dealing with money and an inability to be self-giving outside the family and community. (E.g. a hundred million dollars was collected on the phone in one hour from Jews when Israel was attacked.) One reason for some of the problems Jews have psychologically is  -- aside from oppression --  is the fact that they never really had a homeland.

A thought: No race (the Jews) have suffered so much because of the oppression of the other (Christianity). Perhaps that explains why Christians are now being so oppressed and attacked by Muslims. (What you sow is what you reap.) Likewise when the Jews first appeared thousands of years ago, they slaughtered everyone in site. Therefore, it explains perhaps their later oppression. Actually the reasons are much deeper and go to the Jewish metaphysical and religious history, and their relationship with their God.  [All of these assertions need further study and scrutiny.]

Ostracism of Jews
 In recent decades, there has been a spate of apologies for sins of omission in the past centuries beginning with the ostracism of the Jews and ending in the dropping of nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Negroes of the USA, the untouchables of India were socially oppressed. Invalids are oppressed by Nature or biologically handicapped. (MSS)

Religion as Reason for Jewish Extermination
 Religious activism and fundamentalism are not new forces in society and politics, nor is this the first time they have served as a rallying point for extremism and violent confrontation. A half century ago Hitler and Stalin made religion the justification for an unprecedented extermination of Jews and other religious minorities.

Ending the Arab-Israeli Conflict
The Israeli-Arab conflict could completely disappear if one Jew and one Muslim both fully change their view from hate to peace.

Israel's Ascendance to Greatness and Current Fear

Israel's ascendance to greatness is because of her deeply rational and educated people. Terrorism is due to the angst of unemployment and rising expectations in a modern world.

There is a strain in Israel of irrationality based on fear, which does not want to grapple with the needs of her neighbors. This is the greatest threat to her own being because it feeds terrorism surrounding her.

What good is it to have a powerful tech sector if in one afternoon it could all be annihilated through a few missiles. Israel needs to overcome the fear, represented by Netanyahu and other right-wingers, and come to embrace the world around her by negotiating with her neighbors; otherwise, a powerful law of life will kick in: one irrevocably attracts the object of one's fear.

Future President of Jews in USA
The oppressed of yesterday will be the adored of tomorrow, is a rule history has honoured. The sober among the Blacks have a poise, a calm, a goodwill that is admirable. Those who have distinguished themselves in any field exhibit these great qualities without exception. It may be true that so far no Black or Jew or woman has been nominated to contest the Presidency of the USA. They are slow in coming into their own. When they do so, they will be there solidly for a long time, as tiny Britain ruled over the world or tinier Greece had offered intellectual leadership to the entire West for two millennia. (MSS) [Obama demonstrates this well for blacks. -ed.]

 

Additional

History and Consciousness
History is the chronicle of human consciousness. In that way we can develop a study of all essential developments of consciousness.

High Components of Prosperity among Peoples that Enable Great Prosperity
The Jews, the Chinese and the Indians are known to prosper wherever they are outside their native lands. The Jews are industrious, passionate about their faith, and extraordinarily intelligent. No wonder they prosper. The Chinese, apart from being industrious in the extreme, are clean to perfection. They are from a subtle civilisation and are loyal to their partners once they forge a partnership. Loyalty, cleanliness and industry are certainly high components of Prosperity. (MSS)

Indians are very insightful, have a great theoretical grasp. Both arise from their spiritual understanding, which is beyond all others. If they throw off their inhibitions, become more free in their social values, the sky is the limit for them, as they too will have incorporated a number of necessary components for Prosperity. (Paraphrase of MSS)

Meaning of WWII
 What if World War II was initiated by unseen Hostile forces to prevent the emerging higher consciousness of a coming age? [MSS comments:] What man cannot overcome by rationality, the hostile forces compel him to overcome by facing life's realities.

The Lessons of the Battle of Midway
In the battle of Midway of WWII we see how the weaker side prevailed because of the arrogant confidence of the stronger that dismissed the other side's relative weakness, even as that other side utilized to its ultimate advantage a new technology -  radar -- that the stronger never seriously considered or developed to the same degree. This victory turned the course of the war and human history. We thus see that a wanting attitude and a lacking skill or technology can be the death knell of a navy or a business or an individual.

INTERVIEW on Musings on the World Scene
In this topic Roy Posner, president of Growth Online, discusses the deeper meaning of trends and events in the world, and these reflect on an underlying movement of inner unity and oneness.

The Force Driving Technology
The Supramental Force of 1956 is organising itself and taking possession of Technology as well as social, subtle organisation, having moved from the governments it possessed in 1967. (MSS)

Unifying Work and Spirit in Nations (i.e. their Integral Wholeness)
 The West as in America and the East as in India are at the extremes of work and Spirit. It may be asking too much for each to directly influence the other to enable each sides greatness in full. Each however individually can bring themselves to solve their problems and utilise their opportunities in the integral way.

Sri Aurobindo's integral view is a perfect model for each to follow. He said that the hour has approached where the world can integrate Material Prosperity and Spiritual Realization to enable the evolution of the world. How to begin to do this? The best solution is for a few individuals from each side to try to live His integral ideas.

MSS Articles on Nations
 India and Her Great Future  

 

To Be Categorized

 

Evolution of Nations

Evolution of Each Nation

An evolution of consciousness is occurring for each country out of their own particular darkness.

 

 

Ego of Nations

Europe Gave Up Its Hard Ego Sense and Forged New Unity

Q: How did Europe give up its Ego-sense after WWII?

A: Each country pulled in its own direction before WWII, completely disregarding others, working in its own self-interest. As a result of the horror of the War, the nations were shocked out of uncooperation. The essential hardened Ego was melted away, leaving a much softer form. The nations now think more deeply on its motives and action relative to its sister nations. The European nations have gone through a dramatic evolution, though not yet transformation. There is still much scope for cooperation and collaboration, whose ultimate purpose is deep harmony and unity. Actually Harmony in Diversity.

 

Individual Nations’ Unique Path to their Future

Every country is like a unique human personality, therefore has its own unique path to its greater future. (2009-2011 Q1)

 

 

III

Nations China

Population Creates Greater Money, Currency Value -- E.g. EU; Common India/China Currency
-There are INVISIBLE forces in the society that create money, not false money, but true money. Population is one such.

-The US population is 270 million. The dollar ruled the world market. Europe came together in the European Union and created the euro dollar which was five or ten rupees lower in value than the dollar. Now the EU is growing and has increased from 9 countries to 25 countries.

Her population rose to 480 million and today the euro dollar is at Rs. 58. 'Rise in population raises the currency value' may be voodoo economics for the traditional pure monetarist, but it is TRUE as we see in the euro dollar. Money is Trust, said Bernard Leiter, the innovator of a new form of currency. As the size of population increases, the TRUST rises too. Hence the higher value of currency. Trust, expert economists say, raises economic activity. It also raises the REAL value of currency whose basis is Trust.

-Suppose India and China join to create a common currency, the value of both the currencies will rise. We should not shut our eyes to such possibilities. [MSS]

III

Nations

Development of Emotion in Asia, Mind in Europe
Nature herself is a partial force. Soul and Nature together make for the whole. Nature is a part. A partial force cannot work for total progress. Hence Nature has decided to develop emotion in Asia and mind in Europe.  (MSS)

 

War and Nation Ego
War destroys the physical ego of nations.

Beyond Positive and Negative
We know of the positive and negative. We accept the positive and denounce the negative. Sri Aurobindo says that there is nothing negative. Positive and negative are two parts of a single whole. Experience of the negative gives the keener and fuller intensity to the positive to enjoy the whole. Experienced people in business say unless you have lost money, your experience is incomplete. During the 19th century, England and other countries sent their convicts to Australia. Today Australia is one of the richest nations in the world. It is the convicts who built up a prosperous civilisation. Singapore is rich. Originally, it was Indian convicts who built up Singapore. If convicts are evil, we must accept that good comes out of evil. (MSS, slightly modified)

 

Bookmark and Share

 


 Growth Online

Contact Us