The Hindu newspaper during week-days publishes in its COMMENT section in page 11 a column categorized as World View. These are articles mainly from Western scholars and relating to politics, economics, sociology etc. These scholars appear to be columnists’ and regularly contribute to newspapers in the West like Guardian Newspapers etc. These same articles get repeated in The Hindu under the category World View.
These articles provides us understanding of the chronic problems faced by the West due to their own follies and which are compounded by their lack of depth and width in matters concerning religion and spirituality . And since their shallow religious philosophy do not exercise moral restraints on them, these problems mostly have their origins in their covetous behavior. The West always seek dominion over all that they set their eyes on in this world whether it be land, people, nature with its fauna and flora, and even over planets like Mars . They are the modern Hiranya-kashyapus', Vrithhasuras' and Duryodhanas'.
Today’s article is written by George Monbiot about the conditions the EU is considering to impose on Greece. Those involved are the Govts, Private Banks and the People. Inevitably in the tussle between the three, the people are at the receiving end and are getting crushed. The entire monetary and banking system oppressing them is barbaric and deceitful. And unfortunately we Indians are looking up to that system for guidance, development and growth.
Indians from ancient times, had clear vision about wealth and money and how it must be utilized and managed, benefitting all beings. In three places in the Mahabharatha, the necessity for the circulation of money is mentioned. In fact Monbiot’s article mentions the success of such a process engaged in by the people of the Austrian town of Worgi in 1932. This success threatened the Govts of Germay and Austria, and they stamped it out.
In the Mahabharatha, in Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 2 titled ‘The Pandava’s reflections’, the importance of wealth and its management is dealt with in detail. This is the conversation between Dharmaputra and a learned Brahmana named Shaunaka, who was learned in the philosophy of the soul and in the Sankhya and Yoga. Dharmaputra in his reply to the Brahmana started-off in the following manner;- “O Brahmana, this my desire for wealth is not for the purpose of enjoying it when obtained. I do not desire it through avarice. I desire it only for the support of the Brahmanas. (Sloka 51). Till sloka 63, he expresses to Shaunaka why he seeks wealth. A few more points I will mention here “All creatures are seen to divide their food among those that depend on them. So should a person leading a domestic life give a share of his food to Brahmacharis who have given up cooking. (Sloka 54). Bed to the tired, seat to one who is fatigued by standing, water to one who is thirsty and food to one who is hungry should be always given. (Part of Sloka 55) . None should cook his food for himself, none should kill any animal for nothing. None should eat that food which is not dedicated. (Slokas 57, 58). By scattering morning and evening food on the earth for dogs, Chandalas and birds , a person should perform the Vishvadeva sacrifice. (Sloka 59)(p.8, Vol.2, M.N.Dutt)
The second instance where the importance of wealth is highlighted is in the narration of Galava-charitha, appearing in Bhagavad-Yana Parva, Chapter 114.(p.312, vol3, M.N.Dutt). I will provide here the interpretations of a few slokas from there. This is again a conversation between Garuda and Galava , the disciple of Sage Viswamithra. Garuda says, “Created by Fire in the Earth and reared up by wind, wealth is called Hiranya for the earth itself named Hiranmaya.(Part of Sloka 1) (Recall the story Narasimha vs Hiranya-kashipu, the wicked king and hoarder of wealth) . Since it supports and maintains the (creatures of the) earth, therefore is it called wealth (Dhana); and the wealth is in the three worlds from time immemorial for meeting this purpose. (Sloka 2) . On a Friday when either of the two constellations is ascendant, Agni, creating wealth by dint of his will, confers it upon mankind for multiplying the possessions of the giver of riches (Kubera) (Sloka 3) .It is very difficult to get that wealth, guarded by Kubera and his guards. Such being the case do you ask some king born in the family of royal Rishi who can make us successful , without oppressing his subjects.(Sloka 5).
The third instance of the circulation of wealth , I came across is in the Bhagavat Gita. Chapter 3, Karmayogam , slokas 14, 15 and 16. Those who put spokes in the wheel , this cycling of wealth is a sinner and also living his life unfruitfully.
Finally quote from George Monbiot’s article “Banking’s great civilisational advance has been all but destroyed through deregulation, whose result is a new system of usury, speculation and exploitation.Private banks borrow cheap and lend dear, forcing us to work ever longer hours and to inflict ever more damage on the natural world to service our debts. Ms. Pettifor suggests that governments should reassert control over interest rates at every level of lending.” The entire article is illuminative of the workings of the Western ‘ intellect’.
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