PROUT - simple intro
Dharmadeva
Nature of Society
The import of the word society is collective movement. Those beings who move
ahead together are collectively known as society. The very existence of
movement implies inspiration, strength, and a goal.
As life is a process of growth - a struggle to proceed from finite to
infinite - the goal of society is nothing less than perfection.
Social inspiration may be furnished by either of two credos: the principle
of selfish pleasure or the principle of social equality. At present, the
principle of selfish pleasure is the dominant motivation in every sphere of
collective life. It is the cold heart of capitalism and the concealed heart
of communism. Only the principle of social equality can enable the formation
of a healthy society, a society that marches in unison toward the attainment
of cosmic stature.
The strength that society requires to progress may best be derived from a
rationalistic and proto-spiritual mentality. Following is a description of
the ideal society that rationality and proto-psycho-spirituality (inspired
by the principle of social equality) will empower humanity to create.
PROUT (Progressive Utilization Theory)
1. At the base of society is ethics. Without an appropriate code of law, no
society can long maintain cohesion. To contemplate the performance of any
social activity prior to the formulation of a legal constitution is
impractical, because society itself is at risk of disintegration. Thus, the
first social concern is law or ethics. The guiding principle is: There
should be no accumulation of wealth without the permission of society.
2. After ensuring social integrity, society is obliged to guarantee the
minimum requirements of life to its members. That is to say, after taking
steps to secure the life of the society, steps must be taken to secure the
life of its members. That is why the second social concern is economics. The
guiding principle is: There should be maximum utilization and rational
distribution of the crude, subtle, and causal resources.
3. Science can only take society forward when the refinement of civilization
is a dominant priority. All living beings, both individually and
collectively, have immense latent potential. So the third social concern is
self-development. The guiding principle is: There should be maximum
utilization of the physical, mental, and spiritual potentialities of the
individual and collective beings.
4. Society must find the best way to materialize its objectives in light of
many possible approaches with various advantages and disadvantages. This
problem is primarily political, and it concerns both the method of
decision-making as well as the selection of the decision-makers. Thus the
fourth level of social concern is administration. The guiding principle is:
There should be a proper adjustment among the crude, subtle, and causal
utilizations.
5. Finally, all motivity requires direction if it is to be productive. So
also society requires a vision of where it is going and how to get there. On
the fourth level, good leadership is ensured, but leadership without
ideology is blind. That is why the fifth and final concern of society is an
ideology for all-round expansion. The guiding principle is: Utilizations
vary in accordance with time, space, and form; the utilizations should be
progressive.
Conclusion
None of the past social and economic theories have taken the view that the
human race is an integral and indivisible entity. Neither capitalism nor
communism proclaims this fundamental truth. With their biased dogma, they
can never bring peace to our troubled planet. Hence, there is still so much
infighting and intolerance among human beings. This is the seed cause of
war, the darkest blemish on our collective conscience. But PROUT is unique.
PROUT will put an end to intolerance and war, because the practical guidance
of PROUT is founded on a synthetic approach, activated by universal love.