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Friday, August 30, 2019

Sexual crime: cause + 2 more


Baba

Sexual crime: cause

Namaskar, 

At present, life in materialistic communities suffers from an absence of higher values wherein degraded behavior thrives. Even good people are pulled into the ways of sin and crime. One of the most glaring manifestations of this equation is sex offenders. Offenders are rampant and their crimes horrific. But, the manner in which the authorities handle the situation makes the matter even worse.

All understand that perverted conduct and sexual crimes are some of the most disastrous and revolting incidents. Authorities and agencies primarily differ on how to address those situations. 

The root of the problem

In Ananda Marga philosophy, Baba has given the solution to each and every social problem: From the most complex to the most basic. Here below Baba has given the exact answer as to why there are sexual crimes being committed in the materialistic nations. 

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "In the modern world there is a wide variety of films which excite the passions and have a degrading influence on boys and girls, adolescents and young men and women. Such films create in cinema-goers the desire to emulate in their individual lives the criminal activities, the vulgar expressions of love, or the adventurous behaviour that they see enacted on the screen. This is another example of how keeping bad company causes depravity." (1) 

Whether in the films or in advertisements or in whatever arena, Baba clearly guides us that a depraved environment is the root cause of sexual crimes. Here again Baba identifies the problem.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "There are glaring examples that honest people can become dishonest as a result of environmental pressures...Nearly all deceitful acts, such as swindling, fraud, gambling, looting, seducing women, and travelling without a ticket, are commonly a result of the influence of bad company." (2) 

By His precise evaluation, it is clear that the degrading environment - not the individual - is the root cause of the rash of sexual crimes in materialistic societies.

Materialism breeds criminals & sex offenders

Lacking any higher goal or proper vision, life in grossly materialistic nations moves along the degrading path of sensual pleasures. The general flow of society is matter-based and most life according to their baser propensities - animal life. Often sexual overtones and sensual expressions are rampant. Plus the media and big business use sex as the way to lure people to their messages and products. Sexual display is such a prevalent and rampant problem that half-naked bodies have become accepted as the norm - both in real life and in advertisments and films etc. This has become the very pulsation of life in materialistic societies. 

That is why people have become numb to it. No one blinks an eye at overt sexual display; no one is shocked by seeing this. Rather everyone expects to see sexually revealing dress & behavior everywhere: On the TV, in the restaurants, in the banks, everywhere. Obviously such a morally degrading environment breeds temptation and adversely affects both the individual and collective psyche. 

Yet this is not regarded as a problem - until the worse-case scenario occurs and a sexual crime is reported. Then the authorities become very strict and condemn the guilty party to the depths of hell. Indeed once one gets labeled as a sex-offender they will never get a job, never find an apartment, never be able to survive. Just they are outcaste to the dungeons of the prisons or the outskirts of society. And with no process of rectification etc, and sexual temptation rampant, such convicts inevitably become repeat offenders. At the next opportunity they commit another sexual crime.

Analogy: mosquitoes & swamp

If anyone walks into a hot, muggy swamp then they expect to encounter an onslaught of mosquitoes. This is the expectation. Because everyone with an iota of common sense understands that swamps breed mosquitoes. Similarly, when a society is deluged with sexually provocative scenes in each and every direction. And when overt references to sex are part of the ebbs and flow of life, then in that degenerated state surely there will be a rash of sex offenders. Because the very environment breeds such criminals. 

That is why it is not at all surprising to read a statement such as this on one of their websites: 

"A sex offender could be a person across town, your neighbor across the street, or someone you know very well."

The point here is that sex offenders are everywhere in the materialistic countries. Because everyone's lower vrittis are constantly getting stimulated and lacking any proper guidance people commonly lose control of their senses. This happens even to good people. That is why the large bulk of the population in the US is either actually committing sexual crimes or they have a strong desire to do so but out of fear of the police they refrain and end up just being frustrated and depressed. 

Even then, the authorities do not consider the matter-centered environment to be the problem. Rather they think the only solution is more and more databases to identify the ever-growing number of offenders.

Duty of the judge to remove them from that environment

In His perfect and thorough approach, Baba then gives the next mode of action to overcome this problem of sexual crimes. 

Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "If, after thorough investigation, it is discovered that particular people or circumstantial pressure have caused these criminals (whatever their age) to take part in antisocial activities, it will be the duty of the judge to remove them from that environment." (3) 

As Baba explains above, if the negative environment is the cause then the judge's duty is not to just throw the offenders name on some public database. That will not help the situation. Instead Baba guides us that the offender should be removed from that negative stimuli. Then they can grow in a proper way.

Solution

Here Baba gives the final-steps in solving this problem of sexual crimes. 

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Civilized people today should be more interested in preventing base criminal propensities from arising in human beings in the first place, than in taking corrective measures." (4) 

By His above guidelines it is clear that the best way to overcome this systemic problem of sexual offenses is by removing the negative influences in the environment and inculcating a new set of values in the society. Building countless electronic databases listing the offenders will not yield any fruit. Rather the depraved sexual overtones of society must be eradicated and a bright new mental outlook is needed. This all must happen on the collective level. In this next guideline, Baba gives an easy comprehensive way for everyone to proceed in their individual lives. 

Ananda Marga Yogic Treatments states, "Mental purity helps particularly in keeping a person healthy...That is why every human being should make a strong as habit as possible of selfless service and Iishvara Pran'idha'na (meditation). The best way to attain mental purity is to follow the principles of Yama and Niyama." (5) 

By His above guidelines anyone can understand that shifting from a sexually oriented materialistic society to a spiritually based society with high ideals is the ultimate solution.

Ananda Vanii says, "...Your endless efforts to broaden and smoothen the path of human movement will render your present existence, and your future history inestimable." (6) 

Namaskar, 
In Him
Smita’

~ In-depth study ~

Encourage criminals onto the proper path

   Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "There are many petty criminals in today’s society. If you keep calling them sinners, they will develop a complex deep in their minds. “I am a sinner. I am a wretch. I am mean and vile. I have no future,” they will think. You must not do anything like this. Rather, you should find their good qualities and praise them. This praise will encourage them to cultivate their attributes and move along the path of virtue. They will concentrate more on their good qualities than on their wickedness, resulting in the gradual diminishment of their sinful tendencies. Finally the day will come when they will be so preoccupied with doing good deeds that they will cease to commit any crime. That is why I say, “Praise the good qualities in human beings.”"
   "But if these criminals are neglected, their progress will be checked and they will become even more sinful. If they are repeatedly called sinners, if they are subjected to social punishment, their habit of committing crimes will become stronger."
   "Even the worst sinners have some good qualities. If you appreciate their good qualities, they will be encouraged to take to the righteous path – there will be a great change for the better in their lives. This is the right approach. If, instead, so-called sinners are ostracized or criticized by society, they will no longer strive to cultivate their inherent good qualities but will stick to the path of vice so tenaciously that one day they will become a great burden on society."
   "As most people do not know basic human psychology, their actions result in the so-called criminals becoming a greater burden on society. Having been subjected to much social injustice and criticism, some people think, “Now that I have stepped onto the path of vice, now that I have fallen down, I will not stop until I reach the deepest hell.” You should not do anything, even unconsciously, which goes against fundamental human psychology, and you should ensure that other people do not get any scope to make such mistakes either. If so-called sinners are repeatedly scolded, they will never become transformed into good people. Even bad people, under indirect pressure, or external attraction, or urge for Parama Puruśa, can turn into good people." (7)

Craze against sex offenders

Right now in materialistic nations like the USA, there is a mad dash to identify and lock-up every sex-offender. People act as though there is a full-blown war against sex criminals-- as if those offenders are the source of the problem. To that end, the various authorities have created on-line databases that identify thousands and millions of sex offenders who are moving around the USA. This is their materialistic approach to manage the situation. To put full blame on the sex offenders and expose them in front of all.

How a teetotaller becomes an alcoholic

Here below Baba shows how a wrong environment affects even good people with good habits. 

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Suppose a teetotaller mixes regularly with a group of alcoholics. The frequent anti-teetotaller gibes and the positive portrayals of the wondrous virtues of wine by the alcoholics will one  day tempt the teetotaller to taste a little wine. His drinking friends will say, "We don't want you to become drunk. But what's the harm if you just taste a little! This surely won't make you a bad person! What a moralist you are! Oh friend, to be such a moralist in the world today is ridiculous!" So one day the teetotaller tastes wine and this becomes the cause of his downfall. But on the day the unsuspecting teetotaller took wine, he did not realize that from that very day wine would become the cause of his degeneration." (8) 

Similarly those people who are normal and good people get goaded into sexual crimes due to the degrading ways of society. Either by watching lewd movies, seeing porn websites, or by drinking liquor etc, then even upstanding citizens may fall and commit a sexual offense. All due to the negative environment of materialism.

References
1. Human Society - 1, Justice
2. Human Society - 1, Justice
3. Human Society - 1, Justice
4. Human Society - 1, Justice
5. Yogic Treatments, Appendix, Sect. G
6. A'nanda Va'nii #55
7. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 7, Exploitation – No More
8. Human Society - 1, Justice


*        *        *

The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stands on their own as points of interest.

*        *        *

== Section 2: Important Teaching ==

When democracy becomes a joke

   Prout philosophy states, “The fact that voters without political consciousness weaken the governmental machinery cannot be denied. In the interests of the general public, it is desirable that uneducated and less-educated people do not have the right to vote.”
   “Democracy is a mockery in a country of uneducated people. In such a country cunning, fraudulent persons very easily secure or purchase the votes of illiterate people. Moreover, the general public in such a country is easily misled by the propagation of casteism or communalism.” 
   Prout philosophy states, “The success of democracy depends upon educated, sensible voters. Hence, in a democratic country, the spread of education is of the highest priority. For the convenience of the general public, the educational system must be free of cost. No overbearing government pressure should be exerted on the educational system, otherwise the party in power will continue to propagate its ideas through the medium of education.” (1)

Reference
1. Problems of the Day, Point #33


== Section: Important Topic ==

Historical backdrop to washing

Ananda Marga philosophy states, ”Regarding the Sixteen Points, it was said that ácárya/ás or senior persons would see if you were observing them properly or not. Similarly, I gave a directive to all that they should keep watch on one another. No one will exempt anyone else regarding the Sixteen Points.” (1)

Because Sixteen Points is an essential part of our existence, it is helpful to have more information about these pointed guidelines. Here below are some of the historical, social, and practical aspects of the first point of 16 Points.

Long ago in India, thousands and thousands of years ago, various rishis and seers of the society introduced the idea that water plays an important role in life - especially for health, hygiene, and proper maintenance of the human body. And people introduced the idea to the old Indian society that water should be used for washing before and after meals, before cooking, and those rishis also told that one should wash with water after passing stool as well as after urination etc.

And we have to remember that this was all given in that pre-historic era  when the general population around the globe was hardly even aware about hygiene; rather people were more involved in animalistic ways of living. In that historical context, those rishis introduced certain sentient habits.

So since long these these practices were established in India. Yet over the course of time, degeneration occurred and the general populace lost the idea of using water after urination. But the practice of washing the backside with water after defecation did not get lost - primarily because people understood that it was obviously dirty. So people were conscious about that aspect. That was the case in old India and that continued up to the present time.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, ”Regarding the Sixteen Points, it was said that ácárya/ás or senior persons would see if you were observing them properly or not. Similarly, I gave a directive to all that they should keep watch on one another. No one will exempt anyone else regarding the Sixteen Points.” (1)

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Silent Action



== Section 3: Links ==


SUBJECTS TOPICS