Prout against Gandhi’s satyágraha + 3 more

Baba

Prout against Gandhi’s satyágraha

Namaskar,

The following letter is related to the tradition of violent protests in Indian cities and towns over the last 90 years or so: What is the history behind how it started, who created it, how has it spread around, and how can this problem be resolved?

Recurring issue

The violence that arises from time to time that leads to the disruption of government services etc can be termed as satyágraha (civil disobedience). People in India are very familiar with this. Mahatma Gandhi was the originator of the civil disobedience movement which consisted of protesting by breaking the rules of society. For example, protesters will block a road or a moving bus or train because they have demands which are not being met. So the protestors see this as a way to draw the attention of the government. 

Consider another example: When there is an accident or a theft in a village then in order to gain publicity for their cause protesters will place huge logs of wood on the train tracks, or loosen the screws of a bridge deck, or activities which are even more extreme leading to the loss of lives of innocent people who are not even involved in the original incident. 

These are some examples of satyágraha (civil disobedience) —  using violent actions, damaging and destroying public infrastructure, and causing injuries to innocent people all in the name of creating pressure on the government to resolve their demands. 

Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, “What are humanistic appeals, or satyágraha [civil disobedience]? They are simply a special means of using violence to create circumstantial pressure.” (1)

Prout is against satyágraha, also known as civil disobedience.

Example of violent protest as expression of ‘Civil Disobedience’

Here below, followers of XYZ have banded together in protest and started wantonly burning vehicles of the common public in the street.

Above, followers of XYZ have banded together in protest and started wantonly burning vehicles of the common public in the street.

Why do people engage in civil disobedience?

There are two primary reasons that people commit civil disobedience: (1) to catch the attention of the government, and (2) to garner publicity around the country by burning cars, buses, trains, buildings, or by throwing stones or other dangerous items at innocent people who are not involved in any way with the protesters’ problems. Throwing stones, termed as “pathrao”, is very common in India, and protesters will grab stones from the streets and throw them at passing buses and trains, thus harming innocent people. Protests like this hark back to Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement — prior to Gandhi, violent protests did not exist.

Prout is against satyágraha, also known as civil disobedience.

Why are people involved in 'civil disobedience' and who are they?

Question: Are people involved in violent protests such as satyágraha (civil disobedience) (सत्याग्रह),  terrorists, or general people?

As an example, say teachers in a city are unhappy that their demands are not being fulfilled, then they will create violent protests to draw attention to their demands. These protests are created mostly by educated people in towns. Incidents like this also happen in villages but not so frequently. Yet, if there is a road accident in any village and someone dies, then people will block a road and burn a few vehicles passing by that road. And, in some instances, a person whose vehicle is involved in an accident may be beaten or even killed. 

So such types of violence are very dangerous, and can be traced in history to violent events which started in the period of the Indian independence movement and the Gandhian era. Another name of satyágraha (civil disobedience) is ándolan (protest, आन्दोलन). In protests anything can happen such as police vehicles get burnt, other goods get burnt etc., and these are normal consequences. 

Mahatma Gandhi started the civil disobedience movement, which consisted of protesting by breaking the rules of society; before Gandhi’s time, violent protests were not there.

Civil disobedience brings all types of misery 

In satyágraha (civil disobedience) there is neither Satya nor ágraha. The consequences lead to the loss of lives and public property, and increased consumer taxes. Life becomes very difficult during such protests. For instance, in India, violent protests are started by all political parties and these violent events are called “band” (बन्द). During a political party band everything remains closed for a certain period of time (such as a day or half day); but whose loss is it when the offices, industries, and businesses remain closed? Low income people who need their daily wage to sustain their lives cannot work on such days so they struggle to meet their basic needs. Furthermore, if the situation worsens, the government may take military action and impose a curfew which not only causes a loss to the local and national economy but also makes it harder for people to meet their basic needs. And, during a curfew, agitated people may create further violence leading to the loss of more lives, either of military personnel or of the general public.

Mahatma Gandhi started the civil disobedience movement, which consisted of protesting by breaking the rules of society. Prout is against satyágraha, also known as civil disobedience.

Sikh genocide by civil disobedience followers, 8000 killed

Another example is the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination, when Congress party people started killing Sikhs, even those who were supporting the Sikhs, and they also destroyed their businesses. History records that about 8,000 people were killed during those protests. Violent types of protests are usually committed by educated people, rather than thieves or vandals.

“The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, also known as the 1984 Sikh Massacre and the 1984 genocide of Sikhs, was a series of pogroms against Sikhs in India by anti-Sikh mobs (notably Congress Party members) in response to the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.

Deaths‎: ‎(official) 2,800; (unofficial) 8,000.

Perpetrators‎: ‎Congress Party members.

Date‎: ‎31 October – 3 November 1984.” [courtesy wikipedia]

And during the emergency in India: “In July 1975, famous political leader George  Fernandes aimed at blowing up toilets in government offices and causing explosions near the venue of public meetings to be addressed by Indira Gandhi. A plan was hatched to blow up a dais four hours before Indira Gandhi was to address a meeting in Varanasi. The conspiracy later came to be known as the infamous Baroda dynamite case.” [courtesy wikipedia]

People in India feel that satyágraha (civil disobedience) is normal, and nobody says anything against it. People believe that doing satyágraha (civil disobedience) is legal, fine, and do not raise any objections. Mahatma Gandhi started the civil disobedience movement, which consisted of protesting by breaking the rules of society.

Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, “What are humanistic appeals, or satyágraha [civil disobedience]? They are simply a special means of using violence to create circumstantial pressure.” (2)

Prout is against satyágraha, also known as civil disobedience.

Example of civil disobedience

In the case of XYZ, after his conviction, his followers killed many people, destroyed businesses, and the army was sent to establish peace in the region. Those protesters even killed many innocent people who were not even involved in any way with the incident. Similarly, many violent incidents happen to many people who are travelling by train — they are on the receiving end of cruelty by protesters.

Unfortunately, violent protests are now accepted in Indian society. Prout goes against such types of protests and guides us that rather people should be educated and taught that violent protests are not the solution. People do not learn in the heat of the moment; rather people can understand when things are normal. So in schools and colleges such teachings should be incorporated. And again, it was Mahatma Gandhi who started the civil disobedience movement which consisted of wanton destruction and violent protests.

Here below, followers of XYZ banded together in protest and wantonly burnt vehicles of the common public in the street.

What is the solution

So if satyágraha (civil disobedience) is not the right way, what should be done? If something is not right, protests can be done in a very peaceful manner, in an appropriate way. Violent protests only harm others, and, right after some violent incidents occur, people come forward and say violent actions are not the way to solve problems. But no one says anything about it when such incidents do not occur. There should be proper education in schools so children understand that such violent acts do not benefit anyone, they only cause harm. Prout is against satyágraha, also known as civil disobedience.

Prout solution of heinous act of civil disobedience

Prout is against satyágraha. The main tenet of satyágraha (civil disobedience) is that we should not obey the rules of society, but Prout says as long as rules are there we should follow. The world operates on rules, even animals have their own set of dos and don’ts. Unlike animals, human beings have the freedom to obey rules or not, but if human beings do not obey those rules then Prakrti punishes them. For example, one knows that smoking is not good for health, and still violating rules, one smokes. Then the result is failure of lungs, cancer and other diseases. So going against the rule that one should not smoke, leads to the punishment of cancer.

Here is another instance: There are speed limits on the roads to prevent drivers from speeding and causing accidents, even death. However, If drivers violate those rules and speed, then the consequences can be disastrous, not only for the driver but for any passengers and other road users. 

We should not disobey rules, rather change rules

One who does not follow rules, behaves like a mad dog. When a dog is affected by rabies, it just wants to bite anyone it sees, and does not like to drink any liquid or eat food. So, naturally, the result is death. So, we should not disobey rules, rather change rules in an appropriate and peaceful way.

Bring change by peaceful protest

Question: When the British ruled India, should their rules have been obeyed by the people of India?

Answer: Yes, obey the rules but try to bring change by peaceful protest showing placards etc, and educating the public about exploitation. By public education, awareness gradually comes and changes happen by peaceful means. Social change will come by doing extensive pracar and slowly those logical ways will be adopted by the masses.

MK Gandhi started the civil disobedience movement, which consisted of protesting by breaking the rules of society. Before Gandhi’s time, violent protests did not happen, and even terrorism was unknown. These violent protests are a direct result of satyágraha. Followers of Gandhi, such as Martin Luther King, started the civil rights movement in the US, based on Gandhi’s satyágraha. In the US, there are many violent protests which involve the burning of private vehicles and public property. They learned to do these things from Mahatma Gandhi. Prout is against satyágraha, also known as civil disobedience.

Yearly hundreds of thousands of crores rupees economic loss in India

So rules should not be broken, rather we should try and see how to change the rules. There is one chapter on satyágraha in Prout; people should read it. Society is ours, so it does not make sense to destroy public goods (burning cars, buses, and trains) and lives. In India alone, due to this, there are hundreds of thousands of crores rupees economic loss every year. As a result, taxes are increased, fares on buses and trains are increased. So in the moment of tension, people involved in violence do not realize the consequences and so they pay the price after that. Mahatma Gandhi started the civil disobedience movement, which consisted of protesting by breaking the rules of society.

Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, “What are humanistic appeals, or satyágraha [civil disobedience]? They are simply a special means of using violence to create circumstantial pressure.” (3)

Violent protesters are sub humans

So those who are involved in violent protests are irrational and misguided by their emotions. But for those innocent people on the receiving end, their lives are put in danger and even killed. 

What is the result of satyágraha (civil disobedience)? Ffom a spiritual viewpoint such violent demonstrations are very wrong as those involved in such destructive  protests do not have control over their anger. Second, destroying one’s own (i.e. public) property is harmful, dangerous, and wasteful, as once again public funds will have to be raised to repair all the damage. 

In Him

Niraka’ra

 

Prout is against satyágraha, also known as civil disobedience.

Here below, followers of XYZ have banded together in protest and started wantonly burning vehicles of the common public in the street.

Above, followers of XYZ have banded together in protest and started wantonly burning innocent people’s vehicles in the street.

This above article contains four sections

1. When did MK Gandhi’s satyágraha (civil disobedience) begin?

2. Why do people do this?

3. What are the consequences as a result (loss of private and public property)?

4. What is the teaching of PROUT regarding the civil disobedience movement? Prout teaches us that satyágraha (civil disobedience) is not right. We are to follow the rules of society; rather than breaking the rules, we should try to change them peaceably where needed.

Prout is against satyágraha, also known as civil disobedience.

Civil disobedience movement leads to public’s own economic loss

"Based on inputs received from various industry stakeholders across the states, we estimate that these states may face Rs.34,000 crore loss of economic activity due to the Jat agitation during the last few days," PHD Chamber president Mahesh Gupta said in a statement. (Courtesy of NDTV, India)

Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, “What are humanistic appeals, or satyágraha [civil disobedience]? They are simply a special means of using violence to create circumstantial pressure.” (4)

Prout is against satyágraha, also known as civil disobedience.

References

1. Prout in a Nutshell Volume 1 Part 3, Social Justice

2. Prout in a Nutshell Volume 1 Part 3, Social Justice

3. Prout in a Nutshell Volume 1 Part 3, Social Justice

4. Prout in a Nutshell Volume 1 Part 3, Social Justice

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

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== Section: Important Teaching ==

Directly receiving boon

Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, “Although the knowledge from the unconscious mind flows down to the subconscious only secondarily during the wakeful state, when it does flow down, in most cases it remains well-imprinted in the subconscious mind and thus easily enters the conscious mind from the subconscious. Many diseased or distressed persons, in order to gain the solutions for their sorrows, prostrate before the idols in the temples. In this situation, they are constantly thinking of their diseases and the remedies of their sufferings and the ways to remove them. This ultimately leads to the temporary concentration of the mind. When, after remaining in this state of concentration for a while, their minds ultimately become benumbed, then from the all-knowing unconscious mind the sought-after solution penetrates into their subconscious. Since such a state is a state neither of wakefulness nor of sleep nor of dream, the answer can easily penetrate the subconscious mind, and from the subconscious enter the conscious. People may think that the remedy to their distress was the boon of such-and-such god or goddess, but this was not actually the case at all.” (1)

Reference
1. Namah Shiváya Shántáya: Disc: 16