Baba
Prout: empower locals
Preview: Here is the Proutistic response to a key element of capitalism: outside exploiters (multinational companies).
This article examines:
1. how a Prout movement was formed to expel outsider exploiters;
2. how capitalism is a hot-bed for outsider exploiters;
3. how corporations like Walmart and Oil corporations etc ravage local communities;
4. how local regions should be in charge of their own economy and re-invest locally;
5. who qualifies themselves as being a true local.
Namaskar,
Here is one of our essential Prout policies which Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar – the Propounder of Prout – has discussed in numerous discourses. The rapid spread of outside exploiters (multinational companies) has become a pervasive issue in the world today. So we should all pay heed and be prepared to wave the flag of Prout on this burning issue.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Identifying outside exploiters
Global chain stores are the chief outside exploiters (multinational companies) nowadays. They come into a locale simply to (a) drive big sales and soaring profits and (b) redirect those funds back to their headquarters far, far away. They create huge earnings in one place and invest those monies somewhere else. Such companies are the classic example of outside exploiters (multinational companies). Today's global economy is full of such players.
With their buying power, tax breaks, political clout, and name (marketing and advertising etc), these mega chain stores utterly wipe out small local businesses. Local entrepreneurs become beggars with the arrival of such stores.
Unfortunately, due to their grand propaganda machines, some local people often embrace the arrival of such stores. They think that such shops make their town modern and attract more consumers etc. Or they think that that shop sells their favorite food etc. But the fact stands that such mega stores drive local business into the ground and deplete an area of its economic vitality and health by drawing away huge profits and investing that money elsewhere, not in that local community.
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Recipe for disaster for local economy
From the stand of Prout, such outside exploiters (multinational companies) in the form of these mega chain-stores is a recipe for disaster for the local economy. Despite the enticement of such stores there is growing awareness of the harm done by such retailers. Still consciousness raising is needed so more of the general populace is aware of the exploitative strategies of these mega chain stores. As this occurs, as awareness mounts, a growing segment of the population will be raising the slogans: “Expel Wal-Mart”, “McDonald's Get Out”, “Home Depot Go Home” etc.
How outside companies exploit resources & people
The aforementioned stores function primarily on the retail level. Then on a whole other plane are the big oil corporations, mining companies, investment banks, and other capitalist enterprises that work on a grander meta level.
An oil company from the US or China goes into jungle regions of Africa, builds fancy accommodations to house their out-of-town workers, destroys the local ecosystem, pumps massive amounts of oil from the earth, pollutes the local water supply, and secures enough natural resources to earn billions of dollars. Side by side, the local villagers are living half-naked in shacks – their whole way of living ruined by these outsiders. The water they drink, the forest they roam, the food they eat all ravaged and decimated by oil moguls.
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There are innumerable stories – told and untold – of how outside corporations and agencies exploit a region for big profits, while the environment, peoples, customs, and resources are left in shambles.
Such firms do not treat the land as their own but rather as a gross commodity for profit. That is why their existence in any region is poisonous. Whereas local people are more apt to live in a conscientious and sustainable manner because that is where they live, work, and raise their families etc. This is where they call home.
So this tragic episode of outside exploiters (multinational companies) which is so rampant in today's global capitalism is catastrophic. And Prout wholly condemns this entire approach. In Prout, the local people must be in control of their regions economy and natural resources and the money earned must remain in that area. That is the only way to build a balanced economy.
No big banker, mining CEO, or oil baron can claim themselves as a local in those areas where they do their profiteering – regardless of whether they have a home in that region or not. Because their entire outlook and modus operandi are not consonant with the interests of that area.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Prout: who qualifies as a local
Here our Prout philosophy guides us who is a local person. It is not based on where a person lives per se, but rather whether they have merged their socio-economic interest in the area where they live.
Prout philosophy states, “Local people are defined as those who have merged individual socio-economic interests with the socio-economic interests of the socio-economic unit they live in. The primary consideration is whether or not people have merged their individual interests with their socio-economic unit, regardless of their colour, creed, race, mother tongue, birthplace, etc. Those who earn their livelihood in a particular socio-economic unit but spend their earnings in another socio-economic unit should be considered as outsiders or non-local people, as this practice is not in accordance with the interests of the socioeconomic unit in which they are employed. It results in the drainage of the capital necessary for the continued growth of that unit and undermines its economic development.” (1)
So in His above teaching, Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar states that those who earn money in one place like El Salvador and spend and invest it in another like England are outsiders / non-local people in El Salvador. This next guideline examines how this takes shape in today's capitalist system.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Prout philosophy states, “Capitalists, in either their singular or collective forms, are the most pernicious economic exploiters today. All over the world they are continually exploiting local economies and draining their wealth. In nearly all cases the profits they accrue are spent outside the local area and remitted to outside stockholders and parent companies. An essential measure to control this economic exploitation is that the speculative markets in all countries of the world should be closed down immediately.” (2)
So this is a widespread and deep-rooted problem nowadays. According to Prout, the chief solution to undo this trend and bring economic balance and stability is by ensuring the money earned in a particular region stays in that area.
Conclusion
To solve this issue outside exploiters, Prout advocates that local people should be in charge of their own economies. And here is more on how to define who is a "local person." Anyone of any nationality can become a local person in any region so long as their financial interests coincide with those of that area.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Prout philosophy states, “Local people are those who have merged their individual socio-economic interests with the socio-economic interests of the socio-economic unit they live in. Clearly, this concept of local people has nothing to do with physical complexion, race, caste, creed, language or birth place. The fundamental issue is whether or not each person or family has identified their individual socio-economic interests with the collective interests of the concerned socio-economic unit. Those who have not done so should be branded as outsiders.” (3)
Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar’s revolutionary endeavour stands for how we should respond in these present times. Because still this problem with the ma'rwa'diis and other outside capitalist exploiters is rampant all over the world. We should pay heed to this Prout teaching: “Expel outside exploiters (multinational companies).” Let this be our slogan.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Viplava
Details of exploitative machinery
Consider these names and brands: Walmart, McDonald's, Home Depot, Starbucks, CVS, and the list goes on and on etc. Walmart has more than half a trillion dollars in sales. Starbucks has 38,000+ coffee-houses around the world.
Shosaka ma'rwa'dii bhaga'o movement
Here we look at the history of the Shosaka ma'rwa'dii bhaga'o (‘Expel exploiter Ma'rwa'diis') movement. Under the direction and guidance of Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, this was started by Angika samaj in the pre-1990 period because this vaeshayan (i.e capitalist) community of Rajasthan was doing business all around India and ruthlessly exploiting local people wherever they went. The ma'rwa'diis created their industries, exploited local resources, got cheap labor, stepped on or ignored local workers, sold products for huge profits, and then invested their money in other regions. This is the long history. And they never identified themselves with where they were living. Just they moved to an area and learned the language with the sole intention of exploiting that place (inhabitants, resources etc) for their own financial gain on the backs of the downtrodden people.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ths Angika samaj boldly put forth the battle cry – shosaka ma'rwa'dii bhaga'o (expel exploiter ma'rwa'diis) - to empower local people. The movement became so intense that ma'rwa'diis became terrified. This was all done to apply maximum pressure to set the wheels of Prout in motion and put forth the revolutionary example that outside exploiters (multinational companies) are not welcome in a community. This revolutionary endeavour stands as an historical example for how we should respond in these present times. Because still this problem of outside capitalist exploiters is rampant all over the world. We should pay heed to this Prout teaching: ‘Expel outside exploiters (multinational companies)'. Let this be our slogan.
Starbucks: 38,000 stores in 80+ countries and territories.
Walmart: It has over 10,500 stores in 19 countries. It has over 10,500 stores in 19 countries, under a total 65 banners. The company operates under the Walmart name in the United States and Canada. It operates as Walmart de México y Centroamérica in Mexico, as Asda in the United Kingdom, as Seiyu in Japan, and as Best Price in India. It has wholly owned operations in Argentina, Brazil, and Canada. It also owns and operates the Sam's Club retail warehouses.
The slogan of the day should be: “Expel Wal-Mart”, “McDonald's Get Out”, “Home Depot Go Home” etc.
References
1. Prout in a Nutshell – 13, Socio-Economic Movements
2. Prout in a Nutshell – 13, Socio-Economic Movements
3. Prout Economics, Decentralized Economy – 1
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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 2: Important Teaching ==
Oneness with Parama Purusa
Ananda Marga ideology says, “When the pleasure-seeking unit mind blindly runs after unit-objects, Puruśa also gets smitten by the same mental attributes. He appears to be as if in bondage. But when the unit mind shuns its attraction for mundane objects and accepts that Supreme Puruśa as its only pabulum, it gets an opportunity to become one with the Cosmic Mind, giving up its finitude. With the attainment of the witness-ship of the Integral Mind it becomes one with the Puruśottama. In the absence of bondage of enjoyership (Bhoktábhava) the unit mind attains emancipation from all kinds of fetters.” (1)
Note: This is the essence of human life. When one is no longer allured by worldly attractions and sincerely directs the mind towards Parama Purusa, then one can become one with Him. This is the aim of sadhana and the path of yoga - realising Him. He is within but people are not aware. When, through sadhana, this ignorance is removed, then one truly feels they are Parama Purusa. And that is realisation, i.e. the feeling in the heart and mind that, "I am Brahma." At first one must impose this idea in their sadhana, but as one involves more deeply in their meditation then by His grace that feeling develops from within. Then sadhana is very blissful and one has advanced along the path of spirituality, by His grace.
Reference:
1. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - 6, The Primordial Cause of Creation
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Why people fail - 4
Namaskar,
Every human being wants to be successful. Who does not want to be successful? Whether in the realm of art, law, medicine, schooling, business, literature, science, or architecture - or any other field or endeavor - everyone wants to be successful. Knowing how to be successful then is an important recipe.
Baba has graciously given us His special guidelines wherein He explains how the 'Seven Secrets of Success' apply not just to spiritual life, but to worldly life as well. Here we examine the fourth secret of success: samatábhávo, which essentially means keeping a balanced mind or psychic equipoise.
Ananda Marga ideology states, “A man must not labour under any sort of complex – that is, a man, a spiritual aspirant, must be free from all complexes; he must have neither superiority complex, nor inferiority complex, nor fear complex, nor defeatist complex. That is, the mind should be completely balanced.” (1)
Samatábhávo: In the spiritual sphere, this means complete mental balance. And this same type of psychic equanimity is needed in worldly life. For instance, if a student or interviewee is very nervous or shy, then they will not be able to perform well. A student may become so nervous that they even get easy questions wrong, because they have lost their mental composure. Likewise, a professional seeking employment or putting on a presentation may be so shy that they are unable to convey their skill-set or knowledge to others in the room. And there are so many other examples. For instance, one's marriage may end in misery, if one constantly gets angry or acts in an erratic manner toward their spouse. So mental balance is highly needed in all aspects of worldly life.
Baba has blessed us all with great teachings which lead us to success, including how to utilize the Seven Secrets of Success in our worldly endeavours. So we should pay heed to this doctrine not just in spiritual life but in all our worldly dealings as well.
Baba says, "You, boys and girls, should remember the points and do accordingly. It will help you in your all-around success." (2)
Here below in this next passage Sadguru Baba outlines some of the various complexes: (a) superiority complex, (b) inferiority complex, (c) fear complex, and (d) defeatist complex.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “Now when you are suffering from a superiority complex, you think that you are a better person and others are worse persons; as a result of which you are unable to accept the external waves in proper style. So your thinking gets polluted, gets distorted, as a result of which the refracted portion, that is, the memory, also gets distorted, becomes defective.So you must not have any superiority complex. You should remember that you are not superior to anybody else. All are children of the same Supreme Father, all are progeny of the same Supreme Progenitor. Nobody is superior to anybody.The second complex: Sometimes you may think that “I am an ordinary man, and that man is so big, so learned, such a big scholar – so rich, and I’m poor” – like this. If you think like this, what will happen? There will not be proper expression of your mind, there will not be proper emanations of your thought-waves; as a result of which the thought will become distorted and the refracted thought, that is, the memory portion, will become defective.Similarly, the fear complex: Sometimes people suffer from a fear complex. The psychological side of the fear complex is as follows: Due to the presence of something stronger, or due to the presence of something which is imaginarily stronger, not actually stronger, what happens? Mental flows are blocked, are choked. They cannot find the proper avenue of expression; as a result of which thoughts also get polluted. There cannot be free thinking. A man suffering from a fear complex cannot think properly. And if the thought is defective, the memory will also be defective. So you must never suffer from any sort of fear complex.Why should you suffer from a fear complex or an inferiority complex, when the Supreme Father is your father, when you all are the children of the same Father; why should you suffer from any inferiority complex or any fear complex, when the Supreme Father is with you? You are not weak. You are very strong, because the Almighty Father, the omnipotent Supreme Father, is with you to help you – so you must not encourage the psychology of weakness, or an inferiority complex or a fear complex. He is with you, always He is with you to help you. You are never alone.And sometimes there is a defeatist complex. “Oh, I am defeated in this world,” “Oh, I am defeated in this struggle for existence.” Such a sentiment, such a psychology, sometimes goads a man to commit suicide even. “I am defeated, I am defeated in the struggle for existence.” You must not encourage this type of psychology. When your father is the Supreme Father, your father is the most powerful entity in the entire universe, why should you think that you have been defeated in the struggle for existence? No, a bright future awaits you. Your future is glorious, your future is luminous, your future is effulgent.So you must not suffer from this psychology of helplessness or hopelessness or of despair. This defeatist complex may also be called “sinner’s psychology”.” (3)
Namaskar,
Bhakti Bhusana
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 34, Be Free from All Complexes
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 14, Seven Secrets
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 34, Be Free from All Complexes
== Section: Important Teaching ==
How degrading artists pollute youths
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The youth of a country are attracted to artists; it is therefore the duty of society and the state to monitor these artists ideals and character. Otherwise they may exert a harmful influence on young men and women who are the future hope of society. For this reason it is essential for artists to have impeccable conduct, a healthy lifestyle and strength of character. If those whom youths respect as ideal men and women possess an ideal character, the characters of those whom they influence will no doubt also be positively affected. In addition, ideal artists and actors who have a strong character will be able to express their artistic brilliance more sweetly and completely. Characterless, drunken or greedy artists will be considered liabilities by their fans and society." (1)
In materialistic societies, the visual and performing arts (movies, pop songs, theater, dance, drama, paintings etc) become a primary vehicle of degradation. That is because degenerated people become the stars and the youths emulate what those degrading artists do. In this way, from one generation to the next, baser values are inculcated. It is a self-perpetuating cycle of steeper and steeper decline until all art forms essentially become lewd displays. A key way to positively affect society is to harness this art and entertainment industry and goad it towards sentient pursuits. Artists should not be allowed to go against the strict moral code of yama and niyama. That is the only way to save society from a torturous fall. If degraded artists become venerated stars in society, that will surely ruin those impressionable youths and bring about the downfall of society. That is why Baba has given this strict warning: Artists must be of impeccable character.
Reference
1. Human Society - 1, Various Occupations
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Where to go for best sadhana
You might have heard some people say that, “This place is very good for sadhana.” Especially, you will hear this in Ananda Nagar, Jamalpur, Tiljala, Ranchi etc. They like to create the feeling that in order to get a special blessing you have to come to Ananda Nagar, Jamalpur, Tiljala, Ranchi etc and sit under that particular rock or tree etc. And then only sadhana will be best. Because that place emanates a spiritual vibration. Baba’s below teaching debunks this idea.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “To differentiate between different places for sádhaná, to consider one place more suitable than another, or to regard a particular spot as good and another bad, is to divide Brahma. Every place in this creation is the manifestation of the Supreme Cosmic Entity (Brahma), and to call one place good and another bad is to attribute these qualities to Brahma. If sádhaná is based on the consideration of good and bad, it will never be possible for one to develop the feeling of oneness with the rest of creation. One will never be able to love others as oneself. To Brahma every place is the same, and sádhaná can be practised anywhere.” (1)
If some place is isolated or a natural setting and there is no pollution of any kind, then that is suitable for sadhana in comparison to a noisy bus stop that smells like an open sewer. That is based entirely on the environmental qualities. The above teaching debunks the myth that some place is spiritually important, whereas other places are not.
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, Why Are People Afraid of Intuitional Practice?
== Section 3: Links ==
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