“How we view history is after all a reflection of how we view ourselves.” What an insightful statement. “Our vision of the past is shaped by, and in turn shapes, our vision of the present. It is the very bedrock of our cosmology – those complex and comprehensive images that we carry around in our heads, and by which we decide what is true or false, and right or wrong.” These words are from the book ‘In search of the cradle of civilisation’ by Feuerstein, Kak and Frawley.
The authors also state “ … we are now able … to questions the foundations of our present civilisation. How advanced or enlightened really is our current post-industrial civilization?” “ … are we in danger of destroying ourselves because the prime values of our society are out of sync with the law of life?” “We tend to feel superior to whatever and whomever has preceded us. This is captured in the idea of progress, which has governed Western thought for the past two hundred years.” How true, how true!
“The price for this progress has been a growing sense of dislocation or ‘homelessness.’ Our homelessness is not merely social but metaphysical. We are ill at ease in the world at large.” The creeping societal deterioration of advanced Western societies (which is undeniable) is adequately indicative of this malaise; the other societies have not risen high enough materially to enjoy social deterioration (except the crust of course).
A few more fragments from this book: “ … the majority of humanity is still forced to live at a subsistence level.” “The psychological health of the so-called developed world has frequently been called into question … “ “Moral corruption is present in all domains of society … “ “Religious traditions are faltering …” “Our contemporary problems of overpopulation, pollution, ozone depletion, dwindling natural resources, threat of nuclear war, terrorism, and so forth are global problems … “ Only the morally blind would deny this summation!
Are we really like that metaphorical frog sitting placidly in a beaker of water while the Bunsen burner is heating the water ever so slowly, unaware that its Nirvana is approaching?
RAJA ARASA RATNAM 