Even during ancient times selfishness was considered the drive for all transactions. For love, hate, business and you name it, almost for everything. Allow me to quote an over used verse from Bruhadaranyaka Upanishath;
Idam brahma, idam kshatram, ime lokah, ime devah, imani bhutani, idam sarvam yad ayam atma.
"This Source of knowledge; this source of power; all these worlds; all these gods; all these beings; -- All this is just the Self."
Another one from Yajnyavalkya again; (A sage who lived somewhere around 900 BCE in India)
na va are patyuh kamaya patih priyo bhavati, atmanas-tu kamaya patih priyo bhavati; na va are jayayai kamaya jaya priya bhavati,......,na va are bhutanam kamaya bhutani priyani bhavanti, atmanas-tu kamaya bhutani priyani bhavanti; na va are sarvasya kamaya sarvam priyam bhavati, atmanas-tu kamaya sarvam priyam bhavati;
"Everything becomes intimate for the sake of self".
This leaves no scope for altruism! How are we to explain altruism if we are to believe the above argument? Note that evolutionary Biology agrees with the above argument. This is not just some "Vedic Crap".
Interestingly I found an answer to this question in a psychology text book. It says that altruism is a profitable business! Profitable to the gene pool (Gene: segment of DNA responsible for a trait). Sociobiologists have controversially extended this to social transactions as well.
I feel there is quite an amount of altruism in socialism, thus making it a relevant philosophy. In the wake of these arguments I find capitalism self destructive. In what appears to be selfish endeavour I find a stupidity that ruins its chance of survival.
I find an idea that is neither purely capitalistic nor purely socialistic, interesting. Altruistic capitalism: a capitalism where there is place for selfless business. Some have called it capitalism with human face. But we have a scientific support for such a thing. It is not artificial anymore, I think. It has a high chance of surviving in the natural dynamics of business.
What do you think?
Idam brahma, idam kshatram, ime lokah, ime devah, imani bhutani, idam sarvam yad ayam atma.
"This Source of knowledge; this source of power; all these worlds; all these gods; all these beings; -- All this is just the Self."
Another one from Yajnyavalkya again; (A sage who lived somewhere around 900 BCE in India)
na va are patyuh kamaya patih priyo bhavati, atmanas-tu kamaya patih priyo bhavati; na va are jayayai kamaya jaya priya bhavati,......,na va are bhutanam kamaya bhutani priyani bhavanti, atmanas-tu kamaya bhutani priyani bhavanti; na va are sarvasya kamaya sarvam priyam bhavati, atmanas-tu kamaya sarvam priyam bhavati;
"Everything becomes intimate for the sake of self".
This leaves no scope for altruism! How are we to explain altruism if we are to believe the above argument? Note that evolutionary Biology agrees with the above argument. This is not just some "Vedic Crap".
Interestingly I found an answer to this question in a psychology text book. It says that altruism is a profitable business! Profitable to the gene pool (Gene: segment of DNA responsible for a trait). Sociobiologists have controversially extended this to social transactions as well.
I feel there is quite an amount of altruism in socialism, thus making it a relevant philosophy. In the wake of these arguments I find capitalism self destructive. In what appears to be selfish endeavour I find a stupidity that ruins its chance of survival.
I find an idea that is neither purely capitalistic nor purely socialistic, interesting. Altruistic capitalism: a capitalism where there is place for selfless business. Some have called it capitalism with human face. But we have a scientific support for such a thing. It is not artificial anymore, I think. It has a high chance of surviving in the natural dynamics of business.
What do you think?
Ragu,
ReplyDeleteKnow thy Self!, is the only purpose of the creator and creation.
Your mind will dissolve in the ocean of Consciousness.
Self is beyond words.
I AM THAT i AM, is the truth in simple terms.
NO Matter how you, you have to merge with the Source(Self).
I do not understand Anonymous! It simply went over my head. Who are you and what do you mean?
ReplyDeleteDear Ragu,
ReplyDeleteThe jagat is meant to be full of problems and imperfections.
The jiva is meant to seek union with peace & perfection (siva).
There are 4 ways to realize GOD/Truth/Self
Bhakti, Yoga, Gyana and Karma
Yogah karmasu kousalam-> Karma Marga->Skill in work is yoga
Samatvam yoga uchyate-> Yoga Marga->Equanimity is yoga
Mamekam saranam vraja->Bhakti Marga->Only surrender to Me
Ekamevadwiteeyam->Gyana Marga->Only one without a second
About me: I am seeker of Nectar, who is not satisfied with the current Lakes and Ponds of Nectar, but is gunning for an Ocean of Nectar.
About Truth/God/Self/Ocean a Mystic Sage wrote the below lines:
ReplyDelete"Before" does not outstrip Him,
"after" does not interrupt Him
"of" does not vie with Him for precedence
"from" does not accord with Him
"to" does not join with Him
"in" does not inhabit Him
"when" does not stop Him
"if" does not consult with Him
"over" does not overshadow
Him "under" does not support Him
"opposite" does not face Him
"with" does not press Him
"behind" does not limit Him
"previous" does not display Him
"after" does not cause Him to pass away
"all" does not unite Him
"is" does not bring Him into being
"is not" does not deprive Him from Being.
Concealment does not veil Him
His pre-existence preceded time,
His being preceded non-being,
His eternity preceded limit.
If thou sayest 'when',
His existing has outstripped time;
If thou sayest 'before', before is after Him;
If thou sayest 'he', 'h' and 'e' are His creation;
If thou sayest 'how', His essence is veiled from description;
If thou sayest 'where', His being preceded space;
Other than He cannot
be qualified by two (opposite) qualities at
one time; yet With Him they do not create opposition.
He is hidden in His manifestation,
manifest in His concealing.
He is outward and inward,
near and far; and in this respect He is
removed beyond the resemblance of creation.
He acts without contact,
instructs without meeting,
guides without pointing.
Desires do not conflict with Him,
thoughts do not mingle with Him:
His essence is without qualification ,
His actions are without effort.
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteOcean of Nector is after, first we should not be scared of revealing identities. I fail to understand how these relate to my blog article. Your comments look irrelevant. Apologies, connection is what I fail to understand.
w.r.t., The following lines of your article
ReplyDelete"This Source of knowledge; this source of power; all these worlds; all these gods; all these beings; -- All this is just the Self."
"Everything becomes intimate for the sake of self".
Knowledge of SELF the solution to all the problems in the world, including capitialism, etc.
Sage Yajnyavalkya wants you to realize SELF/God/Truth/Nectar.
About me: To know me you have to know yourself first.
Perform Self Enquiry (Atma Vichar) on your mind, find the sphrundana, then you will know me well.