Today's
humanity has no doubt made some progress in
intellect, in wisdom, and in rationality.
Human beings came onto this earth about a
million years ago. The feelings and
sentiments, hopes and aspirations,
frustrations and disappointments, cares and
anxieties, pleasures and pains, tears and
smiles of the present-day human beings are
almost the same as those of the primitive
humans. The difference is that the emotions
and feelings of the present human beings are
deeper than those of their ancestors.
Not only has
there been an increase in the depth of their
feelings; but along with this there has been
an increase in the originality of their
thoughts. Humanity is the collection of all
the perfections and imperfections of human
beings; and when the higher thoughts and
ideas are combined together we get humanism.
The word "human" is used both as a noun and
as an adjective to denote a complete human
being having both perfections and
imperfections.
If I use the
word "humanism" regarding the ideas of the
ancient humans, and if I use the same term
[regarding the ideas of the humans] of
today, what is the harm? Even if I can, I
will not -- because the people of those days
did not thoroughly understand what humanity
and humanism are; they could not analyse
them properly. The deeper implications of
humanity and humanism had not been
thoroughly probed in that ancient past, nor
have they been even today.
During the
past million years of human history, proper
justice has not been done to human beings; a
particular class, a particular section has
always been given greater importance than
others, and in this process the other
sections have been neglected. For instance,
when a soldier sacrifices his life on the
battlefield, his death is announced in bold
headlines in the newspapers; but the same
newspapers do not mention anything about the
great hardships that his widow faces to
raise their small family after the death of
her husband. This is how one-sided justice
has been meted out.
Though the
matter concerns grammar and is not easy to
change overnight, "man" in common gender
includes both man and woman. Then why does
not "woman" also mean both man and woman?
This is also lopsided justice. "Man" is
masculine gender, but "man" is also common
gender. Here "man" means "woman" also.
Human beings
have limped forward in their journey of
history for the last million years bearing
the burden of this defective social system;
all have not been given equal justice.
That is why
I say that neither has justice been done to
humanity (the abstract noun for "human
beings") nor has justice been done to
humanism* (the abstract noun for "the works
performed by human beings for human
beings"). Now it is high time to make a
reappraisal of the downtrodden humanity, of
the downtrodden humanism. Oftentimes, some
people have lagged behind, exhausted, and
collapsed on the ground, their hands and
knees bruised and their clothes stained with
mud. Such people have been thrown aside with
hatred and have become the outcasts of
society; they have been forced to remain
isolated from the mainstream of social life.
This is the kind of treatment they have
received. Few have cared enough to lift up
those people who lagged behind and help them
forward.
When some
people started advancing, they thought more
about themselves and less about others; nor
did they think about the animals and plants.
But if we analyse with a cool brain, it
becomes quite clear that just as my life is
important to me, others' lives are equally
important to them; and if we do not give
proper value to the lives of all creatures,
then the development of the entire humanity
becomes impossible. If people think more
about themselves as individuals or about
their small families, castes, clans or
tribes, and do not think at all about the
collectivity, this is decidedly detrimental.
Similarly, if people neglect the entire
living world -- the plant world, the animal
world -- is this not indeed harmful? That is
why I say that there is a great need to
explain humanity and humanism in a new
light, and this newly-explained humanism
will be a precious treasure for the world.
What is
Neohumanism? Neohumanism is humanism of the
past, humanism of the present and humanism
-- newly explained -- of the future.
Explaining humanity and humanism in a new
light will widen the path of human progress,
will make it easier to tread. Neohumanism
will give new inspiration and provide a new
interpretation for the very concept of human
existence. It will help people understand
that human beings, as the most thoughtful
and intelligent beings in this created
universe, will have to accept the great
responsibility of taking care of the entire
universe -- will have to accept that the
responsibility for the entire universe rests
on them.
So then,
what is Neohumanism? Humanism
newly-explained and newly-sermonized is
Neohumanism -- the philosophy which will
make people understand that they are not
merely ordinary creatures. This philosophy
will liberate them from all inferiority
feelings and defects and make them aware of
their own importance; it will inspire them
to build a new world.
I have
already explained that a distorted humanism
has created tremendous harm in the world,
and is still doing so. Unless it is replaced
by Neohumanism, it may be the cause of
catastrophic misfortune for human beings.
Who are the
people who propagate this distorted
humanism? Those who are motivated by
pseudo-humanistic strategy utilize this
strategy for their own selfish and group
interests, instead of allowing humanity to
move towards Neohumanism.
Then how to
rectify the situation created by these
people? By taking this distorted humanism
towards Neohumanism, we may create a new
panacea for all psycho-spiritual ailments.
But if instead of that we allow humanity to
move along the path of pseudo-humanism,
humanity's social, economic, political,
cultural and spiritual life will be full of
distortions and defects, which will pollute
and degrade the human mind. I have already
referred to these defects in detail.
Two Types
Who Create Distortions
Now we shall
discuss the panacea. There are generally two
types of people who create distortions among
humanity, by not allowing humanity to move
towards Neohumanism. One type of people are
doing so unconsciously; they do not at all
realize what great harm they are doing to
human society and to the plant and animal
kingdoms which are associated with human
beings. The second type of people are
knowingly and deliberately working with
pseudo-humanistic strategy; I have described
them as "human chameleons" -- those who know
how to change their colours frequently.
Two
Varieties of the First Type
We can expect two kinds of reaction from two
varieties of the first type of people if we
convey the physico-psycho-spiritual aspects
of Neohumanism to them. One reaction will
be: "Ah, what a great mistake I committed! I
have written so many articles giving undue
importance to Mr. So-and-so. From today on I
will not commit such an error again. As my
vision was clouded, I could not see his
defects and weaknesses -- but now that I
have discovered them I will move along the
right path and try to do good to others."
But among
those who have harmed people unknowingly,
those who are egotistic will not accept
their mistake even when they discover it.
They will say, "You see, it seems I made a
mistake and So-and-so has pointed it out.
This is a great insult to me -- I cannot
tolerate it! Though he may have spoken the
truth, it is beneath my dignity to accept
it. It is too humiliating! If I even admit
that I have harmed the people, that will be
a great slur on my character -- how can I
allow that to happen? So I will continue to
maintain that what I have done is right.
This may harm people, but I must make sure
that my prestige is not injured."
Generally
you will encounter these two varieties of
people in society. As you convey this
message of Neohumanism to each and every
house, you will come across these two
varieties of people. But I hope that those
who have adopted pseudo-humanistic strategy
unknowingly, will realize their mistakes and
rectify themselves. Then you will be able to
utilize them immediately to promote the
general welfare.
Previously I
said that you must lead the people beyond
this veil of darkness to the crimson dawn so
that they can correct themselves and become
the valuable treasures of humanity. Those
egotistic persons who are antagonistic to
this will become powerless, because those
who are misguided by ego will lose their
intelligence. Anyone who opposes out of
wounded ego, will ultimately be defeated.
When ego is inflated, intellect declines.
And one whose intellect is small, is easily
defeated. So one need not be anxious about
them.
The Second
Type
But those
who knowingly follow the pseudo-humanistic
strategy and refuse to be rectified, will
become more extreme. When they discover that
all their strategies have been detected and
nothing is secret anymore, then they will
grow desperate. Through the mass media at
their disposal they will utilize all their
verbiage, all their abilities, all the
weapons they possess -- because there is no
other way out. Perhaps they may have some
faint desire to rectify themselves -- but if
they do they will realize how black was
their entire past and that according to the
standards of Neohumanism they are no better
than false gold. And it is certain that when
conscious people recognize their true
nature, they will fling them into the
dustbin of history without remorse.
Thus far I
have explained to you the approach of
Neohumanism; I have told you that humanism
newly-explained is Neohumanism. Now the
question is, how to move along this path of
Neohumanism; how to implement it? How to
fight against those who have adopted
pseudo-humanistic strategies, and, knowingly
or unknowingly, greatly harmed the people?
These two questions are interrelated and so
are their answers.
Spirituality
as a Cult
Human
existence is not merely physical, psychic or
spiritual; it comprises all three. In this
case, what should be the proper approach?
The first step is spiritual practice. What
is it? The entire Cosmological order
includes the quinquelemental material world,
which is controlled by the Macropsychic
Entity. Again, behind this Macropsychic
Entity is a Macro-Spirit.
In fact,
this universe of ours is a Macropsychic
conation (a thought of the Cosmic Mind), so
in no case can human beings deny this
physical world. One will have to deeply
analyse all the inconsistencies of this
physical world, and this process of analysis
will be conducted by the micropsychic
existence (individual mind).
There are
many people with tremendous mental
potentiality, but they do not have a clear
line of thought. Thus they think
incorrectly, and the outcome of their
defective thought is defective action. Those
people are not properly guided on how to
move in the mental world; they are not being
properly guided unto the path of the
Macropsychic Entity.
When someone
commits a wrong, we have a tendency to
condemn him or her at every step. We should
realize that such a person suffers from a
sort of micropsychic ailment, and to cure
such an ailment we will have to introduce
him or her to Neohumanistic philosophy. We
have not done so, and that was our crime.
Next, from
whence does that Macropsychic Entity
originate? The micropsychic entity
[individual mind] is a collection of many
ectoplasms, and these ectoplasms emanate
directly from the Macropsychic ectoplasm and
indirectly from Macro-Spirit [the Supreme
Spirit]. On the one hand we will have to
provide proper psychic pabula for human
beings to think correctly; and on the other
hand, we must give proper guidance to the
micropsychic ectoplasms [individual
mind-particles] to move towards the
Macro-Spirit. In this respect also we have
failed in our duty; we have committed
another crime.
To build a
healthy human race we should have given them
proper guidance in philosophy, in science,
in all branches of human knowledge -- which
we did not do. We have utilized science more
for destructive purposes than for benevolent
aims; we have distorted the thought
processes of human beings; we have
deliberately misguided the people instead of
leading them along the proper path. We have
taught people to think about how
such-and-such bomb can annihilate so many
millions of people at a time -- but we have
never propagated a philosophy to teach them
to think how millions of people could be
benefited by psycho-spiritual practices.
Thus human beings of today are following a
defective path, and there is a desperate
need for a change in direction. The only
remedy is Neohumanism.
There are
three stages on this path of Neohumanism.
The first one is spiritual cult. What is
spiritual cult? It is physico-psycho-spiritual
cult. This physico-psycho-spiritual process
will show you how to remove the defects of
the psychic world and also the external
world, and enable you to move towards the
spiritual world without any delay. This
movement towards the spiritual goal will
also help you to establish yourself in the
psychic and physical worlds, so you will be
able to render greater service to the
people. This is what I call "spiritual
cult". Progress in this spiritual cult
starts with the elevation of protoplasmic
cells, and finally ends in the attainment of
the Supreme Goal. This physico-psycho-spiritual
cult will help the physical world and the
psyches of the psychic world directly and
indirectly, and also the spiritual world,
directly. But this is not enough - "What you
say is just the beginning; you have to go
farther". "Not here, not here, somewhere
else, somewhere else".
Spirituality
in Essence
The second
stage is spiritual essence. This stage is
related mainly to the psychic and spiritual
strata. If you consider the entire human
race, you will see that humanity has a
collective mind (not the Cosmic Mind). Now,
changes will have to be effected in the
mental flow of this collective mind; you
will have to create a new wave of thought in
it. Because of the manner of human thinking
thus far, the pace of human progress has
been painfully slow. If it is given a new
direction, the speed of progress will be
greatly accelerated.
Thus we find
that the second stage, that of spiritual
essence, will take place in the psychic and
spiritual realms; it will occur in the
collective psychic mind, in the collective
ectoplasm of all humanity. Then the global
thought processes of humanity will take an
entirely new turn, and that will also
strengthen humanity's collective spirit.
Humanity as a whole will become converted
into a powerful spiritual force, and in that
stage, no pseudo-humanistic strategy will
work. All other weapons will become
completely powerless before this mightiest
spiritual weapon.
Spirituality
as a Mission
But there is
something more beyond this, which I have
described as "spirituality as a mission". So
first there is "spirituality as a cult",
secondly, "spirituality in essence", and
thirdly, "spirituality as a mission". All
existential phenomena are emanating from the
Existential Nucleus. The existential nucleus
of a single individual has a direct link
with the Cosmological Hub, a direct link
with the Existential Nucleus of the
Cosmological order. But this path is not
psycho-spiritual; according to Neohumanism,
the final and supreme goal is to make one's
individual existential nucleus coincide with
the Cosmic Existential Nucleus (na'dabindu
yoga, in the language of Tantra). As a
result, the unit being's entire existential
order becomes one with the Controlling
Nucleus of the existential order of the
Supreme Entity of the Cosmological order,
and that will be the highest expression of
Neohumanism. That Neohumanistic status will
save not only the human world but the plant
and animal worlds also. In that supreme
Neohumanistic status, the universal humanity
will attain the consummation of its
existence. Then nothing will be impossible
for human beings; they will be able to do
anything and everything.
Today's
humanity is in despair; people think too
much about their imperfections. They think,
"Can I do it?" But in that supreme,
Neohumanistic status, they will say, "Yes, I
am a Neohumanistic being and I am destined
to do great work. For that purpose I have
come onto this earth. So there is no scope
for doubt whether I can do it or not."
Once long
ago I went to Purulia. I was carrying heavy
baggage. I asked a village man: "Can you
carry this baggage?" He replied: "Why not,
certainly I can!" I appreciated his answer
very much. And I am sure that one day this
Neohumanism will inspire the world
population to say, "Why not, certainly we
can!"
And I am
confident that on that day no geo-sentiment
will be able to rear its head, no
socio-sentiment will be able to erect
barriers of discrimination in human society,
nor will any demon be able to harm millions
of people in the name of humanism by
exploiting their gullibility. And when those
ever-vigilant human beings, those physico-psycho-spiritual
entities, will be able to merge their
existential nuclei with the Supreme
Existential Nucleus, then only will
Neohumanism be permanently established, and
human beings will be ensconced in the joy of
freedom forever. On that day they will
proclaim in full-throated voices: "We have
come to the world to perform great deeds --
for the physical welfare of all, for the
psychic happiness of all, and for the
spiritual elevation of all -- to lead all
from darkness unto light." If, even then,
someone says: "No, darkness is good for me!"
we will tell them: "All right, darkness is
good for you, but just once why don't you
come and see the light -- it is even
better!"
Source: Excerpted from Shrii P. R. Sarkar's
'Liberation of Intellect - Neo-Humanism',
Ananda Marga Publications, Kolkata, 1982
