War, Geo-Sentiments, and the Future of Human Civilization
By Nina Shapiro
In these painful and difficult times in the Middle East, Ukraine, Africa, and other places in conflict in this world, it is easy to become one-sided in our view of what is just, fair, and right. It is important to keep a balanced mind and to consider all sides of things, to allow for others’ views and opinions to be heard and considered. As Proutists, we must embrace humanitarian approaches to social justice for allbeings, to protect and defend the innocent and the vulnerable, and to focus on our commonality rather than our differences. We are one human family and we must embrace this wholeheartedly in order to survive, to move together into a preferred future and to evolve as a species.
Below is an excerpt of a discourse by P.R. Sarkar, the founder of Prout, regarding the dangers of geo-sentiment, which he viewed as the greatest threat to humanity’s inner asset:
“Now let us see what the impact of geo-sentiment is. This geo-religion, geo-economics, geo-sociology, geo-social sentiment – these “geo’s” are limited to a particular country or a particular direction. And those countries or directions which are beyond its confines are considered profane. To one group, judging according to this so-called holiness or profanity, the east is sacred, while to another group the west is sacred. Thus conflicts arise between these contradictory sentiments, leading to war and bloodshed. People have forgotten the fundamental spirit of humanism, and deviated from the principles of dharma.
“So now we see that the greatest threat to the inner asset of humanity is this geo-sentiment. Where does this geo-sentiment come from? Where does it originate? It is born in that place where people do not follow the path of rationality, the path of conscience. Dharma (characteristic property) is the ultimate goal of the path of conscience – it is not related to geo-sentiment.
“Some people adopt geo-socialism, geo-politics or national socialism, thus limiting socialism to their countries only, but this is not possible. Geo-socialism, geo-religion, geo-economics, etc., which are based on this geo-sentiment, not only confine people in the bondages of limitations, but also alienate one particular social group from another. And – what is more harmful – different groups become violent toward each other, which is extremely dangerous for human civilization.”
P.R. Sarkar
“Geo-Sentiment,” Discourse 3
7 March 1982, Calcutta