Theos-Talk Archives (July 1999 Message tt00046)

"The basis of social institutions is peer pressure.  In general, man
refrains from undesirable activities such as violence, and untruth because
of  a fear of infamy, and a craving for social status.  Peer pressure keeps
people in a kind of bondage.  In involves a gross tendency related to fear
and desire.  Rules of society and the criminal justice system (unlike the
teachings of religion) are subject to change.  Society and government cannot
arrest undesirable behavior and prevent crime.  Virtues such as nonviolence
and truth emanate from independent thinking and from the gentle discerning
instincts of  the human heart."    --Acharya Shri Atmaramji

This thought was expressed over 1000 years ago.  By independent thinking I
do not believe is meant thinking what has never been thought before.  Just
that the effort to examine (by those who can do so) and come to ethical
conclusions must be primarily self-inititated without substitution or
reliance exclusively on the fashions of society.  In the 10th century the
peer pressure of and on the masses was to "be good".  Nowadays that is no
longer the case.  Media and civic pressure generally ignores virtue.
Societal influence on the individual is overpowering thanks to so much
external input from media.  So that means that truly inner motivated,
independent thinking is the only countervailing force.  Today, just opposite
from decades ago, the minority of rebels are seeking virtue against the
complacent majority who are not so seeking.

So my question, which I have no answer to -- yet -- is what can be done to
foster independent thinking and the instincts of the human heart?  As long
as technology is expanding in its influence at its present rate, I really
cannot envision a solution for the masses.   The future looks like huge
concentrations of nations and cities that will degenerate quite as  a Kali
Yuga should,  with only pockets of altruistic, virtuous folk who will have
almost no influence on the surrounding corruption.

Alternative scenarios would be appreciated.


Nicholas


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