Potential

The power of people is immense. It should be measured systematically. We want a United Nation report annually about the present human potential globally, as expressed as an index of the number of individuals, their status in health and education and their potential for personal and social contribution - independently of political and social restrictions.

If we made such an analysis, we would probably find that we can turn this small earth into a paradise of nice environment with affluence in economy and knowledge for all. The potential is there.

Why is not this potential realised? There are problems everywhere. In nations like Europe, USA and Japan the problems of decay are getting worse. The legal systems have holes. The social security can not live up to promises. Economy is shaky.

In other countries like China, India, Brazil and Russia progress is fast against a background of poverty.

We are used to slow progress and constant conflicts and set backs. But why? The answer is that we did not know better.

But now we do, maybe.

It is a matter of mind, ideal and organisation. The greatest resource we have, human mind, is split into seven billions independent unities. This is not bad by itself, but it represents a difficulty of coordination.

The present ideal in the world is growth but it should be sustainability. Growth without limit is impossible and a sickness like cancer. Sustainability is growth and consumption in harmony. The quality is often in less rather than in quantity.

Organisation is the big problem. We all know what is best, we feel. But obviously we are wrong. The best is not realised.

Before we can get anything we have to have an idea of it. We need a map of the nice future. If we create such a map, the obstacles of bad governing, bad traditions and dogmas and misuse of individuals should stop.

Dorje

Dorje
Originally uploaded by KurtQ

Mind made world

The world we live in is mind-made. At least if we live in a city, which most of us do. Every building, every stone in the pavement is decided by mind. Even the scraps of papers thrown on the street are decided by mind.

The big cities themselves are magnificent manifestations of the creativity of mind. Great.

But every big city is also a manifestation of the shortcomings of mind. The shortcomings are sometimes very obvious, as slum areas.

In the free countries the difficult sectors are individually decided - individuals move to the city without asking. In dictatorships like the old east European countries the difficulties were decided centrally.

In every city there is a balance between construction and destruction. This might have a certain positive value. All of the old should not be preserved. But sometimes the destruction or lack of progress seems a bit unnecessary.

As everything is mind made, we could ask: Can we help minds in a better way than before. We do a lot to improve mind activities by education, social contacts and mass media.

Obviously this is not good enough.

One way to improve the situation is by lowering birth rate. One cause for problems is the influx of new minds without education. We are all born without education. Lowering of birth rate is under way in many countries, and this is very good.

Another way would be to understand mind. Everything positive or negative a person does has its foundation and cause in the mind of the individual.

This is illustrated in the Tibetan tradition with a dorje, which is a ritual object. It shows two spaces or rooms. One room is the external reality where things are manifested, and the other room is the internal reality in the mind of the individual.

In order to manifest externally in a positive way, the internal room must to be in order. As there are so many negative manifestations going on, we know that the internal room is not very harmonious in many individuals.

This can change. Mind is extremely plastic. It can unlearn old outdated knowledge and learn new things.

Multi culture

When USA entered the first world war and sent soldiers to Europe, some Europeans were surprised that the American soldiers considered themselves to be American. They were not American. Many of them were fresh immigrants from different countries. But they were ready to fight and die under the American flag.

In Europe at that time nationality was an issue of life and death. For a french person it could mean death just to talk to a German.

These days things are different. Thanks to EU, Europe has had a long time of peace. Never before in the history of that continent has there been so much peace for so long.

We see that the ability to live together and accept cultural differences is not about culture or nations, but about mind.

Is it in accordance with human nature to live in peace? Well, yes and no. The no answer seems to be the most obvious. There has been a lot of wars during history,

But the yes alternative is stronger.´If we have a chance to choose, we are easily convinced of the advantages of peaceful cooperation.

But if we want a stable peace we have to look into the deepest recesses of mind. What will we find there? We did find Nazism not that long ago.

The factor that could cause war could be called a dirty will to power. We all have a will to power. But it is only when it is dirty and infected that it becomes a serious threat.

Dirt and infection in mind is always adventitious, according to Buddhist psychology. So there is room for optimism.

Dirt and infection in mind can be eliminated by being exposed to light and awareness. And in the modern world with a high level of education and information all individuals can take part in this enlightenment.

So globalization and the meeting of cultures could by itself be a peace supporting process.

No more poverty

How long would it take to totally abolish global poverty? It could take one week, but as there are practical differences it might take a full month.

The method is to give every living individual a bank account with one million dollars.

This would invert the economical model used so far from being based on poverty to one being based on need.

If we all were millionaires we could buy what we really need - be it food, housing, education or whatever. The factual economy would increase as never before.

If we all were millionaires the magic of money would be lost. Money would be like air, necessary but always available. Nothing to fight for.

Economical migration could stop or be more like tourism. Tensions between nations and social groups would soften.

The tedious struggle for survival for the day would change into a meaningful search for the nice and lovely. Billions of individuals would be free.

For some groups there is already excess of money. Some of it is spent on luxury as nice hospital care for the heart attacks, nervous break downs and problems with addiction. But most of those very rich drive a small car and eat hamburger.

So what are we waiting for?