Tools to Change the World
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TOOLS TO CHANGE THE WORLD Study Guide based on the Progressive Utilization Theory (Prout) Level 1 Dada Maheshvarananda and Mirra Price, M. Ed., Ed.M. Proutist Universal Copenhagen Copyright 2019 by © Proutist Universal: Copenhagen All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions ISBN: 978-87-89552-00-2 Cover Design: Jagadiish Gorg Azzopardi All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission of the publisher except for brief quotations. Proutist Universal 30 Platanvej, 1810 Fredriksberg Copenhagen, Denmark ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to express our gratitude to the many people who have contributed to this Prout Study Guide and to its predecessors. We especially want to thank Mark Friedman and Dada Nabhaniilananda, whose work we have reprinted. We are grateful to all who offered suggestions on the modules: Didi Ananda Devapriya (Romania), Ron Baseman, Ole Brekke and Kathrine Sumati Brekke (Denmark), Alex Jackimovicz, Sid Jordan, Kathleen Kesson, John Linkart, Sloan McLain, Mal- colm McDonell (Australia), Matt Oppenheim, Georgia Perry, Charles Paprocki, James Quilligan, and Karl Robins. It has been extremely helpful that a few people—Howard Nemon, Didi Ananda Ruchira, Nina Shapiro, and Bruce Dyer (New Zealand)—have conducted field test study groups and have given feedback. Dada Maheshvarananda would also like to express his gratitude to the staff of the Prama Institute and Wellness Center near Asheville, NC for allowing him to write in peace in their healing environment. Dear readers, we also welcome your critical suggestions about how to improve this project. Please write us at [email protected] and [email protected]. Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data Names: Maheshvarananda, Dada, author. | Price, Mirra, author. Title: Tools to change the world : study guide based on the Progressive Utilization Theory (Prout) , level 1 / Dada Maheshvarananda and Mirra Price, M. Ed., Ed.M. Description: Includes index. | Copenhagen, Denmark: Proutist Universal, 2018 Identifiers: ISBN 978-87-89552-00-2 Subjects: LCSH Prout (Economic theory) | Prout (Economic theory)--Study guides. | Sarkar, Pra- bhat Ranjan, 1921-1990. | Economics--Philosophy. | Economics--Religious aspects. | Economics--So- ciological aspects. | Economics--Moral and ethical aspects. | Monetary policy. | BISAC POLITICAL SCIENCE / Public Policy / Economic Policy | POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Ideologies / Commu- nism, Post-Communism & Socialism | BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Business Ethics Classification: LCC HB72 .M233 2019 | DDC 330.12--dc23 Contents FOREWORD 1 What Would Sarkar Do? 1 Breaking Through to a Post-Truth World 2 How Would Prout Do It? 3 INTRODUCTION 5 The Background of the Study Circle 5 Organizing a Study Circle 6 The Design of Each Module 7 Democratic Group Process 9 References 10 MODULE 1: THE RIGHT TO LIVE 11 Check Your Understanding 11 The Social Reality: Poverty 11 Prout’s Vision: Guarantee the Minimum Necessities of Life to All 11 Rational Incentives 13 Karl Marx and his Marxist and Communist Legacy 13 Activist Tools: Narratives: Telling your Story 15 Activist Tools: Journaling 16 Activities 17 Further Readings 18 Further Viewings 18 References 18 MODULE 2: A HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE 20 Check Your Understanding 20 The Social Reality: Depression, Chronic Stress, and Poor Health 20 Prout’s Vision: Dharma 21 An Ecological and Spiritual Perspective 22 The Problems with Materialism 23 Spiritual Activism 23 Holistic Health 24 Activist Tools: Meditation 25 An Introduction to Mantra Meditation 27 Activities 28 Further Readings 29 Further Viewings 29 References 29 MODULE 3: THE WEALTH CAP 31 Check Your Understanding 31 The Social Reality: Wealth Inequality 31 Prout’s Vision: Cosmic Inheritance 32 The First Fundamental Principle of Prout 33 Activist Tools: Public Speaking 34 iv dada maheshvarananda & miira price Activities 35 Revolutionary Speeches 35 Emmeline Pankhurst: “Freedom or Death” 35 Emma Goldman: “Address to the Jury” 36 Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar: “Problems of the Day” 36 Nelson Mandela: “I am Prepared to Die” 37 Robert F. Kennedy: “On the Death of Martin Luther King, Jr.” 38 Rigoberta Menchú Tum: “Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Lecture, December 10, 1992” 39 Emma Watson: UN Speech to Launch HeforShe Initiative 40 Winona LaDuke: “Keystone Pipeline on Native Lands?” 41 Further Readings 41 Further Viewings 42 References 42 MODULE 4: FOR THE WELFARE OF THE EARTH AND ALL LIVING BEINGS 43 Check Your Understanding 43 The Social Reality: Pollution and Climate Change 43 Prout’s Vision: Maximum Utilization and Rational Distribution 43 2-5 of the Fundamental Principles of Prout 43 Activist Tools: Consciousness-Raising Groups 46 Activities 47 Further Readings 48 Further Viewings 48 References 48 MODULE 5: ETHICS FOR PERSONAL AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION 50 Check Your Understanding 50 The Social Reality: Corruption 50 Prout’s Vision: Ethics 51 Cardinal Human Values 51 Ten Universal Moral Principles 52 Activist Tools: One-on-Ones 56 Activities 58 Further Readings 59 Further Viewings 59 References 59 MODULE 6: A HEALTHY ECONOMY 60 Check Your Understanding 60 The Social Reality: Debt 60 Prout’s Vision: The Economics of a Three-Tiered Economy 61 Small Business 61 The Cooperative Sector 62 Large Government-Owned Enterprises 63 Activist Tools: Winning Words 64 Frames and Metaphors 64 The Political Climate 66 How Conservatives Manipulate Public Opinion 66 Choose Winning Words 67 tools to change the world v Slogans 68 Activities 70 Further Readings 70 Further Viewings 70 References 71 MODULE 7: COOPERATIVES CAN CREATE JOBS FOR ALL 72 Check Your Understanding 72 The Social Reality: Unemployment 72 Prout’s Vision: Cooperatives 73 Worker Cooperatives 73 How Worker Cooperatives Function 74 A Supportive Infrastructure 75 Community Benefits 77 Activist Tools: How to Start a Successful Cooperative 77 Activities 78 Further Readings 79 Further Viewings 79 References 79 MODULE 8: FOOD FOR ALL 80 Check Your Understanding 80 The Social Reality: Hunger 80 Prout’s Vision: A Crisis in Agriculture 81 Food Sovereignty 82 Prout’s Agrarian Revolution 83 Agricultural Cooperatives 84 Ideal Farming 84 Permaculture, Ecovillages, and Transition Towns 85 Activist Tools: Capturing Media Attention 86 Activities 90 Further Readings 90 Further Viewings 91 References 91 MODULE 9: IDEAL LEADERSHIP 93 Check Your Understanding 93 The Social Reality: Dangerous Leaders 93 Prout’s Vision: Classes Based on Social Psychology 94 History and the Social Cycle 96 Shudra Revolution and a New Cycle Begins 98 Spiritual Revolutionaries: Sadvipras 98 Activist Tools: Becoming an Ideal Leader 99 Emotionally Intelligent Leaders 101 Activities 101 Further Readings 102 Further Viewings 102 References 102 vi dada maheshvarananda & miira price MODULE 10: NEOHUMANISM 104 Check Your Understanding 104 The Social Reality: Media Lies 104 Prout’s Vision: Human Sentiments and Neohumanism 105 A New Definition of Progress 107 Psychic Exploitation 107 Culture, Civilization and Pseudo-Culture 108 An Educational Revolution 109 Activist Tools: Critical Thinking and Unpacking Privilege 110 Activities 112 Further Readings 112 Further Viewings 113 References 113 Course Evaluation 114 INDEX 116 ABOUT THE AUTHORS 123 FOREWORD by James Quilligan What Would Sarkar Do? The Progressive Utilization Theory (Prout) was introduced in 1959 by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar. In this visionary plan for social and economic management, Sarkar proposed that material goods be com- monly owned and distributed fairly to meet everyone’s basic needs. This would form the basis for an economy of producer and consumer cooperatives, small businesses, and key industries organized as public utilities. Instead, in the decades that followed the launch of Prout, society has focused mainly on speeding up market growth. This became the leading worldview after the fall of Soviet communism in 1991. The mainstream belief is that global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will continue to expand indefinitely through the production and use of materials and energy. In this self-generating system, personal ini- tiative is the impetus behind a rising tide of wealth, while its benefits trickle down from the rich to the poor. This structure has been challenged by recent circumstances, especially the Great Recession of 2008 and the austerity measures taken afterward. Many people now see that the availability of materials and energy — including arable land, water, fresh air, fossil fuels and rare earth minerals — is shrinking relative to the growing size and needs of the global population. Besides this decrease in non-renewable resources, a widening division between social classes and highly uncertain economic growth, there are the escalating financial costs and security risks posed by global climate change. Our ideals of progress must be thoroughly reassessed .We must soon create a world that does not presently exist. This requires political action on a grand scale. It also means that unless this system-level transformation is carefully designed, global prosperity will devolve and humanity may not survive with any reasonable degree of safety or well-being. Two major alternatives loom on the horizon. They could not be more different. One is a technolo- gy-driven corporate state which would undermine democracy and impose emergency management on global resources. Its leaders