I want to – in this blog – criticise the USA. I think my criticism is constructive.
I will start by saying that the American stress on science is not just desirable. It is essential for the survival of humanity. Our civilization depends on consumption of natural resources. It is only a matter of time before these resources run out and then life on this planet will come to an end. So we need modern science and scientific inventions so as to meet these challenges.
At the same time the American stress on science intrudes in areas where it has no business going.
My main criticism of the USA is that it does not respect tradition enough. I am talking of some states like California and not necessarily the whole ot the USA. Basically the human race and the average human person needs a life satisfying to instinct. By trying to remake society and create an ideal society with the help of science we are – with the best of intentions – opening a pandora’s box and creating no end of trouble for society and ourselves.
The human race still has the same instincts as it did in the times when we lived in tribes. These instincts are food, clothing, shelter, sex and family life and the need to provide and protect for the family and the need to feel part of a community. Warfare may be necessary to meet those needs. Or at least it is perceived to be so.
So the main task of civilization is to give humanity (the vast majority) a life satisfying to instinct. And for that you need to turn to the ancient myths for guidance – not modern science.
Joseph Campbell is the acknowledged authority when it comes to myths and mythology.
Science in some parts of the USA is intruding in areas where it has no business going and where it will do more harm than good. If we try to remake society through science it is quite likely that life will not be satisfying to instinct for the majority of people. And then there will be no end of trouble.
To repeat – respect tradition and turn to the ancient myths for guidance. Life is suffering and the entire Universe is unsatisfactory. You will never succeed in creating an ideal society and will do more harm than good.
Secondly, I will use the Iran war and the enormous US military and economic might to draw certain conclusions. And that is that the USA has more power than it is capable of using wisely and thus more power than is good for it.
In Buddhist meditative states there are some states called Jhanas in which you may have enormous powers. But these states are not particularly valued in Buddhism. They are regarded as a distraction from the task of attaining enlightenment. More to the point, if you do not have the wisdom to use the powers that the Jhanas give you wisely you may end up harming yourself and others.
And that is the situation the USA finds itself in now. Modern science and economic and military might has given it powers that it may not have the wisdom to use for the benefit of all concerned. I only need to point to the Iran war as an example.
I don’t really have a solution for this state of affairs. The traditional Buddhists avoided the Jhana states. The Americans do not have the choice of avoiding modern science even if they wanted to. The only suggestion I can come up with is to be aware that you may have more power than you are capable of using wisely.
Lastly I think that the Americans can turn to certain practices of the aristocracy. I know democracy and equality is given a lot of prominence in the USA. But there is no point in expecting the average person to have more maturity than he is capable of.
Mahatma Gandhi wanted the entire human race to try to become saints. Bertrand Russell wanted the entire human race to try to become philosophers. And the Americans seem to want the entire race to become men of science.
There are certain tasks which are fit for aristocracy and which are its raison d’etre. And one of them is preserving the arts and sciences and civilization and culture. There is no point expecting the average man on the streets to do that. That is the job of the aristocrats.
So don’t go overboard in valuing democracy.
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