Dharmic Capitalism
A Old paradigm for living in Need of Revival
In our modern world governed by patriarchal capitalism, we compete to work at jobs that ostensibly pay higher wages yet many of those jobs contribute to environmental destruction and the dispossession of populations.
Take the steel industry, iron ore is extracted from lands from which the indigenous populations have been evicted, transported across oceans to be smelted to create products. The original purpose was to facilitate greater human well-being but that has now been corrupted into greater shareholder profits and the end products have an increasingly short term usable life.
There was a time when things were made to last, electric cars and scooters appeared 100 years ago to be pushed out of existence by the oil corporations. But now we live in an era where most things are made to have little more than a year’s shelf life and be non-repairable and non-upgradable.
Work for the joy of serving
is the most noble work
However it’s been exploited
my the modern capitalists.
These things need to change (to a A needs based economy) as does the modern economy that relies on an insecure and underpaid workforce that equates to a form of slavery. Under the scheme of modern economics, money flows to the top of the heap in a grand pyramid scheme with the primary capitalists being absolved from crimes against humanity in an age where their bad behaviour is clearly to be seen and this trickles down to the masses her figure that it’s very reasonable commit the same crimes as our government and corporate leaders by dispossessing others.
The foundation for a new paradigm
Suspending beliefs: we must recognise that we don’t have all the answers and we are for the time being confined to planet Earth and that our activities are in fact destroying life on this planet which is vital to our continued existence.
Instead of believing in some imaginary heaven, we must accept a more scientific way of living and as individuals seek to appreciate the nature of existence as our primary reason for being here.
Such a quest would take the imagination into the realm of Vedanta and quantum physics, the seekers would appreciate that life is eternal yet governed by our behaviour. There would be a degree of realisation that we are part of life, part of existence and that our continued well-being and our continued existence as a species is dependent on everyone of us moderating our behaviour to be more generous, kind and accepting of others although not accepting harmful behaviour.
The economics of change
Patriarchal capitalism creates a society with a dominating hierarchical (class) system which is apparent within all modern societies. A first step could be introducing a universal standard income for example everyone earns $1000 per month and within the democratic structure we have, politicians are reminded that they are in service to the people and have no mandate to serve vested corporate interests.
Ultimately we could have a needs based economy, a world without money and as part of their celebrating life, the results of every individuals work would be gifted and every individual supported by the gifts of others. This concept in economics would be about cooperation, human well-being and of course sharing.
A New Social Paradigm
Instead of seeking entertainment we could be seeking solutions to our hardships and seeking to understand what is life and how we can better participate in life. Entertainments would turn from being generating the fear of what if to the inspirational tales like Jataka and dear I say spiritual pursuits.
We may look to the Auroville community for a new design on living, instead of building as we are in the West over some of our most productive farmland, we could be creating more sustainable hive -like structures that eliminate the need for personal vehicle ownership with improved public transport and access to areas of occupation.
Temples could once more become community centres managing the long-term storage of food supplies in conjunction with governmental agencies though the most important aspect of temples would be to provide an energy focal point where people can refresh and recharge their sense of spiritual being as was the function of the ancient Hindu temples.
Such a new paradigm would not alleviate everyone’s fears and it would not alleviate the physical hardships, earthquakes, famines and pandemics but it would make these things more manageable.
I am not prescribing any form of socialism or communism, more of a communalism as intended within the Israeli kibbutz. There is no need to change any government or administrative body regardless of its flavour. Governments would as a first priority be charged with serving the needs of the people and not permitted to accept bribes. The biggest challenge for a government would be determine the people’s greatest needs which are obviously well-being but not necessarily economic though the new concept in economics would be human well-being.
What would this new world look like?
By taking a sensible and pragmatic approach to change, we would still have all our technology and creature comforts. Those who live in suburbia may live in slightly more denser housing units and spend a little time gardening every day or participating in some form of communal activity and thereby ‘earning their daily bread’.
Instead of celebrating the Western public holidays, we would be more likely to celebrate the changes of the seasons and various astronomical phenomenon. Everyone would be encouraged to engage in some type of spiritual exercises as in yoga or meditation. Most importantly life would be appreciated and celebrated.
For this change we can look to an ancient India for guidance because they understood the nature of existence in a way that modern scientists are only beginning to learn. Are you ready to exchange your misery and suffering for a joyful life where you have a choice to be a fully autonomous person in a world that offers the greatest of all freedoms?
A needs based economy
Another viewpoint
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I agree with what you have written. The issue of destruction of global environment is very real. Our generation and the coming ones have to fight and prevent further deterioration of our planet’s health. Global warming, air and water pollution, accumulation of micro plastic and non-biodegradable toxins in all life forms, nuclear wastes, etc.
Not to forget, our economy and consumption pattern thrives by exhausting resources at a ridiculously high rate. We expect oil to vanish by the next 50 years, coal by hundred years. What resources are we leaving for our children to use? How will they survive in a polluted, toxic over-populated world with little to no resources?
As you have suggested, we need to change our economy from “for profit for oneself” to “helping eachother”. Because when we help someone they help us back and in this way all of us grow together.
I don’t really know/understand vedanta, or how temples recharge the people or how yoga is spiritual but I know that contrary to what you have said at the beginning of your article, the original purpose of capitalism was not for greater human well-being: it was for profit – at the expense of many. Capitalism originated from colonialism where the immoral Christian Europeans enslaved Africans, did genocides of native Americans and Australian tribals (aubergines – I hope the spelling is correct) and oppressed/exploited Indians, Chinese, etc. They forced their bad goods on us, appropriated our surplus for their profit and left us when it was no longer profitable to continue that exploitation. And all this while they justified themselves as being right and just. They also taught us false history to indoctrinate us and feel inferior to them.
This is the history of today’s patriarchal capitalist system. Since its inception it has been incredibly short sighted and unethical/immoral. The people in power today are thanks to this system and they will not jeopardize their livelihood. Only those many people who are exploited by this system have any incentive to change it. A new entity with a strong political will is necessary to put a stop on production of private goods such as cars which only cause pollution and waste space on the road and instead focus on producing public goods such as better public transport systems, bicycles, etc.
The question is, who has the political will to stand up to the capitalists and put an end to this unsustainable, profit – hungry, resource – depleting, planet – polluting system?
Greetings Atharva, what I was saying in context of history was that money came into being as a means of exchange maybe 10,000 years ago at a time when Sanatana Dharma was strong but there was a social need to trade with outside patriarchal societies who demanded some personal reward or pleasure beyond the act of exchange. As you say, “the original purpose of capitalism was not for greater human well-being: it was for profit – at the expense of many’ is correct as applied to the modern era.
As to today’s patriarchal capitalist system which represents and promotes adharma, it totally dominates life and as it serves selfish needs without clear conscience, life on Earth may well be extinguished. For most capitalism is a grandiose game like monopoly where the winner holds the most $$.
Of course this is a delusion and the players afixed by their beliefs are victims of their own delusions. Some may come to realise this but as for political will, there is some wrapped in general calls for peace, justice and sensibility to prevail, however the leadership of the Modi Government inspires change within and beyond India/Bharat while it is the practice of yoga that can guide humanity onto a safer path.
I don’t know much about the practice of yoga (I only know that it has excellent exercises which keep us healthy) so I’ll search about it online. Also, can you please tell me how the Modi government is inspiring change with respect to the core issue of your article – “a needs based economy”?
This is a challenging question and I would refer you to this Indian Express article https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/india-economy-9-years-modi-government-8634120/. But what I see as happening is that on one hand there is effort to make India a world class economy in competition with other capitalist systems because this is the way of the world and a way of promoting Dharma internationally. But also govt is supporting – taking some smaller steps though these are perhaps on a grander scale to restore Dharmic traditions and weeding out some NGOs that were hurtful towards the population. You may learn more by searching ‘India’s grassroots economy’