To: AM-GLOBAL
From: “Phoenix Chapman”
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2010 14:35:28 -0700
Subject: Cause of Terrorism
Baba
“Tumi bha’lor bha’lo saba’r mukh ceye…” – P.S. 3392
Purport:
Baba, among all the beauties You are the most beautiful. Baba, You look
after and care for everyone. You have lovingly brought the divine
effulgence– taking trouble to cross the cimmerian darkness to reach here.
Baba, smiling blissfully in the rhythm and tune and showering Your divine
love, You go on fighting against innumerable obstacles in order to save the
devotees. Baba, You saturate everyone’s heart with Your divine love.
Baba, everyone is Your very close and intimate relation; no one is alien
for You. Everyone is most dear to You; everyone is the jewel of Your eyes.
Baba, by Your grace, You go on thinking and caring about one and all. Baba,
keeping everyone along with You, You go on moving forward on Your divine
path.
Baba You are ever-present with everyone. You saturate everything and
everyone with Your divine love and grace. Whether it be on those sadhakas
who are calling out to You while undergoing penance on the dark amavasya
night of the nil moon, or on those suppressed people undergoing untold
suffering that was never spoken about. You fill everyone’s heart with the
soothing balm. Baba, You have graciously lifted & lovingly placed those
downtrodden people– who were lying in the dust– on Your divine lap.
Baba You are most beautiful and You grace everyone immensely. Baba, Your
glory cannot be explained…
== CAUSE OF TERRORISM ==
Namaskar,
These days more and more efforts are being made to stop terrorism: body
scanners at airports, more ID checks, and so much snooping, spying, prying
and peeking.
The million dollar question, in the minds of many people around the globe,
is: How to put at end to terrorism. From Saudi Arabia to France, and from
Afghanistan to Washington DC, the burning question is, ‘What makes these
terrorists tick?’, ‘How to end the war on terror?’.
And certainly the answer or solution is quite straight forward. It is not
at all difficult. Baba has made it plain as day. Yet it remains elusive to
those “most adamantly involved” in seemingly wanting to end the war on
terror– such the various leaders of the so-called free world.
Here then we should address the matter at the very root. Why do people
become ‘terrorists’, and how do we put an end to their terrorist activities.
And indeed everyone should write in with their thoughts and ideas on this
burning topic which, at this point in time, so wholly consumes our planet.
NOT JUST MUSLIMS ARE TERRORISTS
Many think that terrorism is a matter of faith. They think that in order to
be a terrorist one must be of the Islamic religion. However, this just is
not so. Certainly, the Muslim faith has its faults & defects and surely we
all know that Islam is the home to some of the world’s most sought after
terrorists, even then it has to be recognised that in and of itself, the
Muslim faith is not the root cause of today’s terrorism. Islam is not the
source of people’s terrorist leanings.
TERRORISM IS A BROAD TERM CARRIED OUT BY MANY PEOPLE
To understand the situation better, we have to recognise that terrorism
exists on many levels and to varying degrees. At this point in time, on the
most global & destructive level, team Bin Laden exerts its terror on the
most well-known monuments and edifices around the world. But that is not
the only plane in which terrorism exists.
For example, in Los Angeles, NYC, or any major American city, there are
gangs comprised predominantly of black Americans or Hispanics that create
terror on the streets– senselessly harming, robbing, and killing others
and making otherwise good neighborhoods totally unsafe.
Similarly, in India, there are numerous villagers and townspeople who at
any moment may wantonly burn a loaded passenger train down to the ground or
ruin any number of public properties, thereby threatening the welfare of
innocent people.
Another case in point is in France, where angry youths, who are French-born
but of Algerian or Moroccan descent, engage in car burning and other gross
acts of vandalism on a nightly basis.
And certainly we have all heard the horrific tales of what senseless
destruction and hostile attacks go on in South Africa, Honduras, Iran,
Turkey, Israel, and so many other countries around the globe.
By this wide-angle view, it becomes quite clear that terrorism and its
subsidiary categories of extreme vandalism, heated rebellion, and even
non-cooperation, are not confined to the Muslim world alone.
WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF TERRORISM
In each and every human being there is a desire to express. People want to
share their smiles and joys with those around them and communicate the
various ideas that blossom in the seed vessels of their mind. People have
an inherent desire to share their finer qualities with those around them in
a nice manner. In essence, everyone wants to live on this earth in a
benevolent way.
Baba says, “By nature human beings are peace-loving, not war-loving.” (PNS-17)
Thus people are genuinely good and wish to share their human quality with
others.
So then what is the problem? Why is that terrorism exists– in one form or
another– on every continent and in every country around the globe?
It happens when people’s basic human rights are taken away. When people
feel repressed, constricted, fed-up, and suffocated by the ruling parties
of the day, and when there seemingly is no recourse to be taken, and there
is nowhere else to turn, that is when even good humans are led onto the
path of terrorism.
That is why the blacks and Hispanics in America resort to gang warfare;
that is why the Algerians in France do the same; and that is why various
people from Muslims to village folk have adopted such radical means.
Knowingly or unknowingly, all done to express their anguish about their
existential existence and lack of human rights and respect.
So it is not just a question of economics per se; rather, it is more a
matter of human rights and dignity– and the lack thereof. First and
foremost, that is where terrorism takes root.
And if we look around the world today there are any number of cases where
this is going on. In some places certain citizens are deprived the right to
vote; in other places whole sections of the population are deprived of the
right to an education; in some lands some are deprived the right to make a
decent living; in some regions needy people are deprived of such basic
necessities as food or medical care; and in so many countries, people are
unjustly jailed or attacked for voicing their opinion. Around the globe
there is a rampant disregard for human rights by the leaders of today.
And when any community feels that it has gone too far and there is no other
way out, then the easiest and most accessible avenue is to vent their anger
and frustration through terrorist activities. By that way they can send a
clear-cut message to the world that, ‘Me and my people are not pleased with
the way things are going on’. Justified or not, this is what the terrorists
do.
So as long as such conditions exist where people are deprived of their
human rights, then we can expect to live side by side with terrorism.
Unfortunately, this fact the present day leaders do not understand or do
not want to understand. And instead they try to root out terrorism by
malicious and forceful means, but that does not work. Rather it only
heightens or escalates the terrorist activities.
PRESENT DAY SYSTEMS DO NOT RECOGNISE HUMAN RIGHTS
At the start of this 21st century, the ruling governments only give lip
service to upholding and honouring the rights of the people. Either in the
form of capitalism, communism, fascism, or military dictatorships, the
common people suffer at the hands of such leaders.
Baba says, “These systems have created suppression, repression and
oppression in the minds of the people.” (PNS-17)
In such a state, where there is rampant frustration, angst, mistrust, and
suffocation, then there is going to be a backlash. That backlash may result
in the smashing of a school window, the blasting of a firebomb in a crowded
market, or the flying of airplanes into the world’s tallest office
building. Such tragic outcomes are bound to happen when people’s human
rights are not recognised.
Here again, Baba sends out a message to the ruling parties of today.
Baba says, “In all human actions the tender touch of humanity should be
present. …The economic structures in the world today, however, are not
based on human rights.” (POD #12)
Thus in such a void of humane leadership, the seeds of terrorism are sown.
TERRORISM BECOMES A WAY OF LIFE
Even then, it should not be considered and concluded that terrorism is a
natural and justified response. It is not. And certainly there are some
inherently cruel people who jump on the terrorism bandwagon to indulge in
violence for violence sake.
Yet at the same time terrorism cannot be wholly condemned or eradicated if
we fail to understand that underlying cause. If the very causes of
terrorism are not addressed then we would be foolish to think we can put an
end to terrorism. That is one part of the problem.
On the other side of the coin, it should also be understood those who
indulge in destructive means like terrorism make it their way of life. That
is, they do not just use violence against their oppressors but against
anyone– even their own people etc.
For example, the various Islamic terrorist teams do not just fight against
the US capitalist machinery but they also engage in terrorist warfare
amongst themselves. So even though a rival Islamic tribe may not be
infringing on their human rights, but even then at the least bit of
provocation the scene will escalate into a full fledge terrorist feud.
That is because, resorting to wonton destruction and senseless harm is an
easy outlet and it becomes one’s habit. In that case, it just expresses
anywhere and everywhere. Even if such a simple thing as a baker not making
one’s bread according to their exact liking, then a mafia man or a
terrorist may blow that baker’s head off. Such becomes their crude way of
dealing and their debased frame of mind.
So once started, terrorism breeds more terrorism.
PARENT-CHILD EXAMPLE…
In one way we can look at this entire situation of world-wide terrorism and
its cause with the following analogy.
In a household where the parents fight and beat one another, then it is
readily seen that the children resort to the same measures, either in their
childhood or adult lives, or both.
…APPLYING THAT TO THE WORLD ARENA
Similarly, in a political environment where the world leaders do anything
and everything in order get their economic goals and political agendas
met– such as invading another country for its oil or imposing suppressive
tactics on whole sectors of the population– then it is a sure thing that
similar ploys will be adopted by the people. And such defiant persons will
become terrorists.
Without making a judgment on the terrorists themselves, there is no
question that the very penchant for terrorism stems from the exploitative
way in which the world leaders operate. But instead of changing their ways,
those repressive leaders adopt harsher tactics against the terrorists which
in turn only gives way to the more pervasive occurrence of terrorist
activities. This is the nasty cycle.
But this is the very fact that the likes of Bush and Cheney do not like to
know, or do not wish to admit.
THE SOLUTION:
GUARANTEEING HUMAN RIGHTS
The solution to the problem of global terrorism then is to treat all on
this earth as humans. All should be respected and granted their God-given
rights. This much recognition is needed. Once done, then surely terrorism
will meet its end.
To achieve this outcome, those at the helm must extend fundamental rights
and cardinal human values to all. That means the following rights must be
recognised and guaranteed to all: right of security, right of livelihood,
right of indigenous linguistic expression, right to an education, right of
cultural legacy, right of spiritual practice, etc. Once these are extended
to all then terrorism will be relegated to the pages of history.
That means no nation like the US, France, or Britain can go into our out of
another country in order to exploit its resources or people. And no
capitalist nation may force people from a distant land to come and be their
labor force etc. All these types of present day tactics must be banished if
we wish to see the end of terrorism.
And indeed the people are ready for this peaceful turn of events.
In which case those in power must drastically mend their ways or expect to
be removed from their chair. That is the inevitable outcome they are
inviting.
So again, back to the main solution, once all the people are assured their
human-ness, then surely terrorism will be a thing of the past.
BABA’S BLESSING
By Baba’s grace the day is soon coming when the collective humanity will
rise up and put forth the sermon that the time has come to build a world
human society based on cardinal human values.
Baba says, “‘All human beings belong to one race. Everyone has equal
rights. Human beings are brothers and sisters!’ These sadvipras will
sternly warn the exploiters of society, ‘The exploitation of human beings
cannot be allowed!’ and, ‘Religious hypocrisy cannot be tolerated!’ Giving
a clarion call to the fragmented human society from beneath the saffron
flag, the symbol of service and sacrifice, they will proclaim at the top of
their voices, ‘Human beings of the world, unite!’ And they will sing in
chorus:”
Sam´gacchadhvam´ sam´vadadhvam´ sam´ vo mana´m´si ja´nata´m,
Deva´bha´gam´ yatha´pu´rve sam´ja´na´na´ upa´sate.
Sama´nii va a´ku´tih sama´na´ hrdaya´nivah,
Sama´namastu vo mano yatha´ vah susaha´sati.
Namaskar,
Phanindra
Note 1: CHARTER OF RIGHTS
Here Baba neatly outlines the rights that must be granted to all– and once
done we will surely have a world fraternity where devoid of any terrorist
activity.
Baba says, “The formation of a World Government will require a world
constitution. A charter of principles or bill of rights should be included
in such a constitution and encompass at least the following four areas.
First, complete security should be guaranteed to all the plants and animals
on the planet. Secondly, each country must guarantee purchasing power to
all its citizens. Thirdly, the constitution should guarantee four
fundamental rights – spiritual practice or Dharma; cultural legacy;
education; and indigenous linguistic expression. Fourthly, if the practice
of any of these rights conflicts with cardinal human values then that
practice should be immediately curtailed. That is, cardinal human values
must take precedence over all other rights. All the constitutions of the
world suffer from numerous defects. The above points may be adopted by the
framers of different constitutions to overcome these defects.” (AFPS-8,
‘Requirements of an Ideal Constitution’)
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– The Solution –
Baba says, “Whenever there is a conflict between the brain and the heart,
intelligent people should respond to the call of the heart. The books in
A’nanda Ma’rga philosophy are all absolute knowledge. The proper mark of
identity of absolute knowledge is that it must be universal, rational and
psychological. Certain instances of absolute knowledge are as follows– the
goal of human life is the attainment of Brahma; human beings are the
progeny of Parama Purus’a…by dint of sa’dhana’ or spiritual practices
human beings gradually become divine.” (PNS-18, p.10)
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Anand Marga – the only solution for the bright future of humanity!