Global Coalition for Peace

Global Coalition for Peace presents “APARIGRAHA” (non-possessiveness) A New Economic Paradigm For A Culture of Peace

“ IF WE DO NOT MAKE A PEACEFUL REVOLUTION POSSIBLE, WE WILL MAKE A VIOLENT REVOLUTION INEVITABLE.”President John F. Kennedy No Economic, Political, Military Or Any Other System Will Bring Peace And Prosperity To The World; Only A Rising Level Of ConsciousnessOf Humanity Through The Pursuit of Truth Can Bring About This Transformation. Essene Brother hood/Aparigraha

“IN THE COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENT, WE MUST GUARD AGAINST THE ACQUISITION OF UNWARRANTED INFLUENCE, WHETHER SOUGHT OR UNSOUGHT BY THE MILITARY/INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. THE POTENTIAL FOR THE DISASTROUS RISE OF MISPLACED POWER EXISTS AND WILL PERSIST.” “EVERY GUN THAT IS MADE, EVERY WARSHIP LAUNCHED, EVERY ROCKET FIRED SIGNIFIES, IN THE FINAL SENSE, A THEFT FROM THOSE WHO HUNGER AND ARE NOT FED, THOSE WHO ARE COLD AND ARE NOT CLOTHED. THIS WORLD IN ARMS IS NOT SPENDING MONEY ALONE, IT IS SPENDING THE SWEAT OF ITS LABORERS, THE GENIUS OF ITS SCIENTISTS, THE HOPES OF ITS CHILDREN. UNDER THE CLOUD OF THREATENING WAR, IT IS HUMANITY HANGING FROM A CROSS OF IRON. “ President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Weapons Sales and “Military Assistance” From Associated PressJuly 30, 2007 Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice announced a new multibillion dollar military sales package: The new sales to Arab countries, notably Saudi Arabia, would be counterbalanced with a more than 25 percent increase in military aid to Israel over the next 10 years, enabling the Jewish state to keep its military advantage over neighbors with whom it has no peace deal. Israel will receive a total of $30 billion in U.S. military assistance while Egypt, which along with Jordan has made peace with Israel, will get $13 billion as part of the broader package

“I KNEW THAT I COULD NEVER AGAIN RAISE MY VOICE AGAINST THE VIOLENCE OF THE OPPRESSED IN THE GHETTOS WITHOUT HAVING FIRST SPOKEN CLEARLY TO THE GREATEST PURVEYOR OF VIOLENCE IN THE WORLD TODAY -- MY OWN GOVERNMENT… …A NATION THAT CONTINUES YEAR AFTER YEAR TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON MILITARY DEFENSE THAN ON PROGRAMS OF SOCIAL UPLIFT IS APPROACHING SPIRITUAL DEATH.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “I KNOW NOT WITH WHAT WEAPONS WORLD WAR III WILL BE FOUGHT, BUT WORLD WAR IV WILL BE FOUGHT WITH STONE CLUBS.” Professor Albert Einstein

"We may be passing into an economic stage, in which wars and governments will be mainly businesses...The economic motive may yet rank with religion and nationality in destructiveness.” T.E. Lawrence We are at a crossroads, having come full circle from T.E. Lawrence’s prophetic words of World War I-- back in the Middle East, this time facing the reality of these warnings. It is thus undeniable that economics as practiced is the instrument of empire building; seen in this light, it becomes an imperative to revisit economics with emphasis on the prevalent systems. This paradigm intends to introduce spirituality and elements conducive to raising the level of consciousness and providing a road map for real peace through non-violence.

Stage I: Theory of the New Paradigm Part 1:The Need for a ParadigmShiftPart 2: Core Principles Part 3: Spirituality and Economics

Parameters of this Paradigm: 1. No economic system intended for the benefit of the collectivity can or should be imposed. It must be embraced by people based on the content of its message. 2.A paradigm must prove its assertions are viable and demonstrate that it can deliver the envisioned results. • A system must rest on historic background, and be bold enough to sustain a vision of untreaded paths.

Why We Must Redefine Economics The Prevailing Materialistic Systems: Capitalist/Free Market Economy Supply and demand create distorted values - Needs and wants perceived as unlimited -Fuels ever increasing competition and consumerism/greed - Competition leads to violence. Both systems Turn societies into economies of war (over resources, expansionism, etc.) Leads to overt and covert suppression of personal and collective freedoms. Communist Economy State Capitalism - Spirituality actively suppressed - Diversity and uniqueness are not appreciated. Leads to abuse of power, corruption and massive resentment.

The Necessary Shift in Consciousness Present Systems New Paradigm Materialism Human-made Laws Spirituality and Materialism Natural,Spiritual,Cosmic Laws Cultivates higher levels of consciousness: love, non-violence, cooperation, compassion Stimulates baser instincts: hoarding, greed, violence, abuse of power.

Why Spirituality As A Component? To understand reality and be able to conduct our lives to a proper end and understand the purpose of our existence we must recognize that there is another dimension or world even more real than the physical Even materialistic science has recognized and accepted the existence of subtle forces that can not be perceived by our senses: (i.e. x-rays, laser, radio waves ) Economics, as every other area of human activity, needs to incorporate the spiritual aspect that will bring it in line with natural, spiritual, and cosmic laws,to deny it is to live a half truth. How we earn our living and what kind of economic relationships we engage in determines the kind of world we choose to live in.

Every individual of society must be given the opportunity to earn their: Right Livelihood --work which causes no harm or degradation, nor is useless to society. Right LivelihoodbyE.F. Schumacher ….“Right livelihood" is one of the requirements of the Buddha’s noble eightfold path. It is clear, therefore, that there must be such a thing as Buddhist economics. Economists themselves, like most specialists, normally suffer from a kind of metaphysical blindness, assuming that theirs is a science of absolute and invariable truths, without any presuppositions. Some go as far as to claim that economic laws are as free from "metaphysics" or "values" as the law of gravitation…

An Economic System Must Consider: Human suffering and environmental destruction should not be the result of economic activities. Uphold: Respect towards all sentient beings and all aspects of creation. Replace: Current exploitation and degradation with equality, dignity and evolution.

Our Definition of Aparigraha Economics AparigrahaEconomics is a normative social science that studies social behavior seeking means to provide for the satisfaction of universal, finite needs and specific, limited wants. This is in order to ensure the happiness of all human beings based on their spiritual, physical, mental, emotional and psychological make-up. Economics as a spiritual and material science guides the allocation of the planet’s abundant, natural, material, manufactured and human resources to enable people to live productive, happy and meaningful lives in cooperation and to act as stewards of the planet and responsible members of society.

Basic Tenets

The foundation of present economic theory : scarcity, competition, incentives & free market are essentially of a destructive nature. We propose to substitute these death supporting principles for life affirming ones: abundance, cooperation, right motivation, and solidarity based exchange.

Aparigraha replaces Scarcity BASED ON FEAR Scarcity being the basis of the economic system inevitably brings suffering to the world. We must understand also how the power of thought influences and causes destructive outcomes. Scarcity

With Abundance BASED ON TRUST The term abundance should not be confused with excess or unlimited satisfaction of wants. Mother Nature’s abundance provides enough for everybody’s needs, not anybody’s greed. Abundance

Aparigraha replaces Competition THERE IS ALWAYS A LOSER. When we compete, thinking there is scarcity of resources, we tend to hoard and to take from other people – when this becomes endemic the outcome is WAR. Competition

With Cooperation EVERYBODY WINS Collective work yields a higher output than individual work. When this becomes a practice, harmony Ensues; love and solidarity flourish. Cooperation

Aparigraha replaces Incentives STIMULATE GREED When the will is stimulated by a self-serving interest, the goal of fulfillment for all will not be reached, and the gap between those who have and those who have not widens. Incentives

With “Dharma” Righteousness Gandhi Right Motivation CONCERN FOR ALL The soul-force must be the motivating impulse. When this highest call of the soul summons the will to act, it results in actions beneficial to the planet and to all human beings. Responsible actions Peace Pilgrim

Aparigraha Replaces Free market SWEAT SHOPS System based on man-made regulations and laws encourages manipulation to attain increasing profit for the few at the expense of the many. Unsustainable growth destroys livelihood of people and the planet. Sweat Shops

with Solidarity based exchange TRADE BASED ON VALUES Respect for Natural, Spiritual, and Cosmic Laws is the basis of Solidarity based exchange, that creates satisfactory economic conditions for all people. This means generating work and income, abolishing all forms of exploitation, domination and exclusion, protecting ecosystems and promoting sustainable development.

Spirituality and Economics

The Source of this new Paradigm is The PerennialPhilosophy Is the basis for all World Religions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc. and of all Natural and Spiritual Sciences in the East, i.e. Yoga, Buddhism, Taoism etc. Affirms Unity in Diversity, says we are all unique individuals, but same Spirit within. Basic Tenets are: • Physical world is not the only reality • All people possess the capacity to know higher reality • Developing this capacity is the purpose of existence • Body is temporal, spirit is eternal

World Religions Preach on Economics: The duty of those who have is to share with those who have less. Generosity is upheld, greed is strongly condemned. Human life is not only material. All material goods are in trust from a Higher Power. (One new “religion” does not share these values as we will see.) Buddhism The Five Precepts: "Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression…. I will practice generosity by sharing my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in real need.” Judaism(Torah, Writings & Prophets): Deuteronomy 15: 7-14: “Thou shalt open thine hand wide to thy brother…” Hinduism(Bhagavad-Gita) Chapter 16: “The demoniac man knows no limit to his desire to acquire money. Anyone who comes into competition with such a …man is his enemy …Therefore there is constant strife, war and enmity all over the world.” Christianity(New Testament) Luke 3:11: “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none…” Islam(Qur’an) Surat 64: 15-16 “Spend in charity for the benefit of your own Soul.” “Judaism, Christianity & Islam prohibit taking of interest.” Bernard Lietaer

The God of The New “Religion”: MONEY From Capitalism has emerged this new religion with the Financial Institutions as its cathedrals and the wealthiest of the wealthiest as its High Priests; this religion, whose practices are the worship of materialism and its deity “money,” has accomplished-- in the words of E.F. Schumacher-- in three decades what conventional religions have not been able to accomplish in more than 2000 years: that is, the conversion-- conscious or unconscious-- of the majority of the population of the planet (unconscious because deceit is its preferred practice.) Money in the right context can be a Tool for Good! Re-orient investment from Weapons,Technology and Luxuries and give priority to Essential Needs Pay Fair Prices For Food

Thomas Jefferson 1802 "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

STAGE II YOGA the Catalyst

Deep Ecology - Arne Naess • Deep ecological awareness recognizes the fundamental interdependence of all phenomena and the fact that as individuals and societies, we are all embedded in (and ultimately dependent on) the cyclical process of nature. • It is spiritual or religious awareness. When the concept of the human spirit is understood as the mode of consciousness in which the individual feels a sense of belonging, of connectedness to the cosmos as a whole, it becomes clear that it is spiritual in its deepest sense. • It is, therefore, not surprising that the emerging new vision of reality based on deep ecological awareness is consistent with the so-called perennial philosophy of spiritual traditions, whether we talk about the spirituality of Christian Mystics, that of Buddhists, or the philosophy and cosmology underlying the Native American Tradition. • Fritjof Capra

The Catalyst used for the Paradigm Shift YOGA Yoga is not a religion based on belief,faith,or dogma,a mere fitness regime or the “only path.” As an exact experiential spiritual science, enables us to recognize and work with subtle,spiritual/ cosmic forces that are operating in us and the environment; the application of its principles led us to develop an alternative to the prevailing economic systems.

Yoga: Maharishi Patanjali’s famous Yoga Sutras’ Eight Limbs or steps: Yamas & Niyamas, (ethical disciplines)Asanas (postures),Pranayama(control of prana),Pratyahara(control of the senses),Dharana(concentration),Dhyana(meditation),Samadhi(enlightenment) Yamas and Niyamas, are the foundation and guiding principles for societal and economic relationships to create the world of happiness that we all long for. What are they?

YAMAS: AHIMSA(non-violence)Violence is the coward’s weapon. SATYA(truthfulness)Trust in each other is the basis of solidarity, the realization that we are all ONE. ASTEYA (non-stealing) Accumulation of wealth is taking away from those is need. BRAHMACHARYA(self-restraint)Without this practice justice will never prevail. APARIGRAHA (non-greed)Greed destroys the humanity within and humanity as a whole.

NIYAMAS: SAUCHA (purity)Is the removal of obstacles in all areas of our existence. SANTOSHA (contentment)Correct understanding of abundance. Not excess, but what is necessary. TAPAS (austerities) Is the development ofdiscipline through the use of will power. SWADYAYA (self-knowledge)Recognize our limitations so we can overcome them, and realize our true nature. ISHWARA PRANIDHANA (surrender to God)Learn the correct interpretationof THE LAW.

The Law The goal of human activity beyond survival is joy; this can not be attained in the absence of Love. Therefore True Love must be a fundamental component of all human and economic endeavors; Love permeating all human activity therefore becomes THE LAW, of which ancient wisdom speaks. All religions share the theory, what is missing is the practice. Yoga provides the practical tools.

STAGE III A globalized world Needs globalized answers FOOD & LAND: Restoring the commons Only after the last tree has been cut down Only after the last river has been poisoned Only after the last fish has been caught Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten. Cree Prophecy

“THE DAY THAT HUNGER IS ERADICATED FROM THE EARTH, THERE WILL BE THE GREATEST SPIRITUAL EXPLOSION THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN. HUMANITY CANNOT IMAGINE THE JOY THAT WILL BURST INTO THE WORLD ON THE DAY OF THAT GREAT REVOLUTION." --Federico Garcia Lorca, Spanish poet 1899-1936

Initial steps This paradigm considers that it is imperative to revisit the present trend of destruction of farmland by means of urban development and agricultural malpractice, that is a reflection of the overall destructive societal trend as shown in medicine and business practices. A spiritual base for all societal approaches to life is necessary to avoid the total destruction of the planet. Since food is a fundamental necessity and it depends on land, that is our main concern for an economic alternative.

Basic Needs for All People are: 1. FOOD Not only the quantity & quality of food, but the consciousness with which it is grown, handled and used, with respect for Mother Natureand the spiritual forcesin it. 2. Clothing Practical, simple to manufacture and maintain, avoid becoming a source of competition, functional in the sense that the value of the human being is measured by its being not by its coverings. . 3. Shelter Adequate for each climatic condition, using local resourcesfor materials and labor, simple and easy to replace, using human inventiveness to cooperate with nature, not subdue it. Stimulating cleanliness, order and inspiration for creative endeavors.

Food Depends onAgriculture: this determines the relationship of man to nature that is the source of his body to experience LIFE OUR MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION Life is a Manifestation of Spiritual Forces These spiritual/cosmic forces act upon us and the food plants. All tissues of which our body is made depend for their constant replacement (at a cellular level) on the raw material that is provided by the food. Life’s quality ultimately depends on physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual Health this has a direct relationship with Food that requiresLAND

The notionof the sacrednessand integrity of the land has been constant throughout history to indigenous people around the world, it is better expressed in the words of • American Indian Chief Seattle. • "The President in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. But how can you buy or sell the sky? the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?

The Aparigraha Paradigm says: Sound Agriculture renders Sound Economy If Basic Needs of All Are Met, Materially & Spiritually Healthier Individuals and Societies will result. The present Capitalist System, with its privatization trend, trickle-down theory, and dependence-producing foreign debt, does not provide security for the people of the world, but instills fear and despondency. Economic Systems must prioritize meeting of basic needs: GOOD QUALITY & QUANTITTY OF FOOD FOR ALL FIRST

LAND: Prerequisite for Agriculture Requirement Available Land Healthy Soil (Small farms) Problem Urban/ Industrial Sprawl Agribusiness/Farming Privatization under Capitalism has been taking away First,LANDNow, WATER Next, AIR?…SUNSHINE? Solution: RESTITUTION OF THE COMMONS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND

Restitution of the Commons • FIRST: ensure that federally, state, locally, and community owned lands are preserved, not for sale. SECOND: privately owned lands not being used shall be purchased from owners at market value. THIRD: privately owned land in use would be bought at market price as it becomes available, until all land is recovered from private ownership; inheritance would no longer apply to land. “Death is considered the natural end of one’s property rights.” Dr. Monzer Kahf, Analysis of Islamic Economy NO LAND WILL BE BOUGHT OR SOLD--ONLY LEASED AT A SET RATE, REVENUES REPLACE TAXES .

Revenues & Relative Ownership • Revenues from land lease that will replace taxes would be distributed amongst local governments: state, county, and city , proportionate to their responsibility to provide services for the area in question. • Zoning codes would vary place to place, with • Agriculture always having first priority, • Second, public spaces • Third, urban, commercial, and industrial development. • Lessees become “Relative Owners” of land, meaning all structures built upon it.

The Basis of Aparigraha Economics is Agriculture Daniel Webster: “cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other art follows. Thefarmers, therefore,are the founders of civilization.” Essenes*: “Man is an integral part of nature. Individual and society’s health depend on degree of harmony with natural laws/cosmic forces Unity with nature is the foundation of economy, social relationships, and society. Societies flourish when based on simple agrarian lifestyle, decay when distanced from nature.” Servan-Schreiber: “Number one cause of death worldwide is chronic illness, from poor nutrition.Changing dietary patterns is verybest economic investmentthat society could make.” * E. B. Szekely

Therefore Providers of Agricultural Services should be encouraged to: *Adopt Cooperative Organization *Maintain Limited Size *Choose Local Services to Build a New and Local Economy

…”Swords will be beaten into ploughshares and nations will not learn war again………”

PARADIGM IN PRACTICE WOMENS’ SELF RELIANCE PROGRAM* Nutrition Education - Vegetable Gardening - Micro-enterprise COOPERATIVE GAMES* Everyone wins, or everyone loses; Teach cooperation, sharing, trust, in a fun way. Examples: New America, Earth Game, Harvest Time SPIRITUAL FOOD FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM* Spiritual Food CSAMail Order Service COMMUNITY LAND TRUST- SOUTHERN BERKSHIRES Land is not sold, only leased LOCAL CURRENCY – ANACOSTIA HOURS Building Local Economy By Maximizing Trade Within a Definite Region * Programs of Global Coalition for Peace

Global Coalition for Peace