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Recap

We saw how right understanding provides the foundation for the identification of universal human values in all the dimensions of life.

It also facilitates the recognition of the definitiveness of ethical human conduct.

Moving on to other important implications of right understanding, in this lecture, we will see how right understanding enables us to visualize holistic development resulting into a humane society (undivided society and universal human order) and humanistic tradition.

We have already explored into how a humane society would be, and we will recall that in brief for our ready reference.

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Visualization of Comprehensive Human Goal

An important implication of the right understanding is the visualization of comprehensive human goal which is conducive to human welfare (wellbeing of all).

In the light of the right understanding, it is possible to visualize the pattern of a holistic way of life to ensure the fulfillment of comprehensive human goal, a model of human living which is people-friendly and eco-friendly, therefore, sustainable.

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The Vision for Holistic Development and Humane Society

On the basis of the understanding of harmony, we get the notion of a Humane Society- i.e. undivided society and universal human order.
The universal human order will involve:

A holistic pattern in all the dimensions of human activity in the society including education-sanskar (right living), health-self-regulation, production-work, justice-preservation, exchange-storage, etc.
Harmonious networking between the basic unit and their clusters successively moving from family order to world family order as follows:

Family Order ⇒ … ⇒ Village Order ⇒ Village Cluster Order ⇒ … ⇒ Nation Order… ⇒ World Family Order

In each of these dimensions, we can visualize a humane system, be it education, health, production, exchange or justice and conceptualize a harmoniously functioning overall system.

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Harmony in Society – Universal Human Order

Human Goal:

Systems / Dimensions of Human Order:

1. Education – Sanskar

2. Health – Self-regulation

3. Production – Work

4. Justice – Preservation

5. Exchange – Storage

Scope –From Family Order to World Family Order (Universal Human Order)

Family – Family cluster – Village – Village cluster ... Nation ... World Family

Order Order Order Order Order Order

~10¹ ~10² --- --- --- ~10¹⁰

Right Understanding & Right Feeling

In Every Individual

Prosperity

In Every Family

Fearlessness

(Trust)

In Society

Happiness

Co-Existence

(mutual fulfilment)

In Nature/ Existence

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Paving the Way towards a Humanistic Tradition

The primary step to move towards the holistic way of life is to

develop the right understanding among the human beings,
commitment to live accordingly and
then to develop the requisite skills and knowledge systems to implement the right understanding in real life.

Thus, it calls for a change in the education system towards humanistic education. The right understanding provides us with the vision of such a humanistic education.

The humanistic tradition can be visualised in terms of the following four aspects of a humane society-

Humanistic Education
Human Conduct
Human Constitution
Universal Human Order

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Human Tradition (in which Human Goal is fulfilled generation to generation)

Nature of

society

of people living

together in a

relationship of

mutual fulfillment

The society in which

Human Goal

is realised

Education that

ensures the

development of the

competence to live

with

Definite

Human

Conduct

Conduct that ensures

continuity of mutual

happiness &

prosperity

Entry Point

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Human education, constitution…

We have already defined these in module 1-4; however, we are recalling the essence of these for ready reference:

Human education- Education that ensures the development of the competence to live with Definite Human Conduct through right understanding and right feelings.

Human conduct- Conduct that ensures continuity of mutual happiness & prosperity through living with right understanding ad right feelings.

Human constitution- Nature of society of people living together with human conduct i.e. in a relationship of mutual fulfillment

Universal human order-The society in which Human Goal is realized through different dimension of human systems

Humanistic tradition- Continuity of humane society generation after generation- in a self-sustaining manner.

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Humane society and Human tradition- a natural process

Important thing to note here is that-
This humane society and human tradition is something which is a natural outcome of the existential harmony (order) already existing and unfolding itself through a natural process, and this process is to be completed through human being.
To meaningfully participate in this natural process, human being has to understand this existential harmony (order) and live in accordance with it.
It is not just a human construct, though, it is articulated and expressed by human being in different ways.

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Key Takeaways

Humanistic education leads to human conduct, human constitution, universal human order and in turn, universal human order ensures humanistic education for the next generation.
The entry point in setting the wheel of humanistic tradition rolling, is humanistic education.
Important thing to note here is that-

This humane society and human tradition is something which is a natural outcome of the existential harmony (order) already existing and unfolding itself through a natural process, and this process is to be completed through human being.

To meaningfully participate in this natural process, human being has to understand this existential harmony (order) and live in accordance with it.
It is not just a human construct, though, it is articulated and expressed by human being in their own way.

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Different Approaches to Ethics and Professional Ethics

	Prevalent (Prescriptive)	Proposed (Humane)
Basis	Assumptions (thought)	Right Understanding of Co-existence, Harmony and Relationship
Feeling	Opposition	Relationship
Values	Assumed values – based on assumptions and opposition	Naturally Acceptable(NA) Values, Wellbeing of all
Ethics:�How to interact with the world outside	Mostly prescriptive, in the form of do’s and don’ts	Details based on Right Understanding (as described)- Verifiable by everyone thru NA Basic agreements for order in society
Way of ensuring in society	Training, Discipline Incentives and Punishment	Human Education, Self-discipline Self-motivation

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Competence in Professional Ethics

Guidelines for how to interact with various levels of realities through the profession, which is making effort for fulfilment of some part of the human goal

Entity (realities) Competence for

Human beings Behaviour – mutual fulfilment

Rest of nature Work – mutual prosperity

Maintenance, etc. Service (seva)* – promotion of harmony

Societal systems Participation in larger order – Promotion of Harmony

*service which promotes harmony in family, society at all levels

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Present State – Profit Maximisation, Domination…

Packaged Water : Rs.20/lit Organised Sector

Wheat Support Price : Rs.19/kg Unorganised Sector

Organised Unorganised

Employment : 6-15% 85-94%

Production “value” : 47% 53%