By Dr. Sawraj Singh
The biggest damage that capitalism has done to mankind is that it has broken human will. Today’s man is so absorbed in the pursuit of material things and comforts that he has no time for self-reflection and realizing his true self. In the rat race for acquisition of material things, he has alienated himself from nature, society, family, and the worst: from himself. He ends up lost and broken. It is even a bigger tragedy that man does not even realize that he is broken and lost. He experiences fear, anxiety, and insecurity. However, he feels that this is only natural because, after all, he has to pay a price for the material things and comforts that he has acquired.
The biggest tragedy is that it is not natural to feel fearful, anxious, and insecure. This is not the innate nature of man. This is happening because man is alienated from his innate nature.
Fear, anxiety, and insecurity are present when man exists at the lower centers, which are primarily concerned with physical existence. However, when a person becomes aware that his true existence is not limited to his physical self, he transcends this and this is his spirit. Human will comes from the spirit. Sri Guru Granth Sahib emphasizes the essence of human existence is not limited to the physical self, it is the human spirit.
Capitalism, on the other hand, has downplayed the role of the spirit and has consciously and subconsciously promoted the idea that physical self is everything. You get what you see. There is nothing beyond it. Such an approach hurts you in two ways. First, you are pre-occupied and overwhelmed by the struggle to acquire material things. Second, you have no time to ponder, “Is this what I really need?” In other words, you have no time to realize your true self.
Our strength comes from realizing our true self because that connects us to the all-pervading and prevalent reality. We become aware that we are a part of the whole. A small drop of water, which has all of the qualities of the water of the ocean, cannot avoid feeling fearful, anxious, and insecure so long as it is only confined to thinking about its size. However, if water of the drop merges with the water of the ocean, then it loses all of those feelings. Now, the drop is not concentrated on its size, but has become aware of its qualities, or essence. Similarly, when a human being realizes his true self, then he becomes aware that his spirit has all of the qualities which are present in the cosmic reality.
Technology is related to the physical self. However, for capitalism, technology is the essence of everything. A person who realizes his true self understands that the one who creates something is always higher than what has been created. God (creator) created man and man created technology. Therefore, the proper order should be:
1. God
2. Man
3. Technology
However, capitalism has reversed this natural order to:
1. Technology
2. Man
3. God
The present capitalist class has unrealistic faith in technology. Therefore, it can be called techno-executive elite. It has the wrong notion that with the help of technology, it can conquer the world and maintain its hegemony. By putting technology above man, it has weakened him further. Modern man has become so dependent upon technology that he feels that for all he has, he owes it to technology. This wrong notion makes him weaker and weaker. In the pursuit of technology, man keeps moving away from his true self. He is lost and does not know what the right way is.
The concept of Dharam is multidimensional. However, the most essential aspect of Dharam is righteousness. Without the feeling that you are on the right track, your will cannot be strong. The lost and alienated man, under capitalism, is never sure that he is doing the right thing. This duality makes his spirit weaker and weaker, and eventually breaks it.
In the long run, it is not technology or other material advantages, but the human will which prevails. The material advantages may lead to a physical and short-term victory. However, the side which has stronger will wins a moral victory and prevails in the long run. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, sacrificed his family and worldly possessions in the fight against Mughal oppression and tyranny. However, he wrote Zafarnama (Letter of Victory) to the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, claiming a moral victory. Guru Sahib said that he fought for and upheld his principles, whereas the Mughal Emperor betrayed the principles for which he claimed to fight. Aurangzeb claimed that he did everything according to the principles of Islam. However, the Guru showed him that he was wrong because Islam did not approve of what the Emperor did.
The side with stronger will can fight a much larger force. Under the leadership of the Guru, 40 Sikhs were able to fight the Mughal army of hundreds of thousands at Chamkaur Sahib (December 6, 1704) and were able to hold the fort so that the Guru could leave and reorganize the forces to continue the struggle.
It was the human will which was responsible for the victory at Dien Bien Phu (1954). The Vietnamese, under the able leadership of General Vo Nguyen Giap, were able to defeat a much larger and better equipped force of the French colonialists. This was the first time in world history that a modern colonial army and occupying force was defeated by the local people.
The West has to understand that it has lost the will to fight. Therefore, in spite of its technological and material advantages, it will be unable to win. Russia, China, and other third world countries still have the will to fight. This comes from their nationalistic spirit, which the West, for all practical purposes, has lost.
Duty is another aspect of Dharam. True nationalism comes from the spirit of duty. Again, Dharam strengthens the will, under the influence of nationalism. Those Muslims, who are struggling against western capitalism and are inspired by the principles of Islam, have the will to fight. However, I have my reservations about the fanatics who do not seem to really understand the principles of Islam and seem to be manipulated by the West to discredit Islam. Following one’s principles strengthens one’s will, whereas betraying one’s principles weakens one’s will. In the end, the side with the stronger will prevails in the long run.
The West is counting on its technological advantage. However, it should keep in mind that it has already lost the essential element for victory, the will to fight. A policy such as provoking Russia for a showdown in Ukraine can prove to be a disaster. The West should remember that Russia still has the will to fight. Therefore, Russia is more likely to emerge victorious in the long run.
Dr. Sawraj Singh, MD F.I.C.S. is the Chairman of the Washington State Network for Human Rights and Chairman of the Central Washington Coalition for Social Justice. He can be reached at [email protected].
