Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, "the lion guru" of the early 20th century Bengal, believed that freedom is ultimately found in independence from material circumstances. His ideas have kept their relevance.
Where there is ‘a greater good’, there thus has to exist, by definition, ‘a greater evil’. Or one could perhaps even say that the creation of a greater good itself necessitates the simultaneous creation of a greater evil.
Really stood out for me and reminded of Leonard Read who wrote in Why Not try Freedom,
Every individual is faced with the problem of whom to improve,
himself or others. The aim, it seems to me, should be to
effect one's own unfolding, the upgrading of one's own consciousness
- in short, self-perfection. Those who don't even try or, when
trying, find self-perfection too difficult, usually seek to expend
their energy on others. Those who fail to direct their
energy inwardly and let it manifest itself externally - become
immoral leaders. Those who refuse to rule themselves are usually
bent on ruling others. Those who can rule themselves usually
have no interest in ruling others.
And if they locate this source of "greater good" in government - a man-made institution - you have created an authoritarianism you must live with until you revoke it.
The section where you state,
Where there is ‘a greater good’, there thus has to exist, by definition, ‘a greater evil’. Or one could perhaps even say that the creation of a greater good itself necessitates the simultaneous creation of a greater evil.
Really stood out for me and reminded of Leonard Read who wrote in Why Not try Freedom,
Every individual is faced with the problem of whom to improve,
himself or others. The aim, it seems to me, should be to
effect one's own unfolding, the upgrading of one's own consciousness
- in short, self-perfection. Those who don't even try or, when
trying, find self-perfection too difficult, usually seek to expend
their energy on others. Those who fail to direct their
energy inwardly and let it manifest itself externally - become
immoral leaders. Those who refuse to rule themselves are usually
bent on ruling others. Those who can rule themselves usually
have no interest in ruling others.
And if they locate this source of "greater good" in government - a man-made institution - you have created an authoritarianism you must live with until you revoke it.
Excellently put, thank you. The point that "those who refuse to rule themselves are usually
bent on ruling others., those who can rule themselves usually have no interest in ruling others" feels particularly pertinent.