s 1,2

general prout

ecosophy

Prout and Laws of Ecology

November 13, 1994

Q: To what extent do Proutist principles of socio-economic organization mirror in the socio-economic realm the ecological laws that govern the biological world?

You know this is very interesting, this question. In fact, it is the case. All of life evolves in a certain ecosphere, in a certain environment. And within that environment, all the living beings are dependent upon each other and have their existence in a kind of ecological interdependency. Human beings are no exception. It has been the great failing of human beings to, in their arrogance, assume they are an exception. They are not. Without the other lives, they too will die. They are part and parcel of the ecological balance of this planet.

Now, in an ecological system there is a kind of rhythm which occurs. One species is supported in their life by the existence of another, and they in turn support the existence of a different species. Human beings are supported in their existence by other living beings, and they in turn support the existence of certain types of expressions. So it cannot be said that human beings are inferior or superior to other living creatures. It must be said that they are a part and parcel of the ever-flowing chain of life. They do not live in a vacuum, they live in an interrelated, interdependent web of living beings, and if their society is to be healthy, if their society is to be fruitful, it must be in harmony with this web of life in which they exist. It cannot become unharmonious. If it does, it becomes destructive to the web, and then it becomes self-destructive to the human beings. In such a case, the prana dharma of the human beings is lost, as I have previously discussed.

If there is to be a governing system for the human beings, it must keep harmony with the life force; it must keep harmony with the web of living beings in which it is existent. That is why I say, it must be governed by universalist values. And being governed by universalist values, it will reflect the harmony with the laws of Prakrti, and a healthy relationship to the web of life in which it is existing. If a political or economic system brings living beings out of harmony with the laws of Prakrti, then that society will lose its balance. A good society, a Proutist society, will promote universalism, will promote balance, prama, will promote adherence to the laws of Prakrti and the principals of universalism.

So it will follow the natural order, and you will see that the same laws of Prakrti which govern the ecological order in the biological world, also govern in the socio-economic world.