post 7

SOCIETY AND THE GOAL OF MANKIND 

D. What is my duty to society? What should be my relation to it? 

M. You are a limb of society. Society is the body, individuals are its members, its limbs. Just as the various limbs help and co-operate with one another and thus are happy, so each must unite with others in being helpful to all in thought, speech, and action. One may see to the good of one's own group, i.e., the group that is immediate to him, and then proceed to others. 

D. Some speak high of shanti, peace; some praise shakti, power. Which of the two is good for society? y? 

M. For the individual, peace is absolutely essential; power is necessary for the upkeep of society. By power, one has to uplift society and then establish peace therein. 

D. What is the goal towards which mankind on earth is moving? 

M. Real equality and fraternity form the true goal; for then, Supreme Peace may reign on earth, and the earth herself can be a single household. 

D. The ideal is grand. But if great men, jnanis are quiet in the caves, how can society be helped? d? 

M. I have often said that Self-attainment, atma-labha, is the greatest good for society. 

- Sat Darshana Bhashya and Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi