The Economic Recession

Can it be right that so many have to suffer for the dishonesty and greed of a few bankers and financiers?

I believe the claim of the poet Alexander Pope that “whatever is, is right,”. If so, what can be right about the behaviour of bankers and financiers that looks to be leading us into the worst economic recession for maybe 60 years?

There can be no doubt that humanity, especially in the so called ‘developed world’, has become focussed to a dangerous extent, on materialism. It is a focus that has become more and more intense with each new generation. This has been, in the main, due to the actions and words of scientists in all disciplines (whom we have unjustifiably deified), theologians, priests, ministers, politicians and the media. Because the influence of the latter has increased enormously since the advent of television and the worldwide web, so materialism and its companion consumerism, have been encouraged. Avarice and greed are a natural consequence.

Materialism has given us the god of money to fill the vacuum left by religion’s abandonment of its true spiritual responsibilities. It has also created the cult of the physical body. Physique is developed in countless gymnasia the world over; an ultra-slim body for ladies is promoted endlessly; drugs are taken by athletes so they can become faster or stronger than their opponents. The same lack of a moral dimension is seen here as in financial, get-rich-quick, schemes.

On every hand there are schemes to increase our wealth, we are urged to spend, spend, spend and never mind about whether we can afford it today – arrangements can be made to pay tomorrow! In recent years, how many people re-mortgaged their homes so as to buy cars etc. on the assumption the value of that home would keep increasing? How many others smiled and looked the other way when builders suggested telling mortgage lenders they were buying their houses for 20% or more higher and when this higher figure was accepted by the lender, builders shared the ‘profit’ with buyers? Normally sensible people allowed themselves to be persuaded all this was acceptable business and financial practice. No, it is not just the banks that were greedy, not only the banks lacked basic morality!

I accept the tempter is as, or maybe even more, guilty than the tempted but most people, deep down, knew what they were being encouraged to do was at its best unwise and at its worst unprincipled and dishonest. The seeds of our present harvest of misery were sown by many people, in all walks of life. The law of cause and effect does not become inoperative because one is tempted by another’s silver tongue!

I firmly believe that in the long term, what has happened will be seen as a blessing in disguise. Humans are threefold – body, mind and spirit. Many groups and individuals espouse this view but their voices urging us to develop our mind and spirit are drowned out by the clamour from the materialists. This present crisis, which could last a long time, is a watershed in human self-knowledge. Through its impact, more and more people will come to understand that a strong, fit mind and spirit are even more important than a strong, fit physical body. Many will be forced by circumstances into the company of other people and will thus become more aware of their needs and how each can help the other. Lack of the god money, will allow us to understand again that what is really important in life is often intangible. Love, happiness, joy, ecstasy, sadness, fear, hope and longing are not of the physical body.

We come to earth in order to learn spiritual lessons from all our experiences, not just those that are physical. We are also here to share with, not to exploit one another. Earthly life is a tiny proportion of our total life but no less important for that. Because materialism has moulded our minds into viewing all that happens here only in terms of the physical world and our physical bodies, our mind (part of the eternal spirit, not the brain) and our spirit are neglected. This sets up conflict within, leading to mental and physical illness because the mind influences the body so much. By allowing ourselves to focus only on our physical self, we are avoiding many opportunities for spiritual growth and understanding that would make us much more complete and balanced people.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE GREED AND IRRESPONSIBILITY OF RECENT DECADES IS THE WAY IN WHICH GOD IS MAKING US COME FACE TO FACE WITH OUR TRUE SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE. It offers a unique opportunity to change our thinking and our actions so our lives become more balanced and we give at least the same importance to the mind and the spirit as we do to the body.

The negative side is we all have to suffer, to a greater or lesser extent. The positive is that the result of the physical suffering could be a new world. A world ruled by love and understanding of our true nature.

The beauty of gold is only revealed after the ore has been subject to the fire of the refining process. This is our fire!