Organization
(supposed to be) working for global community (WMM – 3).
In the last two articles we
saw appeal of some world thinkers to initiate the revolution of consciousness
and some of the painful concerns of humanity. Here we shall try to review
partly the efforts initiated already by some organizations in the desired
direction. We start with U.N.O. which is considered as an apex body caring for
world community.
A) U.N.O. (United Nations’ Organization) Ref WIKI. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations)
The United
Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose
stated aims include promoting and facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, political freedoms, democracy, and the achievement of
lasting world peace. The UN was
founded in 1945 after World War II, to stop wars between countries, and to
provide a platform for dialogue. At its founding, the UN had 51 member states; there are now
193. From its offices around the world, the UN and its specialized agencies
decide on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings held
throughout the year. The organization has six principal organs: the General Assembly (the
main deliberative assembly);
the Security Council (for
deciding certain resolutions for peace and security); the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) (for
assisting in promoting international economic and social cooperation and
development); the Secretariat (for
providing studies, information, and facilities needed by the UN); the International Court of Justice (the
primary judicial organ); and the United Nations Trusteeship Council (which
is currently inactive). Other prominent UN System agencies
include the World Health Organization (WHO),
the World Food Program (WFP) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Background and creation
After World War II and the development of
the atomic bomb, there was
widespread agreement that humankind could not afford a third world war. Therefore, the United Nations
was established to replace the flawed League of Nations in 1945 in order to
maintain international peace and promote cooperation in solving international
economic, social, and humanitarian problems.
What
were or are the aims and objectives of U.N.O. (United Nations’ Organization)?
1.to promote world peace
2.to protect human rights
3.to help developing countries by funding
4.to promote better relations between countries
5.to promote social, economic and cultural development
6.to facilitate international law
7. to facilitate international security
2.to protect human rights
3.to help developing countries by funding
4.to promote better relations between countries
5.to promote social, economic and cultural development
6.to facilitate international law
7. to facilitate international security
Functions of
the United Nations
1. Arms Control and Disarmament
2. Peace Keeping
3. Humanitarian Assistance: In conjunction with other organizations, such as the Red Cross, the UN provides humanitarian services to disaster areas. These agencies include: World Food Program and the High Commissioner for Refugees.
2. Peace Keeping
3. Humanitarian Assistance: In conjunction with other organizations, such as the Red Cross, the UN provides humanitarian services to disaster areas. These agencies include: World Food Program and the High Commissioner for Refugees.
4. Human Rights: The Pursuit of
human rights was one of the main reasons for setting up the United Nations,
following the genocide of the Second World War. The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, though not legally binding, was adopted by the General Assembly
in 1948 as a common standard of achievement for all.
5. International Court of Justice includes war crimes tribunal.
6. UN Security Council: Discusses global problems and can offer resolutions to try and deal with them.
5. International Court of Justice includes war crimes tribunal.
6. UN Security Council: Discusses global problems and can offer resolutions to try and deal with them.
B) World Health Organization (W. H. O.)
WHO goal: To
improve equity in health, reduce health risks, promote healthy lifestyles and
settings, and respond to the underlying determinants of health.
WHO
objectives : To develop and implement
multi sectoral public policies for health, integrated gender- and age-sensitive
approaches that facilitate community empowerment together with action for
health promotion, self-care and health protection throughout the life course in
cooperation with the relevant national and international partners
WHO definition of Health:
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The correct bibliographic citation for the definition is:
Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the
International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July
1946 by the representatives of 61 States and entered into force on 7 April
1948. The Definition has not been amended since 1948.
C) Center for
Investigating Healthy Minds (http://www.investigatinghealthyminds.org/cihmFindings.html)
Led
by world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Richard J. Davidson,
the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the Waisman Center, UW-Madison,
conducts rigorous scientific research on healthy qualities of mind such as kindness,
compassion, altruism, forgiveness, mindfulness and well-being.
Change your Mind. Change the World.
The
work of the Center is rooted in the breakthrough insights of neuroplasticity -
the discovery that our brains change throughout our lives in response to
experience, suggesting that positive changes can be nurtured through mental
training.
Key Findings: The site elaborately provides various research projects,
articles published and the findings which indicate that proper nurture,
training to mind by systematic measures the desired developments can be brought
about in the brain and subsequently the personality. This research and
development has tremendous potential for use in the schools and homes for
enhancing the effectiveness of the parents’ and teachers’ skills to accelerate
the learning process of the children and also in the stress management of
adults.
Future role of MIND training vision by year 2050:
Dr.
Richard Davidson is a leading scientist in the field of brain plasticity and
has demonstrated that by intervention of proper nurturing strategies at home,
school and other effective media in the child environment and by imparting the
training of contemporary practices; the skills of emotional intelligence can be
effectively imparted. He is one of the leading scientists working for this
cause on the platform of Mind and Life Institute. In one of his presentations
(Google lecture 2009) the future role of MIND training is elaborated in his
vision as follows: - by year 2050
-
Mental exercise will be accepted and practiced in the same way as physical
exercise.
-
We will have science of virtual qualities.
-
We will incorporate mind back into medicine and better understand how brain can
modulate peripheral biology, biology in
the way; that affects health.
We will develop secular approach for method and practice
for contemplative traditions to:
1.
Teach teachers and children ways to better regulate emotions and attention and
cultivate qualities like kindness and compassion.
2.
Transform corrections so that forgiveness can be cultivated in victims and
emotion regulation and stress reduction in offenders.
3.
Increase awareness of our interdependence upon others and upon the planet and
be more responsible care takers of our precious environment.
4.
Promote their wider spread adaptation into the major institutes of our culture.
This will help to restore civility, humility, gratitude and other virtues in
our culture.
The
book “Train your Mind change your Brain” (Sharon Begley) is a detailed account
of many aspects in this area. The maternal state of mind during prenatal stages
plays a pivotal role whereas paternal care, too, matters. The spirit of three
years, lives with us until 100 years, they say. Hence, prenatal and early
childhood years can really shape our mind.
D)
Research on the Maharishi Effect (http://www.mum.edu/m_effect/)
“I think the claim can be plausibly made that
the potential impact of this research exceeds that of any other ongoing social
or psychological research program. It has survived a broader array of
statistical tests than most research in the field of conflict resolution. This
work and the theory that informs it deserve the most serious consideration by
academics and policy makers alike.” — David Edwards Ph.D., Professor of Government, University of
Texas at Austin
In 1960, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi predicted
that one percent of a population practicing the Transcendental Meditation
technique would produce measurable improvements in the quality of life for
the whole population. This phenomenon was first noticed in 1974 and reported
in a paper published in 1976. Here, the finding was that when 1% of a
community practiced the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program, the crime
rate was reduced by 16% on average. At this time, the phenomenon was named
the Maharishi Effect. The meaning of this term was later extended to cover
the influence generated by the group practice of the TM-Sidhi program. Generally,
the Maharishi Effect may be defined as the influence of coherence and
positivity in the social and natural environment generated by the practice of
the TM and TM-Siddhi programs.
Maharishi introduced the TM-Siddhi program, including Yogic Flying, in 1976. Group practice of this program was observed to be particularly beneficial. On the basis of analogies to physical systems, scientists estimated that the coherence generated by group practice of the TM-Siddhi program should be proportional to the square of the number of participants. Taking into account the “1%” finding, it was predicted that a group with size equal to the square root of 1% of a population would have a measurable influence on the quality of life of that population. For example, a group of 200 practicing the TM-Siddhi program together in a city of four million (100 x 200 x 200) would be sufficient to produce a measurable influence on the whole city; a group of 1,600 in the U.S. would influence 256 million (100 x 1600 x 1600) people, the whole population of the U.S.; and a group of 7,000 would influence 4.9 billion (100 x 7000 x 7000) people, the population of the world at that time. The TM-Siddhi program was practiced in large groups on numerous occasions in the following decade, and the first statistical analysis of the effects was published in 1987. These showed a decrease of about 11% in violent crimes in Washington, D.C., in total crimes in Metro Manila, and in total crimes in the Union Territory of Delhi. Subsequent research has confirmed the existence and the universality of the Maharishi Effect. It has become possible to lodge a prediction in advance with the police and the mayor of a city and then create the effect. This was put to the test under the careful scrutiny of a distinguished review board in 1993 in Washington, D.C. The maximum decrease in violent crimes was 23.3%. The statistical probability that this result could reflect chance variation in crime levels was less than 2 in 1 billion.
Not surprisingly, since the theory and the
phenomenon are so new to modern science, the methodology of a study is
subjected to rigorous analysis by the journal review boards before a paper on
the Maharishi Effect is accepted for publication. As a result, the
research is really a gem of social science, not only on account of its
significance, but also for the quality of its methodology.
E) HAY HOUSE FOUNDATIONThis is another organization is spreading the welfare movements for humanity world over.Hay House world summit audio lecture for free listening for registered participants (lectures from about 35 experts - October 12 to18' - 2013)
The inaugural 2013 airing attracted nearly
1 million listeners around the world in over 200 countries and
territories. Based on listeners’ remarkable positive feedback the Hay
House World Summit is slated to become an annual free online event. The 2014 Hay House World Summit
premieres May 31 – June 9 offering free access to enriching and
life-changing conversations with your favorite teachers on website. This
extraordinary event brings together world-renowned experts and tomorrow’s
rising stars, for exclusive conversations on a wide range of topics–providing
insight and practical advice–sure to appeal to all listeners.
F)
MIND AND LIFE INSTITUTE ((www.mindandlife.org).
Mind and Life was co-founded in 1987 by the
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, neuroscientist Francisco Varela and entrepreneur
Adam Engle for the purpose of creating rigorous dialogue and research
collaboration between modern sciences and the world’s living contemplative
traditions. The organization believes that integrated, multi-disciplinary
research collaboration is the most effective approach to investigating the
human mind, developing a more complete understanding of the nature of
reality, alleviating suffering and promoting well-being on the planet.
Over the past 25 years, Mind and Life has
become a world leader in cultivating this integrated investigation and in
developing research fields that explore the effects of contemplative-based
practices on the brain, human biology and behavior.
The Mission of Mind and Life is to:
•
Develop the strategy and conceptual framework for a rigorous,
integrated, multi-disciplinary investigation of the mind that combines
first-person and second- person direct human experience with a modern
scientific third-person inquiry
•
Develop a global community of scientists and scholars to conduct this
investigation, and global communities of financial partners to provide the
material resources to support this research
•
Delineate specific research projects that are strategically designed
to advance these emerging fields of research
•
Communicate research findings to provide a scientific basis for
developing and refining practices and programs designed to improve lives and
societies; practices that cultivate the human qualities of attention,
emotional balance, kindness, compassion, confidence and happiness
G) John Templeton foundation (http://www.templeton.org/who-we-are/about-the-foundation/mission)
Mission: The John Templeton Foundation serves as a philanthropic
catalyst for discoveries relating to the Big Questions of human purpose and
ultimate reality. They support research on subjects ranging from complexity,
evolution, and infinity to creativity, forgiveness, love, and free will. It
encourages civil, informed dialogue among scientists, philosophers, and
theologians and between such experts and the public at large, for the
purposes of definitional clarity and new insights.
The vision is derived from the late Sir John Templeton's optimism about the possibility of acquiring “new spiritual information” and from his commitment to rigorous scientific research and related scholarship. The Foundation's motto, "How little we know, how eager to learn," exemplifies support for open-minded inquiry and they hope for advancing human progress through breakthrough discoveries.
Founder: Sir John Templeton
Established in: 1987 Size of endowment: $2.5 billion (2012) Location: West Conshohocken, a suburb of Philadelphia, PA First year Templeton Prize was given: 1973 Templeton Prize value: £1,100,000 sterling (approximately $1.7 million) Number of living Templeton Prize Laureates: 18 Total grant payout and charitable activities: $715 million (1987-2011) Total grant payments: $71 million (2011) Number of grant requests: 345 (2012) Number of grants approved: 178 (2012) Average grant size: $970,446 (2012), with 38% under $250,000 Geographical range of grants: International Year Templeton Press was established: 1997 Number of books published by the Templeton Press: 203 (to date) H) Many countless others:
As an illustration, some of the
organizations in the mission of humanity are mentioned. But they are just
very few. In each small part of the world where human stay countless missions
are in progress. Many known-unknown organizations, groups, associations,
clubs, temples, churches, ashrams and even solitary individuals are engaged
in such a mission. The fabric of benevolence in the world is still not
weathered away only due to the known-unknown contribution of such efforts.
Since the objective of all such efforts is
conceptually same the association under one umbrella is a good idea. This is probably contemplated as we saw in the earlier blog. But howsoever ideal it may be it is very
difficult to come to reality. All these organizations are managed
by some people, some systems, some agenda. Howsoever noble they may be if one goes deep below the psyche
of such organizations, they often have their sense of superiority or ego
about their own mission. For this purpose they would like to retain their own
identity which is in a way natural and should be acceptable.
We have seen that world scale organizations
such as U.N.O. or its part W.H.O. which have been established by the world
leaders for the purpose of world community are in existence for last several
decades but still the need of ‘Revolution of Consciousness’ is felt on and
often. Can such a revolution take place? Before answering the question all
the concerned need to agree upon the definition of consciousness. What are
the properties of it, what are its good and bad parts so as to effectively
bring about the ‘revolution’ in the desired direction. How can pooling the
contribution of all the existing resources in an ‘acceptable to all’ manner
be possible?
When it comes to human welfare agenda, the
aspects of morality and ethics (at individual and also at the organizational
level) often assume the forefront. As we have seen in the earlier posts, the
basic concepts such as ‘knowledge’, ‘desire’, ‘free will’ etc. are not
clearly defined in the academics and related fields. Let us see the status of
‘morality’ and ‘ethics’ later.
Vijay R. Joshi
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