Adyar Pamphlets

A World in Distress: The Remedies...

No. 172

A World in Distress: The Remedies As Seen by the Theosophist

by: C. Jinarajadasa, C.W. Leadbeater and L.W. Rogers
Three Convention Addresses given at Adyar, De em!er 2"th and 2#th, 1$%2. P&!lished in 1$%% Theosophi al P&!lishing 'o&se, Adyar, Chennai ()adras* +ndia The Theosophist ,--i e, Adyar, )adras. +ndia 1 C.Jinarajadasa We mem!ers o- the Theosophi al .o iety have no parti &lar ommon -aith or reed, e/ ept o&r assertion o- !elie- in a 0niversal 1rotherhood o- '&manity. ,&r sense o- 1rotherhood impels &s to -eel a &nity 2ith all that lives, and most parti &larly 2ith all man3ind. There-ore to !e a Theosophist means to !e a &tely ons io&s o- any 3ind o- distress in the 2orld, and to !e re-ormers ever striving to 3no2 in 2hat 2ay 2e an diminish the 2orld4s misery. ,&r prime d&ty as Theosophists is to go o&t into the 2orld to a!olish or minimi5e s&--ering 2herever 2e -ind it, and in order to do o&r 2or3 e--i iently 2e have a great !ody otho&ght alled Theosophy to g&ide &s. This !ody o- tho&ght omes -rom the past, !&t it is !eing ontin&ally added to age !y age. None o- &s in the .o iety is ommitted to all that Theosophy pro laims6 2e sele t -rom its great ideas 2hatever tea hings and ideals inspire &s to live as Theosophists. 7a h 2ill sele t a ording to his temperament, and ea h 2ill there-ore a t in li-e a ording to the manner in 2hi h he -eels he an !e most servi ea!le. Today -ive o- &s !egin to e/po&nd to yo& 2hat 2e as Theosophist -eel are the sol&tions to the pro!lem oa World in Distress. 1&t 2e are only -ive spea3ers, and 2e are not pro laiming something 2hi h is -inal and to !e a epted !y all. 7a h one one as he e/po&nds 2ill des ri!e the manner in 2hi h the great pro!lem appears to him, and 2hat is the 2ay in 2hi h he himsel- an !e most e--i ient in the servi e othe 2orld. There-ore, as 2e spea3, ea h 2ill s&rvey the pro!lem -rom his o2n parti &lar standpoint, and he 2ill o--er yo& 2hat appeals to him as the remedy. +- 2e had a Convention lasting -or a month 2e o&ld have thirty spea3ers presenting thirty points o- vie2. 7veryone o- yo& as a Theosophist has, or sho&ld have, some remedy to s&ggest6 !&t 2e are limited only to -o&r days o- Convention, and there-ore an to& h &pon only a -e2 o- the many remedies 2hi h may !e s&ggested to the 2orld. 8o& are all a2are -rom 2hat yo& have read in ne2spapers and heard in le t&res 2hat the e onomists othe 2orld say 2ith regard to the distress every2here today. They 2ill tell yo& that is is d&e to this, that or the other a&se, and all the time they are propo&nding remedies. +t is stri3ing that they are not all &nited in their remedies. .ome s&ggest hanging the !an3ing system, others the a!olition o- tari--s, and so on. 1&t as + vis&ali5e the a&ses -rom a standpoint 2hi h sho2s them lear to me, the root o- all o&r tro&!les is d&e to the a s&!tle hange 2hi h has ta3en pla e in the 2orld regarding 2hat is 2orth see3ing in li-e. Page 1

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.&rely there an !e no disp&te -inally as to 2hat is 2orth see3ing 9 2hat is the right, 2hat is the !ea&ti-&l, 2hat is the good. 1&t o- late, largely d&e to the e--e t o- modern s ien e, there has ome a!o&t a hange on erning 2hat is 2orth see3ing. . ien e has released the -or es o- Nat&re, and has given &s myriads o- ne2 things as the res&lt o- the per-e tion o- ma hinery. The 2onder-&l advan e o- s ienti-i and me hani al a hievement d&ring the last -i-ty years has given to &s n&m!ers o- o!:e ts 2hi h o&r grandparents never dreamed 2ere ne essary -or o&r daily li-e. We say today that the standard o- living has !e ome higher. That is tr&e, !&t also as the res&lt o- these mani-old improvements introd& ed !y s ien e and !y ma hinery, the str&ggle -or li-e has !e ome intensi-ied as never !e-ore. Ne2 needs have !een reated -or &s o- 2hi h 2e are ons io&s 2hi h 2ere &n3no2n to past generations. We -eel that 2e annot !e happy &nless 2e have this or the other possession, and year !y year more and more o!:e ts m&st ater to o&r physi al om-orts. .& h is o&r li-e today that the 2hole gospel o- modern !&siness is to reate more needs -or &s, and to ma3e &s !elieve that these needs are ond& ive to o&r happiness. We are no longer happy 2ith the -e2 needs 2hi h o&r grandparents tho&ght 2ere s&--i ient. All the nations are reorgani5ing themselves e onomi ally, and that reorgani5ation -&ndamentally is to sell more to others, and to p&r hase as little as possi!le -rom them. That is the great e onomi ry today: ;et &s organi5e o&r o&ntry in order to !e a seller o- many things, !&t p&t &p tari--s 2alls so that 2e may !e a !&y7R o- as -e2 things as possi!le. 1&t as the prin ipal nations have aimed at selling to ea h other 2hile restri ting their p&r hases -rom ea h other, 2hat is the res&lt< A plethora o- goods, more goods than the 2orld needs, !e a&se there is not eno&gh money or p&r hasers to !&y them. There-ore all the sol&tions presented today !y the e onomists amo&nt to this: We must create more money for all, so that they may buy more goods. + do not thin3 that is the real sol&tion,and + shall e/plain 2hy. The great trend a2ay -rom the old ideals o- li-e, 2hi h + have mentioned, has largely !een d&e, + said, to the gro2th o- modern s ien e. +n the great past days o- religion, men 2ere ta&ght that this o&r li-e o- 7= or >= years 2as only an ante? ham!er to a larger li-e, and that all o!:e ts o- this 2orld and the a tivities in it had their val&e only in so -ar as they released the po2ers o- the .o&l. The gospel o- every religion is that man is only a passer?!y !y travelling thro&gh this 2orld into an eternal 2orld. 1&t all that is hanged today6 more and more people are trying to live in this 2orld as i- it and its en:oyments 2ere the only reality. There-ore anything 2hi h intensi-ies the sense o- reality o- this 2orld appeals to them. Nat&rally eno&gh, all e onomists ta3e -or granted that men 3no2 o- or are -or only one li-e. They say that 2e m&st alter the !an3ing system, a!olish or alter tari--s, that the present e/ploitation o- the 2or3s m&st ease, that men4s h&nger -or land m&st not !e th2arted !y the -e2 2ho hold it, that armies and navies m&st !e red& ed. They propo&nd a h&ndred and one s&ggestions, !&t all their s&ggestions ome to this: There must be more money for all! 1&t the real sol&tion is this: There must be more Soul for all. +t is !e a&se 2e have -orgotten the great idea that li-e is -&ndamentally .o&l, and have p&t instead o- .o&l the onvenien es s&mmed &p in the 2ord @money@ that today there is a World in Distress. +t is !y apt&ring on e again the spirit&al sense 2hi h has -led that the tr&e remedy !egins. What is 2orth 2hile in li-e< +t is &pon that the 2hole pro!lem hinges. +n modern days 2hat is the gospel 2hi h 2e are tea hing in o&r ed& ational system< +t is that, iyo& an save money, an invest, and so prod& e more goods thro&gh investment,yo& 2ill !e se &re against distress in old age. The 2hole e onomi system 2hispers its message: @Ta3e ar7 o- yo&r -&t&re in this 2orld, provide -or yo&r old age, save and investA@ And yet there is another and the tr&er gospel 2hi h 2as pro laimed in an ient days and is 2ell Page 2

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e/pressed -or &s in a Chinese saying: @+- yo& have t2o loaves, sell one and !&y a lily@. There 2e have the great spirit&al prin iple o- transm&ting ;i-e. 1&t that is not the prin iple today. The prin iple today is to save and t, invest6 !&t 2hat an 7nglish poet says sar asti ally 2hen ommenting &pon o&r modern system is tr&e: @+ love a !an3 -or violets. + loathe a !an3 -or savings@. The sense o- li-e, o- gro2th, o- sel-?e/pression, does not ome -rom a m&ltit&de o- possessions, !&t only -rom possessing the right things. When Bing Cana3a sa2 )ithila, his apital, ons&med !y -ire, he said: @Nothing that is mine is !&rning@. Dor he had as his eternal possession the ,neness o- ;i-e 2hi h he had dis overed. +t is not more money -or all that 2e need -or the prosperity o- the 2orld, !&t more good taste -or all. +t is on s& h a spirit&al prin iple that the 2orld4s reorgani5ation m&st pro eed. What are the tr&e ri hes that li-e has -or &s< .&ppose instead o- hoping and planning -or a larger in ome, 2e plan to have more eyes 2ith 2hi h to see, more ears 2ith 2hi h to hear. Thin3 o- a man striving to train himsel- to 3no2 more -lo2ers, to see more deli ate shades in s&nsets, to hear more overtones in the roar o- the s&r-. +t is these things that are ;i-e, and any tr&e system o- ed& ation sho&ld tea h &s to sele t -rom e/perien e the things that are permanent, and 2hi h the 2earing a2ay o- the !ody 2ill not ta3e -rom among o&r eternal possessions. To dis over the permanent -rom the -leeting, that is the reason 2hy 2e are !orn. 1&t that reason is no longer s&ggested to &s !y the religions, at least 2ith any intensity to prod& e onvi tion. That is 2hy in many 2ays 2e have to learn li-e all over again. Dor the greatness o- li-e -or an individ&al omes -rom the -e2 things that he selects. As 2e lessen the n&m!er o- o&r needs the more intrinsi !ea&ty 2e -ind in them. To sele t -rom li-e: that is the tr&e tas3 o- ed& ation. Tr&e 2ealth is al2ays -rom sele ting, and -rom transm&ting the oarser to the -iner, the -leeting to the permanent. ;et me ill&strate. +t is E&ite tr&e that in my room + have a 2all -&ll o- !oo3s, !&t i- + 2ere going to !e e/iled to a desert island, 2ith only a -e2 o- the 2orld4s !oo3s, + sho&ld sele t :&st these -e26 a vol&me o- the 0panishads, the 1i!le, the .&tta NipFta, Dante4s Divine Comedy, 'ardy4s poems, and the t2o ,/-ord !oo3s o- 7nglish and .panish verse. And 2hy so -e2< 1e a&se + have dis overed !y 2orld o- literat&re, and 2hat + read in these re-le ts my o2n inner dis overy. +t is -or this inner dis overy o- o&r tr&e 2ealth and possessions that 2e are here in the 2orld, !&t &n-ort&nately that is no longer !eing ta&ght &s learly today. 1&t religion m&st ome to o&r aid on e again. + do not mean reeds, -orm&lae and rit&als. + mean that sense 2hi h religion sho&ld give o- a -ine taste to2ards all li-e4s e/perien es, 2here!y 2e 3no2 the lovely -rom the meretri io&sly, the eternal -rom the passing. Back to the soul that is the remedy! 1&t to tea h o&rselves to get !a 3 to the .o&l, ho2 shall 2e -ind the method< Not !y la2s. No la2s o- an administration, no la2s pro laimed !y any 3ing or legislator, 2ill tea h &s 2here is the 2ay to dis over more .o&l. That an only !e done !y the so&ls themselves. When there are a -e2 in the 2orld 2ho have the tr&e hara teristi s o- the .o&l, they are li3e little miniat&re s&ns shining on all sides to others 2hat is the greatness o- the .o&l. The sol&tion in ea h o&ntry is -or a small n&m!er, a tho&sand at most perhaps, to set a!o&t dis overing the .o&l, and to ta3e their stand on .o&l and not on possessions. These -e2 2ill !e mar3ed men in the Page %

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!eginning, s o--ed at an ridi &led. 1&t they 2ill !e &nderstood a-ter a 2hile, and the great do trine 2il !e prea hed !y their mode o- living that man omes here to dis over 2hat is the essential nat&re o- .o&l in everything 9 in ea h stone, in ea h shr&!, in every h&man !eing 2ho lives and s&--ers. +- only the religions o- the 2orld today 2o&ld om!ine to prea h this do trine: that man is eternal, that his li-e 'ere is only to dis over something o- the !ea&ty o- the li-e 8onder, that this li-e is only the ante ham!er to it, that this li-e 2hi h is -leeting, 2ith its miseries and sorro2s, has only one val&e 9 that 2e may dis over the Per-e t, the 7ternal, the 1ea&ti-&l and the 'appyA +- one religion 2ere to tea h it, i- only all the religions 2o&ld om!ine today to tea h man3ind on e more that .o&l is the greatest thing in li-e, then the e onomi ma hinery o- the 2orld 2hi h is o&t o- gear 2o&ld ome !a 3 into its right ad:&stment. To lessen the str&ggle -or all 9 that is the rying need. Dor i- ea h individ&al lessened the str&ggle -or himsel- !y sele ting, !y see3ing not the transitory !&t the eternal 2orld, then slo2ly, his e/ample 2o&ld !e opied !y tho&sands, and instead o- @speeding &p@ li-e 2e sho&ld sla 3en li-e, &ntil there 2o&ld !e leis&re to dis over the .o&l in the !ea&ti-&l little things o- li-e, &ntil 2e se only ,ne Thing 9 the 7ssential Thing in eternity. To go 2herever in the 2orld 2e may, and see and read the ,ne in everything, that is ;i-e. When a man -inds that ,ne in all e/isten e, he -inds all things. +s not the 2hole o ean mirrored in a de2drop< +s not the 2hole !ea&ty o- the 2orld in a tiny 2ild -lo2er< 'ave 2e not the Divinity o- Christ and .hri Brishna in a hild4s -a e< These are the tr&ths 2hi h the 2orld today needs -or man3ind, and it is only in so -ar as 2e &nderstand that in -inding the .o&l o- things 2e -ind the All, 2e shall, to my :&dgment, dis over the remedy -or the World in Distress today.

C.W.Leadbeater + very thoro&ghly agree 2ith all that the last spea3er has so eloE&ently said to yo&. The E&estion p&t !e-ore &s appears to !e 2hat is the remedy 2hi h Theosophy has to o--er -or the &nE&estiona!ly &nsatis-a tory ondition o- a--airs in the 2orld at the present time. 8o& had !etter, perhaps, de-ine to yo&rsel- e/a tly 2hat yo& mean !y Theosophy. People sometimes 9 strangers 9 ome &p and say: @1&t 2hat is this Theosophy: +s it a philosophy< +s it a religion< +s it s ien e<@ When yo& try to ans2er,yo& have to say: @No, not e/a tly any o- these, !&t yet it omprises them all@. +- yo& are as3ed: @What are the o!:e ts o- the Theosophi al .o iety<@ the ans2er to that is plain eno&gh. @+ts -irst ,!:e t is: To -orm a n& le&s o- 0niversal 1rotherhood@, and perhaps that is the only one that on erns &s -or the moment. 1&t Theosophy is not imposed &pon mem!ers o- the .o iety at all. We do not as3 them 2hat they !elieve6 that is their o2n !&siness, not o&rs. We do e/a t -rom them that they shall 2or3 -or 1rotherhood in some 2ay or other, !&t there are many 2ays o- 2or3ing -or 1rotherhood. .o then i- yo& say: @What is the attit&de o- Theosophy:@ 2e reply: @+t is a system, !&t any mem!er 2ho :oins the .o iety to 2or3 -or 1rotherhood is not e/pe ted to !elieve all that the others !elieve. We have a ertain set o- !elie-s o- o&r o2n, and that has rystalli5ed itsel- into a system o- philosophy. Theosophy is a philosophy, !e a&se it Page "

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tells &s something a!o&t the s heme o- things. +t is a religion, !e a&se it points o&t a 2ay o- li-e and sho2s &s ho2, a ording to the opinion o- the great Rishis and Tea hers o- the 2orld, tr&e progress is only to !e made !y ea h individ&al thin3ing o- the so&l and not only o- the !ody6 it is distin tly in that respe t non?materialisti @. +t is a s ien e< 8es, ertainly it ta3es s ien e into a o&nt. + sho&ld p&t it that it is a s ien e 2hi h has a 2ider s ope than the system to 2hi h 2e ordinarily assign that name. +n s ien e there is investigation, mainly -rom the physi al point o- vie2, into the phenomena that s&rro&nds &s on o&r glo!e. +n astronomy 2e st&dy the other 2orlds -ar a2ay -rom &s, !&t s ien e depends -or its on l&sions &pon the olle tion o- -a ts on the physi al plane. ,- o&rse it also in l&des spe &lation as to the meaning o- the phenomena, !&t one is sa-e in saying that s ien e onsiders that everything m&st !e !ased &pon o!servation and e/periment. +n Theosophy 2e e/tend that o!servation and e/periment to in l&de higher parts o- the 2orld. + do not mysel- li3e tal3ing a!o&t @other 2orlds@ at all. We heard :&st no2 that religions &s&ally -i/ their attention on other 2orlds, and say the li-e 2e live here is a a preparation -or the eternal li-e in higher 2orlds. Well, + thin3 + 2o&ld state that a little di--erently. Dirst o- all, there is an endless li-e, and the li-e in all o- &s 9 trees, animals, men, the very ro 3s 9 i s the Divine ;i-e. There is ,ne Great ;i-e. We are 2or3ing o&t, ea h one o- &s, a very small -ragment, as it 2ere, o- this ;i-e6 and as 2e do this, it is ne essary that 2e sho&ld des end no2 and then to the physi al plane, in order to learn ertain things a!o&t it, in order to develop ertain po2ers in onne tion 2ith it. 1&t this is part o- an ed& ation. The endless li-e is !eing lived now !y everyone o- &s, and the part that 2e play 2ill ertainly a--e t o&r progress in onne tion 2ith that ;i-e. We m&st not despise the physi al li-e here, or t&rn o&r !a 3s &pon the physi al 2orld, -or this physi al is part o- o&r training. + sho&ld mysel- regard the physi al plane as a s hool, and rather an &n om-orta!le, &npleasant s hool, to 2hi h yo& the .o&l, the 7go, have to des end sometimes, !e a&se there are some lessons that an only !e learn here. + -&lly admit that they are !&t a small part o- the total s&m o3no2ledge and po2er that yo& have to gain. The other 2orlds 9 let &s all them the higher part o- this 2orld 9 are enormo&sly more important, !&t all the same, &nder the la2s o- Nat&re it is ne essary that at this stage o- o&r development 2e sho&ld des end to this physi al plane and live here. 8o& may say yo& 2o&ld rather not6 that has nothing to do 2ith the matter. This is part o- the s heme o- things. What sort o- li-e are 2e s&pposed to live< +t varies very m& h in a ordan e 2ith 2hat a man 3no2s a!o&t the total o- li-e. +- people o&ld only reali5e, as yo& 2ere told :&st no2, that li-e is a matter o- the .o&l, and that o&r on ern do2n here is -or the !ene-it o- the .o&l, then, tho&gh yo& are in a physi al !ody, yo& m&st not ma3e the mista3e o- living only -or that. 8o& m&st onsider ho2 m& h o- the .o&l, othe great Divine Whole, yo& an mani-est do2n here. All religions have their tea hing on many o- these points, and + mysel- sho&ld say that they are li3e di--erent lasses in a s hool. 8o& go to one lass -or dra2ing, to another -or mathemati s, to another -or lang&ages, et .. And so yo& are !orn into di--erent ra es and religions in order that yo&r hara ter may !e ro&nded o--, and that yo& may learn all sides osome o- these mighty tr&ths. All the great religions agree on ertain things. +s Theosophy a religion< Well, at least 2e may say o- it that it is the !asis 2hi h &nderlies all religions. +t is an endeavo&r, a ording to its name, the st&dy o- the Page #

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Divine Wisdom. God, !y 2hatever name yo& all 'im, is Bno2ledge, !e a&se everything is in 'im. 'o2ever -ar 2e are a2ay -rom that as yet, the nearer 2e an ome to that Bno2ledge the more o&r a tion 2ill inevita!ly !e in a ordan e 2ith the ;a2 2hi h governs all. When 2e tal3 a!o&t ;a2, yo& m&st remem!er that there is a very great di--eren e !et2een the divine la2s and o&r man?made la2s. The la2s o- any o&ntry are made 2ith a vie2 to the !ene-it o- the people o- that o&ntry as a 2hole, or o&ght to !e. 1&t they are are only the opinion o- a parti &lar la2?ma3er as to the !est 2ay to govern that o&ntry, to help its people along6 and o- o&rse there may !e many 2ays, many opinions. 1&t don4t yo& see that the la2s o- Nat&re are something radi ally di--erent< Ta3e the la2 o- gravitation. Nothing 2hatever that yo& do or say or thin3 ma3es the slightest di--eren e to the la2 ogravitation. ,- o&rse yo& an resist it -or a time6 yo& an ta3e something in yo&r hand and hold it, and so resist the la2 o- gravitation6 !&t 2hen yo& let go, it 2ill -all. The la2s o- Nat&re are al2ays a ting, and there-ore o- o&rse yo& have to adapt yo&rselves, yo&r lives, in a ordan e 2ith those la2s. +- yo& an have that idea learly in mind, that the great la2, says o- Barma, -or e/ample, is :&st as &n hangea!le as gravitation, :&st as -ar a!ove yo&r petty terrors, yo&r temptations, as that, then yo& 2o&ld see that there is no &se -ighting against he Divine ;a2. 8o& have to order yo&r li-e in a ordan e 2ith it. ,ne o- the things the Theosophi al .o iety espe ially advo ates is the st&dy o- the ;a2 as it mani-ests itsel- on other planes than the physi al. . ien e is &se-&l, !&t do not -orget that there are other planes than those 2hi h modern s ien e st&dies to !e ta3en into onsideration6 and i- yo& st&dy them yo& 2ill ma3e -e2er mista3es do2n here. 'o2 does all this apply to the distress o- the 2orld< Theosophy tea hes very m& h ore a!o&t the 2orld as a 2hole 9 no the physi al plane only, !&t the astral, the mental, the a&sal 2orlds, et .. +t tea hes that 2hi h 2ill very m& h modi-y o&r attit&de and there-ore o&r a tions. As has !een very tr&ly said, all 3inds o- remedies are !eing !ro&ght -or2ard 9 remedies in the -inan ial line6 yo& may !e @o--@ or @on@ the gold standard6 remedies are s&ggested to reate money, so that yo& an do all sorts o- 2onders. + do not 3no2 anything a!o&t -inan e, !&t it does seem to me that money al2ays depends &pon redit. 8o& may dra2 a heE&e, !&t 2ill it !e a epted< 8es, in yo&r o2n to2n, yo&r o2n o&ntry 2here they 2ill say: @We 3no2 yo&@. +t is not the same 2ith gold< Why do 2e tr&st in gold< 1e a&se 2e thin3 the -lo2 o- gold 2ill !e steady, !e a&se gold is something solid6 2e an hold it in o&r hand. 1&t 2ait a moment. ,ne o- these days the old al hemy 2ill !e revived, and it 2ill !e possi!le to ma3e gold6 and 2hen gold is :&st as ommon as lead, 2hat a!o&t yo&r gold standard< 7ven the dis overy o- a !ig gold mine 2o&ld at on e send do2n the val&e o- gold. +t all depends on yo&r tr&sting one another. That is 2hy Theosophy has something to o--er. There are many disp&tes re ently over 2hat -orm o- government is !est -or the people, 2hether an a!sol&te monar hy, or a onstit&tional monar hy 2ith a Parliament. The 2ord @parliament@ means tal3ing, and parliaments do it to s& h a degree that little !&siness an !e done6 there is an intermina!le 2aste otime. + have !een sometimes impressed 2ith the enormo&s advantages o- an a!sol&te government. +something is de ided &pon !y an a!sol&te monar h, it is done6 there is no more tal3 a!o&t it. 1&t in o&r parliaments it is hard to have any 2or3 done &nder a year or t2o.

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What really emerges -rom history is that i- the 2ill o- people is good, i- they are all moving -or the good othe .tate and not -or the individ&al, then almost any -orm o- government 2ill do. There mere -orm matters -ar less than the good 2ill o- the people 2ho are to arry it o&t. + have seen ases 2here, &nder the -inest government in the 2orld on paper, a great deal o- orr&ption and tro&!le arose !e a&se the people 2ho have to arry the la2 o&t are ea h a ting sel-ishly and not -or the good o- the 2hole. The -orm matters very -ar less than the good2ill o- the people. And so, as has !een said !y greater people than 2e, the pro!lem o- the 2orld is the pro!lem o- the individ&al. +- yo& an !ring yo&rsel- into the tr&e attit&de, then almost any system 2ill 2or36 !&t yo& had !etter have something simple i- yo& an. No2 there is -inan ial tro&!le, tro&!le !et2een apital and la!o&r, !et2een one o&ntry and another, and so on. +n every one o- these ases there is a great deal to !e said on !oth sides, and the 2ay to solve ea h pro!lem 2o&ld !e to ome together and settle it in a -riendly 2ay. Why do not people ome together< 1e a&se they do not tr&st one another. 7a h man is ons io&s o- a ertain amo&nt osel-ishness in himsel-, and there-ore he gives redit or other2ise -or the same to the other man and says: @+ 3no2 inside that + mean to have so and so, and + am s&re the other -ello2 is also trying to o!tain something -or himsel-6 and so to 2hatever he s&ggests,+ shall say, No. @ +- they 2ere only tr&ly -riendly and !rotherly, ea h 2o&ld nat&rally 2ant to present his ase, !&t he 2o&ld say: @+ 2ant to hear 2hat yo& have to say on yo&r side, and then let &s !ring someone else to ar!itrate@. That is :&st 2hat the ;eag&e o- Nations is trying to do. .ome o&ntries have !een 2ise eno&gh, even in the past, do do that. + remem!er a !ig disp&te !et2een 7ngland and the 0nited .tates a!o&t a ship that did some damage to Ameri an shipping in the Civil War. Iery -ort&nately !oth peoples agreed to ar!itrate and they p&t it !e-ore the 7mperor o- 1ra5il, 2ho too3 an enormo&s amo&nt o- tro&!le to olle t eviden e, and gave his de ision that 7ngland sho&ld pay a ertain ompensation, a!o&t three million po&nds, + thin3. ,- o&rse the 7nglish people gr&m!led a little, !&t they paid it. .&ppose that instead they had gone to 2ar6 don4t yo& thin3 it 2o&ld have ost ea h side three h&ndred million po&nds or more< +- yo& learn something a!o&t the higher planes, yo& 2ill see that nothing is 2orth E&arrelling a!o&t. To settle a disp&te any2ay is !etter than to -ight, in nearly all ases. ,- o&rse, there are some times 2hen a nation m&st -ight, as 2hen .ri Brishna said to Ar:&na: @There-ore -ight, , 1harata@. There are ases li3e that, !&t -irst try all other methods. And so + sho&ld thin3 that 2ith all these disp&tes, the -irst thing 2o&ld !e to ome into a tr&e !rotherly attit&de a!o&t it, and then 2hatever arrangement 2as made, the people 2o&ld -all in 2ith it. + annot say 2hat is the !est 2ay o&t o- the -inan ial di--i &lty6 2e 2ant -inan ial e/perts -or that. 1&t this 2e an say, that 2hile 2e distr&st one another 2e shall not arrive at any tr&e sol&tion. There are starving people6 i- 2e o&ld ome together and say: @This m&st not !e, this m&st !e p&t right@, i- all agreed &pon p&tting it right, the starvation 2o&ld end. + am great !eliever in the h&man intelle t6 it o&ld settle all matters that are in disp&te, i- only people 2o&ld approa h them in a !rotherly attit&de. There are so many people 2hose idea o- ompromise is having their o2n 2ay. This is the great thing Theosophy has to say to yo& all ? have 1rotherliness. +n -inan ial matters yo& had Page 7

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!etter see ho2 the prin iple an !e applied. Theosophy does not go into details. Capital and la!o&r 9 there is m& h to !e said on !oth sides. Theosophy gives yo& this advi e: Approa h the other people in a !rotherly spirit. Certainly the olle tion !rain o- h&manity 2ill !e 2ise eno&gh to -ind a 2ay. Dirst o- all !e in the -rame o- mind o- the Whole, as -ar as yo& an, and not !e thin3ing o- +, +, +, all the time. )ind, + am not saying it is altogether yo&r -a&lt. +t is not altogether the 2orld4s -a&lt. )en have ome &p very slo2ly -rom the animal 3ingdom into the h&man, then into 2hat 2e all the @more highly ivili5ed li-e@. They have developed individ&ality d&ring all that time sin e they le-t the animal 3ingdom. +t 2as 2ea3 at -irst, and had to gro2 strong, and in order to do that it had to thin3 very m& h a!o&t itsel-. +t is not against the la2 that the savage sho&ld !e sel-ish, !&t it is against the la2 that you sho&ld !e. 'e has to -ight at -irst &ntil he has -ormed a strong entre, or he 2ill not !e o- m& h &se later on in his evol&tion. +t is not so m& h that sel-ish people are 2rong as that they are o&t o- date6 they have not grasped yet that 2e are on the &p2ard ar !a 3 to2ards 0nity. +- they reali5ed that, a great many o- these di--i &lties 2o&ld !e speedily solved. +- every one had good2ill, agreement 2o&ld !e rea hed. .o + thin3 that is o&r Theosophi al ontri!&tion6 not that 2e an pretend to settle the details o- all these things, !&t 2e do say: 8o& m&st !egin !y altering yo&r spirit, !y &nderstanding that 2e are all one in reality, and that there-ore 2hen yo& are -ighting against a -ello2man yo& are -ighting against yo&rsel-, !e a&se all h&manity is one, and it sho&ld !e one e/pression o- the )ighty ;ogos o- the .ystem, the ,ne .el-. +- 2e 3ne2 that really, -&lly, 2e sho&ld not have all these lo al di--i &lties. ;et &s move to2ards 1rotherhood in everything, and promote it in every 2ay 2e an6 then 2e shall !e ma3ing o&r ontri!&tion to2ards solving these pro!lems o- the 2orld. + do not pres&me to s&ggest details6 the spirit o- the things is the main matter, and there is 2here Theosophy an spea3. Agree -irst on 2hat yo& 2an to do, on 2hat is good -or the advan ement o- the 2hole 2orld6 and remem!er that ea h one o- yo& is part o- it and is responsi!le -or doing his little !it 2herever he happens to !e. Wherever yo& are, yo& are not there !y han e6 yo& are p&t there !e a&se that is 2hat yo& have deserved and also !e a&se it is there 2here yo& an ma3e the !est advan ement. 7vol&tion, yo& 3no2, is 2or3ing -or the good o- all. @God has a plan@, a Great ,ne said not long ago, @and that plan is evol&tion@. +t in l&des not only the development o- 2hole 2orld, !&t also o- every individ&al, every single person in it. All are part o- the Great Plan, and all the 2hile 2e are !eing given opport&nities. ,- o&rse 2e may ta3e them, or leave them. )any people miss opport&nities mostly !e a&se they do not see them. Those o- &s 2ho have spent many years in investigation 3no2 ertain things that prove the 0nity o- all that lives,and there-ore 2e an say 2ith per-e t on-iden e this m& h: that the movement o- all man3ind as a 2hole is on2ards and &p2ards steadily, and so 2e m&st try to promote that in every 2ay. We m&st never -orget that ea h one o- &s has his o2n part to play, and m&st play it not only -or his o2n sa3e !&t -or his sa3e o- the the 2orld, !e a&se he is one little og in the great ma hinery. 8o& have head m& h a!o&t individ&al &niE&eness. +t is a!sol&tely tr&e that every man is di--erent -rom all others6 he has to develop himsel- and ontri!&te his little !it to the 2or3. +- he -ails, the 2or3 is not progressing as 2ell as it might. To me the -&ndamental thing is: 1ring yo&rsel- into the right attit&de6 learn all yo& an in order to &nderstand the s heme6 and then a t a ordingly. )odern s ien e has dis overed remar3a!le things a!o&t hygiene. +t 2o&ld !e -oolish to ta3e no noti e o- them6 s&rely a man 2ho 3no2s o- them !&t does Page >

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not on-orm to them is very silly. That is tr&e also o- the higher things. When yo& have higher 3no2ledge, yo& 2o&ld !e distin tly -oolish i- yo& did not a t a ording to it. 7mphasi5e 1rotherhood in every 2ay yo& an, and try in every 2ay to molli-y disp&tes. .mooth things do2n6 move -or pea e al2ays, and have &nderstanding. + am told that there are E&arrels !et2een )&hammadans and 'ind&s :&st no2 in +ndia6 !&t -or heaven4s sa3e, 2hy< Why annot ea h man 2orship his o2n Deity in his o2n 2ay< +- the other man does things yo& do not li3e, let him go his o2n 2ay6 do not try to -or e him into yo&rs. 1rotherhood al2ays6 in the !eginning, the middle and the end. ! L.W.Rogers @A World in Distress@ is a very a &rate des ription o- the present e onomi ondition o- the planet on 2hi h 2e live. We are a &stomed to periodi al -inan ial depressions in vario&s parts o- the 2orld, no2 in this nation and no2 in that6 and 2e are -amiliar 2ith o asional -amine thro&gh the 2idespread -ail&re o- rops in +ndia, in China, and sometimes else2here. 1&t never !e-ore in the 3no2n history o- the h&man ra e has there !een &niversal distress in the midst o- plenty. We are not only a 2orld in distress, !&t this is a terri-ying -orm o- distress that om!ines the physi al and the mental, a partnership o- h&nger and -ear. +t seems that no great alamity ever omes 2itho&t 2arning, and 2itho&t its lesson to tea h. The lassi al Theosophi al e/ample 2o&ld !e Atlantis6 and i- the lesson that gross sel-ishness !rings terri!le rea tion 2as not then learned a repetition in some -orm is inevita!le. The 2orld o- that day had 2arnings in plenty !&t still l&ng to its perni io&s o&rse. )any intelligent men prophesied the World War !&t !egged in vain -or a serio&s onsideration o- their vie2s !e-ore it sho&ld !e too late. Again, today, there are persistent predi tions o- impending doom, and the 2arnings o- approa hing disaster ome -rom pra ti al men o- a--airs 2hose intelligen e and a!ility are !eyond E&estion. Among them are e onomists, statesmen and aptains o- ind&stry 9 Cohn )aynard Beynes, the noted 1ritish e onomist, )ontag& Norman, Governor o- the 1an3 o- 7ngland, '.G.Wells, a thin3er o- 2orld rep&te, and others o- eE&al rep&tation -or good sense. .ome o- these men de lare that the only hope is -or the statesmen to t&rn a--airs over to the e onomists, some say that o&r ivili5ation 2ill not last a year, others that it 2il soon go 2ith a rash and 2ith slight han e o- re onstr& tion, 2hile all agree that &nless drasti hanges are soon made &tter haos 2ith &n3no2n !&t terri!le onseE&en es 2ill over2helm &s. No2, 2hat a t&ally are the onditions &pon 2hi h a predi tion so alarming is !ased< To me they seem to !e -irst, and perhaps most impressive o- all, the -a t that altho&gh the me hanism o- the 2orld -or prod& ing -ood and goods is vastly s&perior to 2hat it ever !e-ore has !een, nevertheless m&ltit&des opeople thro&gho&t the 2orld are living in poverty. .team and ele tri ity have in reased the prod& tive po2er o- the ra e to the point 2here one man an do more than ten o&ld do a generation ago. 1&t that has not prevented 2ant and destit&tion so 2idespread that it -ills the governments o- many nations 2ith -ear.

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The ne/t -a t to arrest attention is that 2hile in some se tions -ood is so a!&ndant that it annot !e &sed, in other pla es the people are &pon the verge o- starvation. 1ra5il !&rns o--ee !e a&se there is no mar3et -or it. Darmers in +o2a &se grain -or -&el !e a&se they have no money 2ith 2hi h to !&y oal. )illlions o- !&shels o- -r&it have rotten on the trees !e a&se the pri e it 2ill !ring is less than the ost oharvest. 8et millions o- people are h&ngry. The third item in the &niversal tragedy is that small property o2ners are losing their possessions !e a&se they an -ind no 2ay in 2hi h to pay the ta/es. +n the .tate o- )ississippi %$,H$$ -arms 2ere sold in one day !y sheri--s thro&gho&t the .tate -or ta/es and on mortgage -ore los&res. Th&s 2ithin a period o- a -e2 ho&rs a!o&t -orty tho&sand -amilies lost their homes. Drom one Ameri an ity it is reported that 11,#== ity lots 2ere sold -or ta/es. ,ne .tate reports that a!o&t -i-teen per ent o- the to2n property, in addition to -arm lands, has !een sold -or ta/es, and that not less than one?-o&rth o- the real estate o- all 3inds has passed to the o2nership o- the .tate. +- 2e add to that the mortgage -ore los&res !y ompanies and individ&als 2e shall have some &nderstanding o- the rapidity 2ith 2hi h the o2nership othe property o- the 2orld is passing to the !an3s and money?lenders. The -o&rth -orm o- mis-ort&ne is that people 2ho are dependent &pon in omes derived -rom ind&strial earnings -ind those in omes shrin3ing i- not totally disappearing. ;oo3ing losely at the report o- a leading orporation that is in the lass 3no2n as @gi-t edged@, or s&per so&nd -inan ially, 2e -ind that its net earnings are less than one?seventh 2hat they have normally !een -or a long series o- years. ConseE&ently a -amily 2hose in ome is derived -rom money invested in the sto 3 o- that ompany no2 has !&t one dollar to spend -or every seven dollars they had in the past. Tens o- tho&sands o- people 2ho on-idently !elieved that they had ass&red in omes -or li-e no2 -ind that they have !&t little. +n some ases their total investments have vanished. +n this 2orld?2ide alamity there are many phases o- distress, !&t perhaps -e2 are so piti-&l as that oyo&th denied its legitimate e/perien e in h&man a--airs. ,&r olleges and &niversities are t&rning o&t ann&ally an enormo&s n&m!er o- yo&ng men and 2omen ed& ated -or the trades and pro-essions !&t 2ho an -ind no opport&nity o- employment. +n tho&sands o- home yo&ths arriving at manhood4s estate learn that the -amily in ome is not even eE&al to the proper s&pport o- their sisters and parents. .o they go o&t into the 2orld see3ing the employment that annot !e -o&nd. Drom one o&ntry it is reported that more than t2o h&ndred tho&sand o- them &nder the age o- t2enty?one years are dri-ting a!o&t -rom ity to ity and grad&ally !e oming dependent &pon harity. )any elderly people an remem!er the time 2hen, in the ne2er nations, there 2ere no great ineE&alities o- 2ealth and poverty. 7very!ody at least had -ood and lothing and shelter. There 2ere neither millionaires nor pa&pers. 1&t -or the last hal- ent&ry the 2ealth o- the 2orld has !een dri-ting 2ith a elerating speed into the hands o- the -e2 2hile poverty has !een in reasing among the masses o- the people. What has !ro&ght a!o&t this state o- a--airs< There are many -a tors in the pro!lem. +n the yo&nger o&ntries 2here there 2ere immense areas ovirgin land and enormo&s nat&ral reso&r es, a!le, reso&r e-&l men ontrived, thro&gh spe ial legislation, 2hi h 2as o-ten o!tained dishonestly, to get ontrol o- the vario&s !o&nties o- nat&re, the -orests, the deposits o- oil, oal, iron, et ., and !y organi5ing orporations 2ith enormo&s apital to r&sh o&t all ompetitors. 1y s& h methods vast -ort&nes 2ere amassed. Grad&ally a pl&to ra y gro2s &p and Page 1=

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ass&mes ontrol o- h&man a--airs, al2ays seeing all pro!lems -rom the vie2point o- great 2ealth. +t 2as Am!assador Gerard, 2ho represent the 0nited .tates at 1erlin prior to the World War, 2ho made the startling statement that t2enty men in Ameri a have it 2ithin their po2er to ontrol the national poli ies othat o&ntry. Whether or not it is tr&e that only a s ore o- individ&als have s& h po2er, it ertainly is tr&e that a pl&to ra y o- 2ealth and po2er onstit&tes an @invisi!le government@ that manages to de-eat legislation that is &n-avo&ra!le to the interests o- the e/tremely ri h. + have !een spea3ing hie-ly o- the 0nited .tates only, !e a&se + am more -amiliar 2ith 2hat is o &rring there and !e a&se statisti s in that o&ntry are easily o!tained6 !&t 2hat is tr&e o- nation today is s&!stantially tr&e o- all nations o- its lass. 7very ommer ial and man&-a t&ring o&ntry has its pl&to ra y o- 2ealth and po2er, that onstit&tes its a t&al government and 2hi h really determines the national poli ies, E&ite regardless o- the politi al party that happens -or the moment to !e in ontrol. To p&t it di--erently, 2hat has ome to !e 3no2n as @!ig !&siness@ really governs in every nation and al2ays gets 2hat it 2ants regardless o- 2hat may !e !est -or the masses o- the people. There is not time to go into the details o- :&st ho2 the poli ies o- @!ig !&siness@ are inimi al to the ommon 2el-are, !&t one or t2o items 2ill indi ate the in:&rio&s nat&re o- some o- the things that the pl&to ra y has invented. The gold standard is one o- them. +t has so limited the vol&me o- the money othe 2orld that the -ree e/ hange o- ommodities has !e ome impossi!le and people are ompelled to resort to !arter, to trading 2heat -or oil, and o--ee -or ri e, !e a&se there is not money eno&gh to -a ilitate e/ hange. Another in:&rio&s thing is the so? alled @prote tive@ tari--. +t is laimed -or it that it g&arantees high 2ages to the 2or3ers in the -a tories, that it @prote ts@ them -rom the ompetition olo2er paid la!o&r in other nations. 'as it done so in the 0nited .tates< ,r has the gold standard ena!led that o&ntry to es ape the depression< ,- o&rse not. Never !e-ore have o&r tari--s against -oreign goods !een so high, !&t o&r -a tories are 2itho&t 2or3 and o&r 2or3men 2itho&t 2ages. Never !e-ore has the national treas&ry held so large a share o- the 2orld4s gold and never !e-ore has h&nger and destit&tion !een so general. ;i3e the gold standard, the tari-- against -oreign goods strangles trade, and a -e2 only get pro-its at the e/pense o- the many. Dor more than t2o years the apologists o- the present ind&strial system have !een ass&ring &s that prosperity @is :&st aro&nd the orner@ and that all o&r tro&!les 2ill soon !e over i- 2e are only patient -or a little 2hile longer. 1&t at last even @!ig !&siness@ has ta3en alarm !e a&se matters have gro2n steadily 2orse. And 2hat remedies do they propose< Not one thing that means a -&ndamental hange, not one proposition that inter-eres 2ith spe ial privilege, not a single idea that goes to the root o- the evils that a--li t &s. What &re, then , is Theosophy a!le to o--er< ,ne Theosophi al tr&th alone is potent eno&gh, i- a t&ally omprehended and pra tised, to set the 2orld right. That one tr&th is the underlying Unity of the uman !ace, the -a t that an in:&ry to anyone 2ill ertainly rea t disastro&sly to those responsi!le -or it. The man 2ho is 2illing to in:&re another that something may !e gained -or himsel- is are-&l to !rea3 no stat&te la26 !&t he thin3s nothing at all a!o&t nat&ral la2, -or he has never heard o- Barmi rea tions. 1&t i- he o&ld !e sho2n that to in:&re another is to h&rt himsel-, that to 2re 3 another4s -ort&ne is to imperil his o2n, that to stri3e another is to aim a !lo2 at his o2n heart, then that man 2o&ld do the right and the mer i-&l thing in the present and the -&t&re. +n his ignoran e he &ses his intelle t and po2er against others !e a&se he an see only the immediate res&lts to the separated sel-. Theosophi al 3no2ledge 2o&ld t&rn his a!ilities to the servi e o- the ra e, and that 2o&ld !e the omplete sol&tion o- the e onomi pro!lem6 -or there is nothing 2rong 2ith the 2orld e/ ept the sel-ishness that inter-eres 2ith the operation Page 11

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o- nat&ral la2. The earth has never yielded more a!&ndant harvests. The help -rom la!o&r?saving devi es has never !een so great. As a 2hole the ra e an prod& e eno&gh in a -e2 2ee3s to s&stain itsel- -or a year. The tro&!le is not that 2e do not prod& e eno&gh -or all !&t that 2hat is prod& ed is not eE&ita!ly distri!&ted. We are dealing 2ith a pro!lem that an !e solved only !y a statesmanship that sees o&r tro&!les -rom the vie2point o- the ommon 2el-are o- h&manity. C&st 2hat m&st !e done< We m&st -ind the method !y 2hi h the prod& ers, -rom the man in the dit h to the manager in the o--i e, the men and 2omen in every a tivity o- ivili5ation, 2ill re eive the eE&ivalent o- the val&es they reate. There o&ld then !e no s& h thing as poverty any2here, and there o&ld !e no s& h thing as enormo&s and &seless a &m&lation o- 2ealth. 1&t there 2o&ld !e more than eno&gh -or all. ;iterally every!ody 2o&ld !e 2ealthy, i- the s&m total o- 2ealth ann&al reated !y the ra e 2ere eE&ita!ly distri!&ted in proportion to the tho&ght reation and the la!o&r reation o- ea h. .ome 2o&ld have very m& h more than others !&t all 2o&ld have a!&ndan e. Do not overloo3 the -a t that altho&gh there are s& h vast n&m!ers o- 2ealth reators idle no2 thro&gho&t the 2orld, nevertheless there is a large s&rpl&s o- -ood and goods in addition to the enormo&sly greater ann&al a &m&lation o- apital, As the matter no2 stands, 2hat prevents that all important eE&ita!le distri!&tion o- the 2ealth ann&al reated< +n a 2ord it is simply the vario&s -orms o- h&man sel-ishness that have rystalli5ed into spe ial privileges -or the -e26 and the di--i &lty is not only that 2ealth a &m&lates in some pla es 2hile poverty is a ent&ated else2here, !&t also that the me hanism o- prod& tion passes into the o2nership o- those -e2 2ho have no other motive -or operating it than that o- gain6 and there an !e no pro-it 2hen the people annot !&y. 'en e the shops and -a tories are !e oming in reasingly idle. The Theosophi al philosophy is eE&al to the sit&ation. We m&st hammer home that tr&th o- the a!sol&te 0nity o- the Ra e. People m&st learn that there an !e no s& h thing as personal gain at the e/pense oothers. We m&st !e aggressively a tive in destroying the 2alls that have !een !&ilt !et2een gro&ps oiti5ens and !et2een the nations. As tri!es have gro2n into nations, nations m&st no2 gro2 into the Common2ealth o- the World. We shall never have 2orld pea e &ntil 2e have destroyed the rivalries !et2een the separated nations, !e a&se 2as is th res&lt o- e onomi stri-e. There an !e no !etter ill&stration than Capan at .hanghai. 'er one demand there 2as: @.top the !oy ott on the sale o- my goods@. +t amo&nted simply to the onvin ing arg&ment: @1&y my goods or + 2ill shoot yo&@. The e onomi a&se o- 2ar is not al2ays so o!vio&s !&t it is al2ays there in some -orm. The -irst step to2ard the ret&rn o- prosperity is -or the nations o- the 2orld to learn that s&!stit&ting o? operation -or sel-ish isolation 2ill pay in the material as 2ell as in the moral sense. They m&st learn that greed is :&st as !ad -or a nation as -or an individ&al. They m&st !e told plainly that nationalism is !&t a narro2 -orm o- sel-ishness, and that no matter ho2 m& h it may !e gilded and glori-ied !y sentiment it leads to &ltimate disaster. +t m&st not !e s&pposed that in a matter o- s& h omple/ity the gro&nd an !e overed in an ho&r. Too many -a tors are involved. 1&t there is an e/ eedingly important one that sho&ld not !e overloo3ed !e a&se it alone 2o&ld perpet&ate the pro!lem a-ter many other di--i &lties 2ere removed. The displa ing o- men !y ma hinery is the point. +t is a ase o- a !ene-i ent thing !eing the temporary means o- ma3ing tro&!le. A -e2 ent&ries ago the 2or3men !elonged to the estate on 2hi h they 2ere !orn. 1&t even so their lot 2as !etter in the De&dal Age than it 2as a-ter the ma hine introd& ed -a tory li-e. The Page 12

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ma hine enormo&sly in reased the prod& tive apa ity o- the 2or3ers and there-ore the 2ealth o- the 2orld. 'ad that s&dden in reased o- 2ealth !een eE&ita!ly distri!&ted in higher 2ages, and in reased standards o- living, all h&manity 2o&ld have !ene-ited. 1&t, and here again is 2here Theosophy so learly e/plains the present sit&ation, the development o- ompassion has not !een eE&al to the development o- intelle t. Capital too3 too m& h and gave la!o&r too little. 1y la2, as 2ell as !y ompetition, 2ages 2ere 3ept at the minim&m and the ho&rs o- la!o&r at the ma/im&m. Dinally, organi5ation gave la!o&r the po2er o- olle tive !argaining, !&t inventive geni&s -illed the 2orld 2ith ma hinery so rapidly, and 2ealth onseE&ently ame so -ast, that olle tive !argaining had little e--e t as an eE&ali5ing agent. 'ave yo& tho&ght o- the rapidity 2ith 2hi h ma hinery is displa ing people< Dorty or -i-ty years ago lamp lighters 2al3ed rom orner to orner thro&gh the ities lighting ea h gas lamp as they 2ent. There 2as an army o- lamp lighters. No2 2e have ele tri ity and a single s2it h an instantly do the 2or3 o- a m&ltit&de o- men. Re ently an Ameri an inventor -o&nd a 2ay o- ma3ing -or J7.#= an a&tomo!ile -rame that previo&sly ost a h&ndred dollars. That greatly in reased the general 2ealth !&t it also p&t nearly three tho&sand men in one -a tory o&t o- 2or3. That displa ement o- people is going on in every department o- ind&stry. Do not -orget that the ma hine age has only 2ell !eg&n. Dar greater inventions than 2e no2 have 2ill ome. That is nat&ral and inevita!le. The e/isting 2ealth o- the 2orld 2ill !e do&!led again and again as invention ontin&es, &ntil -inally a tenth o- the pop&lation an prod& e more than the ra e an ons&me, and nine?tenths o- the people 2ill have neither 2or3, 2ages nor in omes. That is 2hat 2e shall &ltimately ome to &nder the present e onomi system, i- it ontin&es. Altho&gh the distress is 2orld?2ide, and altho&gh the sit&ation has -or many months !een gro2ing 2orse, not a single statesman any2here has proposed any remedy that sho2s the slightest grasp o- the -&ndamental prin iples involved in the pro!lem. None o- them seem to have the slightest on eption o2here the tro&!le lies6 so they tal3 o- modi-ying the tari--, the rearrangement o- 2ar de!ts, and ho2 to revive -oreign tradeA That is a!o&t as sensi!le as to say that a good remedy -or poverty is to -ind a million dollars that some!ody else has lostA 'o2 an -oreign trade !e revived 2hen the people in any parti &lar nation annot even !&y the goods already there< The tro&!le is not 2ith -oreign trade !&t 2ith domesti trade 2hi h is paralysed !e a&se a!o&t a -o&rth o- the people have no money to spend. .tatisti s sho2 that in the 0nited .tates the p&r hasing po2er o- the -armer pop&lation alone has shr&n3 -rom si/teen tho&sand million dollars a year to less than -ive tho&sand million dollars. That means a domesti trade loss o- eleven tho&sand million dollars ann&ally or more than t2i e o&r total -oreign trade at its !estA And 2hat is the loss thro&gh the en-or ed idleness o- a!o&t t2elve million 2age earners< Perhaps not less than t2enty tho&sand million dollars more. .& h -ig&res ma3e all the tal3 a!o&t 2ar de!ts and loss o-oreign trade !eing responsi!le -or o&r tro&!les loo3 -oolish. The tro&!le lies -ar deeper than any &rrent ir &mstan e. +t is inherent in the e onomi system itsel-. +t is impro!a!le that the plat-orm o- any e/isting politi al party in the 2orld ontains the sol&tion o- o&r pro!lem. +t is lear that the present system has -ailed and that its apologists an neither &nderstand 2hy nor o--er a reasona!le remedy. The -&t&re system 2ill pro!a!ly evolve -rom the r&ins o- the present one as 2e grad&ally learn -rom trial and error. 1&t any plan to !e s& ess-&l m&st em!ody ertain -&ndamental prin iples. +t m&st test all its meas&res !y the r&le o- the greatest good to the greatest n&m!er and see every pro!lem -rom the vie2point o- the ommon 2el-are o- the ra e. Apparently 2orld?2ide &pheavals are impending, and many time?hono&red instit&tions 2ill disappear and Page 1%

Adyar Pamphlets

A World in Distress: The Remedies...

No. 172

ne2 ones 2ill !e evolved. We may pass thro&gh a period o- stress and t&r!&len e that 2ill lear a2ay m& h old Barma rapidly as the -o&ndation o- a ne2 and !etter ivili5ation is laid. 1&t &nder the !ene-i ent la2s o- nat&re nothing an happen that sho&ld not o &r, and o&t o- the haos and storm 2ill emerge a -iner h&manity, 2ith less sel-ishness, and a greater love o- li!erty, 2ith more toleran e, 2ith more h&mility, and 2ith 3no2ledge that rests &pon e/perien e 9 the only tr&e 3no2ledge there is.

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