I was inspired to write this after watching the movie Gandhi. It was shown how the famous nonviolent activist would spend much of his time weaving simple fabrics in keeping with his moral convictions. He felt that because most of India was poor, he must also remain poor in solidarity.
In the second part of the film Mohandas is taught by his wife how to weave fabric. She laughs that he was born with 10 thumbs because he cannot seem to get the hang of it. But after time goes by, as in all things, with solemn effort put forth, Mohandas begins to get better and better. He is shown weaving in scene after scene. I began to wonder what if he makes too many clothes. Is there such a thing as too much?
I suppose if you have 10 billion people on earth and each person has need only for 3 garments, making 30 billion garments is a good idea. But you wouldn't make 100 billion.
People have used the term supply and demand to represent how producing something should be commensurate with people's desire for a thing.
There are probably many nuanced ideas we can go through. You have the producer that wants to make something for someone, and the consumer that wants to use something someone made. And sometimes the producer can be the consumer if you use what you make.
To put it simply, however, making more than what is needed is immoral because you are expending energy for no reason. And storing something for too long takes a lot of time and energy.
In a money-based economy where you charge for goods and services and someone pays money for them, it makes sense that when you have more supply and less demand, you would charge less so that you don't have to spend resources storing the product that no one wants. But in a love-based economy where you create goods and services to help others and someone uses them responsibly, you would produce based on those loving desires of others.
So what would be an example of an unloving use of a good or service versus a loving use of a good or service? Let's illustrate.
Say we had a love-based gift economy. I walk into a cell phone store with the intention of getting a cell phone. The clerk at the store wants to give it to me. But he notices that my intentions are impure. My intention is to take the phone and sell it to someone else and get money out of the transaction. I don't want to use the phone myself. But I lie and say the phone is for my own use. The clerk senses I have ulterior motives and asks clarifying questions. I continue to lie and obfuscate the truth. When I notice he does not trust what I'm saying, I attempt to distract him from the matter by changing the subject. When that doesn't work, I point out flaws in his attitude, general appearance, and behavior. When that doesn't work, I call him names and berate him. And so on and so on. I may actually succeed in getting the cell phone if I successfully exploit one of the clerk's emotional injuries or perhaps I just end up stealing the phone. If I'm not caught, I will sell that phone to someone else and reap the consequences of my unloving desires.
But say the desires of the consumer were loving. I walk into to the store because I would like a cell phone to use. As a food distributor, I learned of phones with better technology to help me in my affairs. I found someone who could still use my old phone and gave it to them. Now I am getting a new phone. I greet the clerk, introduce myself, and explain why I'm there. I appreciate the chance to get to know this person. I appreciate the service that is rendered to me as far as the shop being clean, the clerk being friendly and helpful, and all that went into the creation and maintenance of the shop. I find a phone I could use. I make sure that the clerk feels I am the best person who could use that phone based on my current desires and interests which are all loving. The clerk agrees, makes sure I know how to properly operate the phone and sends me on my way. I go about my life and use the phone when it benefits me and others to do so. I use the phone to help me in my work and to maintain social connections. As a food distributor, I also don't charge anyone for the services I render and conduct myself with love. I don't use the phone to help meet any of my addictions. I take care of the phone and make sure it doesn't get dropped and is not exposed to extreme temperatures. When I'm finally done using it, I give it to someone else who can use it, return it to the store I got it from, or properly dispose of it if no one else wants it.
From these 2 examples, we can draw some distinctions between loving and unloving behaviors either as a producer or consumer in a gift economy.
So what about the problem of producing too much?
According to the Divine Truth teachings, people who develop in love learn about the Law of Desire. The Law is basically that, when you have a loving desire, events transpire to help you attain that thing. This can include the development of a feeling in the heart of someone else who may want to help you get that which you desire.
So let's use the example of an Indian woman named Sana who wants a garment. We'll call this story...
...Sana's Dress
There is a social gathering in Sana's community coming up in a week. In her heart, she begins feeling about the event and what a joyous occasion it would be. She hopes that she can acquire a garment suitable for the event and other such occasions. This would be a very special robe with her two favorite colors, green and red. Some kind of floral decoration would be wonderful. But in her economy, such fine dresses are rarely enjoyed except by those who have a lot of money. She doesn't have any money herself and will not press her family for the means she requires.
But somehow Sana is not discouraged. She knows that she could have the dress and what a pleasure it would be to wear it in the company of her countrypeople. The days pass by and the event gets closer. Whenever she thinks about the event, her mind again turns to the dress. She begins to think of situations that may come to pass where she could acquire her dress. It is almost as though Sana can feel the fabric on her skin. Her imagination is so vivid.
Her mother watches her and accuses her of daydreaming and being unproductive with her time. Sana immediately feels shame. She looks for ways to work hoping her mother will be pleased and not chastise her again. But as she works, she cannot loosen the feeling of what a great time she will have at the community event. She imagines the people she will see and the games she will play and the rituals that will be performed with honor. She begins to feel that she will have a good time whether or not she has the dress she wanted and is happy that her heart can be content with her humble situation.
The sun moves in the sky and the day turns to night. But before Sana prepares for bed, the house comes alive as an unexpected visitor comes to the door. It is her beloved Aunt Jhalak. The many members of Sana's house greet Aunt Jhalak. One of the children explores Aunt Jhalak's handbag for presents while Sana's mother hugs her sister. But to Sana, Aunt Jhalak's arrival seems to be a special gift from God just for her. Sana and her family stay up past their normal bed times to hear Jhalak's stories.
Before long, each member of the house has fallen asleep in their spot or retired to another room.
Aunt Jhalak surveys the house and turns to Sana, "I think we are the only two left awake." Sana responds in agreement. "Tell me, my dear, how things are with you. Are you happy and healthy?"
"Very much so," Sana responds. "And even more because you decided to visit."
"Ah, but I have nothing to give you today, my lovely one."
"Yes, but it is enough that you are here. I feel like you were delivered to me by the wings of the angels."
Aunt Jhalak looks in her niece's eyes, half-startled by her generous overtures. "But it is good only to see you. It is the best welcome after my long travels. Tell me, are you looking forward to the gathering?"
"Of course, I think about it all the time."
"And what have you got to wear for the occasion?"
"I have all that I need, dear Aunt. I am quite settled."
As she utters these words, Sana immediately wonders if she has told a lie to her Aunt. It was only hours ago that she felt sure that she would enjoy the festival without the dress she had been dreaming about. But now, she seems aware of further stirrings in her heart. It is almost as though the surprise visit by her beloved family relation awakened her to new possibilities. After all, life seems to be full of its surprises.
Jhalak stares at her niece, wondering about what could be going on with her. She too knows about wondrous things. She asks herself if there is something she can do for this beautiful girl. Jhalak bids Sana to get some rest. Sana agrees but makes sure Jhalak has a comfortable bed before she finally rests her head. As the pair fall into slumber, their hearts seem to beat as one in love for each other. Just as the seamstress spins her wheel, a thousand invisible threads begin to weave together in the atmosphere of the Indian home.
Sana awakes the next day. It is the day before the gathering and she anxiously puts herself into all the preparations that must be made. Meanwhile, Aunt Jhalak stays close beside her and they tangle themselves in conversation throughout the day. For Sana, her hoped-for garment is a secret jewel she must keep close to her chest. If she speaks about it, it may never come to pass. But her aunt fills her mind with such merry and cheerful stories, she feels that she is tempted out of her cave. Sana suddenly effuses her secret to her aunt. Jhalak listens carefully to the designs of her niece's heart. She too does not have the means to purchase such a garment outright. But a youthful resolve fills her heart as well to help Sana get the thing she desires.
Against her sister's wishes, Jhalak pulls Sana away from the house and they go out in the village. Jhalak and Sana use every opportunity and speak to every welcoming ear to see if there is some hope, some thread that may lead them to their goal.
Soon, the day's light begins to burn out in the sky. They know it is time to make their way back home. For a time, they talk together about everything but the one thing on both their minds. After briefly pausing, they decide to face the reality. The gathering is tomorrow, and Sana will not have her dress.
Sana searches her mind for some way to quell any sadness in her aunt. She feels as though she owes her a great debt. Sana starts to tell her Aunt Jhalak how sorry she is for putting these crazy dreams in her mind.
Aunt Jhalak listens patiently and after Sana spills out her shame, she says, "My darling, there is nothing you may apologize to me for. And you have not placed a crazy idea in my mind. The heart of the dreamer must never be punished and woe to whoever dares. If a dreamer commits any sin, it is that they don't chase after the thing they dream for."
Sana's heart begins to melt by the love pregnant in her aunt's words. Surely, she thinks, it is a treasure in itself to be believed in.
As the night falls, Sana finds herself seeking her bed earlier than normal.
The next day she wakes up to find her heart contented once again. She knows the day will go well despite lost hopes and any possible chastisements from her mother. She prepares for the festival and joins her family at the gathering. The day goes by with much merriment. There is singing, dancing, performances, and times for venerating the spirit of the village.
Sana treats every opportunity as a surprise gift and makes sure not to turn away the hands of the gift-givers. Her heart is buoyant, and her spirit seems more alive than ever before.
When she is not focused on her immediate activity, she notices the eyes of her friends, local villagers, and even those of villagers from far away. It seems that all those around her are as happy and jazzed as she is. What's more, her light spirit appears to brighten the faces of even the grumpiest of onlookers. In the whole day, there is no kind gesture to which she will show indifference, no nasty attitude she won't pray may be turned sunnier.
And the hearts of those around her are indeed impressed by her. So much so that people ask about her, wishing to know of her.
Aunt Jhalak appoints herself as guide to all who have questions about Sana. Soon a small convocation of villagefolk, hearing of her wish to have her own special dress, secretly move about, working to grant her wish. Before long, connections are made, the rumors of which even meet Sana's ears. Her delight turns to intense gratitude, and, try as she might, she cannot contain the sweetness of the news. As her eyes flood with tears, her onlookers become only more resolved and begin to murmur in absolute statements of what must be done. Wild promises are made while those of quieter resolution go about the business of finding Sana's dress.
Some people turn to their homes to search for any garments that may resemble what everyone has now agreed must be Sana's. Various options are brought before Aunt Jhalak and each one is considered but ultimately dismissed. In the heat of the goings-on, a wild bird call is heard in the distance. Aunt Jhalak turns her head and feels a different kind of light breeze kiss her neck. Others of the crowd notice the change too.
The crowd falls silent then. The way is made for a peculiar woman who few have seen before. She walks up to Aunt Jhalak with a bundle in her arms. She pinches the top of the folds and carefully lets the robe she was carrying fall until stood, buckling gently in the wind.
Green and red are the colors with a floral arrangement of a careful and delicate beauty. The crowd's eyes move from the dress to Jhalak. Before too long, they notice that while she will not accept the robe, she also will utter no words of dismissal. Jhalak hears footsteps behind her and turns, knowing exactly who will be there. As Sana moves in close to her cherished Aunt, she surveys the dress. She silently asks what Love would bring her this gift. Then she turns and gazes into the eyes of her aunt. Without any words, a mountain of feeling passes between them.
What began as a simple example turned into a powerful story - at least for me. I hope it was for you too. I must also thank whatever spirit decided to use me to write all that because I daresay it wasn't all me.
But there is an example for you. One of fiction, but perhaps closer to the truth than what we may think.
The point of the story is to illustrate a simple idea. The Law of Desire answers the pure desires of the heart. It's like Jiminy Cricket said, "When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are... you're dream will come true," but with the proviso that the desire must be loving and pure. Incidentally, unloving desires are also granted. Unfortunately, with unloving desires the people who help you achieve your goal are pulled down along with yourself. With loving desires, everyone is helped everyone is helped in the wish fulfillment process. There is also greater assistance given to those who have loving desires because God is helping in the process.
"...with God, all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
If God created a law that helps answer all the loving desires of your heart, then firstly, we can see that God must be very loving Lerself (refer to the previous post where I suggest pronouns for God).
Secondly, God must have calculated that the fulfillment of all our loving desires would not tax the system to the point where the environment would degrade or the people would be harmed. That means theoretically, we all live in large houses without hurting anyone. When you begin to contemplate that, it is another extraordinary feat God has achieved.
So where do we go from here? The best way, I believe, is to go about proving that these things are true. If I have a loving desire, how can I build faith in that desire and do things to help achieve my goal? Can I act in such a way where I don't steal from others, hurt them, or abuse them but still get what I want? Can have what I want without burdening the environment? Can I get what I want but only love myself, others and the environment in the process?
And what about Gandhi and his garment-making? The opposite is also true in his case. If you are developed in love, you only produce as much as is desired. You wouldn't produce more unless there was at least a desire developing for that thing in the world. It's an "If you build it, they will come," sort of mentality.
For more information, check out these Divine Truth videos covering the subject:
Law of Desire Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XIUzc8CULA
Law of Desire Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6qaXczC-d4
Comments
Post a Comment