Moments 5: Preservationists, Science, and the Kogi

 I’ve been contemplating from time to time, whether idealism and rationalism (including intellectual enlightenment traditions of our modern understanding of religion, philosophy, spirituality, and modern ‘scientism’) have been a force that yield greater good or evil!?

Some insist evolution only progresses, however, great sages like J. Krishnamurti and David Bohm stressed, human intelligence has also proven (repeatedly) to de-evolve sometimes by millennia (“The Ending of Time,” [J. Krishnamurti and David Bohm in dialogue—also available live on YouTube]). In contrast, some modern scientists are quick to point out our quality of life has improved over the centuries due to living longer, less mass-massacres, advancements in science and technology, and such—however, those who reason this way should rather stress that our lives have improved ‘quantitatively’ and not necessarily ‘qualitatively’.

Some trends to illustrate: Countries that have the most impoverished economies (who are therefore poor quantitatively—e.g. possibly have poorer health due to shortages, droughts and catastrophe, less material wealth, shorter lives, etc.) have proven repeatedly in psychological surveys (which are qualitative) to be far more happy and soulful. Then it’s easy to imagine communities, tribes, and spiritually evolved societies, who lived on greater love in ancient times, were far more intelligent and evolved than modern, empty, and plastered realities of the modern world.

Another example that illustrates the above contrast: An ancient tribe that has lived untouched by modern civilization (documentary below, minutes: 35–75), find that modern science and technology has destroyed entire forests by incessant drilling and changing the fauna flora of Mother Nature. Preservationists with all of their modern discoveries and technological advances could do nothing to restore thousands of acres of destruction. To their amazement, they come to find a handful of elders have somehow managed—without the use of any technology or modern science—to restore the entire forest back to its original condition. When asked how such thing was done, the elders simply stated that they were guided by the spirit of nature and acted accordingly. 

So I ask you then, who is more evolved, the ancients who live on loving nature and spirit, or modern society living on anti-depressants, Prozac, and a zillion other things to fill that void and emptiness?

—Houman Z. Emami 🙏🏻

—-

References

1. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ftFbCwJfs1I, April 12, 2022

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