Ravanera: Many faces of self-gratification

ILLUSION of grandeur looms in different ways that reduces human beings to just self-gratification machines.

It is well manifested in the contemporaneous development paradigm that has only benefited and gratified one percent of the world’s population called neo-liberal capitalism. How can that economic system explain why the total wealth of some eighty families in the United States equals the combined assets of 3.6 billion people worldwide? Or why some 300 families in the Philippines aptly described as oligarchs control 72 percent of the country’s economy?

That growth-at-all cost development strategy is only successful in sacrificing the people and mother earth to the altar of greed and profit spawning climate change and violent extremism that if not addressed will end civilization. No way can we rectify climate change with the continuing emission of carbon dioxide through the non-stop use of fossil fuel perpetuated by some 19 corporations whose yearly raking is five trillion dollars or 10 million dollars per minute.

Don’t you know that it is the conclusion of scientists that in the next 50 years, if global warming will increase by two degrees Celsius, the ocean level will rise more than two meters high with the melting of the 386-meter-high iceberg in the Artic and the Antarctic?

Indeed, the individualized pursuit of wealth has brought forth a very exclusive economic paradigm, reinforcing social structures that breed social injustice, gross inequities and dehumanizing poverty. For those who have dreamt, struggled, sacrificed and even died, social transformation has been so elusive all these years despite 14 years of Martial Law and two people-powered revolutions. The structure breeding poverty is still as formidable as ever. Self-gratification goes on without let-up, striving for wealth, fame, power and recognition, and in the process, begets political power.

Self-gratification has become very glaring now-a-days as exemplified by politicians running for office as Election Day nears. As usual, the name of the game is self-aggrandizement. Has anyone touched on how to transform a highly skewed societal order where economic power begets political power? Never. In fact, many of these candidates are being supported by Cartels so that when these candidates win, their economic interest are well protected and their heavy rakings continue without let-up. I need not elaborate on this as this is what you call legally, res ipsa loquitor.

Self-gratification comes from the egoic mind, always striving for wealth, power and fame and when these are achieved, self-aggrandizement continues as the hole is bottomless.

The egoic mind if possessed by leaders like Hitler and Stalin has caused the deaths of millions of people brought about by ideological conflict, conquest and world wars, show-casing collective insanity.

How can the egoic mind be silenced that emanates from the mundane. The imperative call is to debunk the mundane, the shift from the mundane to the sublime and spiritual development. But even great religions have failed to correct such fundamental flaw. On the contrary, so-called spiritual leaders have amassed wealth and fame, brandishing egoic mind pretending to be the “anointed son” of God.

Self-gratification has wrought havoc and eminent crisis to humanity as shown in the lethal combination of an exclusive and unsustainable economic system, flawed political exercise that saw the rise of self-aggrandized leaders and so-called spiritual leaders dancing to the tune of the egoic mind. The eminent ending of self-gratification is now in the offing to be replaced by a new age paradigm of spirituality that follows the biblical lines, “serve the least of your brethren and you serve the Lord.” Remember the song, “walang sino man ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang. Walang sino man ang namamatay, para sa sarili lamang’.

The individualized pursuit of wealth is now over. It is now replaced by the collective power of the people called cooperativism where social justice, equity and sustainable development are advanced. From self-gratification, the call is now of service in the spirit of inter-connectedness as we belong to one human family. Yes, it should be prosperity for all and no one shall be left behind. Political exercise will shy away from choosing self-gratified candidates but those who will transform a highly skewed societal order. From self-gratification to social transformation for people, planet, prosperity and peace.