Downfall of Civilizations.....4

Each generation produces its genius and knowledge of the age, which gets assimilated in one or two patriarchs---the actual flag bearer of that ‘knowledge’---very aptly defined as ‘philosophers’ or the wise. Wisdom is not the end product of a man’s evolution from baser to higher attainment of values! It is the essence of human values, which are the common feature in the lives of people and transpires for generations together---going through many disciplines imposed by the society, religions, judiciary, state or self-imposed. These disciplines, when applied earnestly---keeping in view the general welfare of the society in mind, and also keeping in tune with general character of the masses chisel out characteristics of human values, deeply saturated with moral values, which are the epitome of those times, reflected through the lives of the chosen few. Does this minority really represent the totality of intelligence of an era or is this a statement of the vagrant minds? This needs to be probed deeply.

Here it is equally important to make a distinction between wisdom and perfection in human life which the scholars often confuse as one and the same thing. Wisdom is the byproduct of the finer sensitivities; genesis of values of life; knowledge; good judgment and prudence, etc. It is always relative and subject to many limitations. It is the knowledge that ultimately determines the kind of experience, judgment, prudence one is capable of discharging in daily life. And knowledge is not only progressive but always relates to the intelligence of an era, that is---the progress it has achieved up to a certain time. Wisdom is the essence of intelligence, whereas perfection is the source of all knowledge. Therefore the wisdom of each era is distinct and its values are always at variance. As the material affluence that each civilization supports, is compatible to the advancement in science and technology; similarly culture, the mother of social sciences, determines the maturity of ‘thought’ of that era. The real parameter to evaluate as to how far the ‘thought’ has gone deep into the inner portals of the minds of the people can easily be assessed from the general behavior of the masses: the system of governance: their art and culture etc. The more deeply the mind (intellect) is utilized---which incidentally has never been utilized more than 7 percent of its capacity---more materially exuberant and well versed would be the lives of the people. The resultant euphoria of material affluence, almost always bursts out in the form of over indulgence, violence and corruption.
It clearly indicates, the factors which make civilizations rich, are either lacking in maturity or are insufficient in content to sustain and retain their shine of refinement---if not forever, then at least for a protracted period of time, till another better ‘thought’ unravels its benign environment and gives birth to a new civilization. Alas, this has never been so! Though civilizations flourished in different regions, during different times in history, each went through the same methodology and employed, invariably, the same tools for their own annihilation. It is pertinent to note, fresh civilization never was born out of the ashes of a bygone civilization. Perhaps when one is vanished it destroys along with, its roots too---its literature.
There is no disputing the fact that the reason for material advancement is science. Since science is a system of education for the study of nature, fine arts are the result of inner development, cultured by human values. Whether it be the fine arts or science, the major contributor for their growth is education. Mere study and cramming of books is not education. It is not simply the study of natural sciences but a complete way of life, a process of learning that spans from birth to death. It (education) is the complete study of matter, life and mind, which evolves man from barbarism to civilization: Stone Age to robots: wheel to rockets: and now has brought him out, from his traditional function of reproduction to cloning. Education makes him a better man, helps him create a healthy society in the polluted environments; raise him from immorality to morality. Whenever the purpose of education is deflected or distorted, decline of society is imminent. Its purpose is not to churn out scholars, whose only proficiency is the ability to recite like parrots the crammed data acquired from the books but to make the man more refined in every sphere of life: clean the atmosphere of all impurities he lives in, and finally make the universe a state of peace and happiness. The Master has truly said:
The end of wisdom is freedom
The end of culture is perfection
The end of knowledge is love
The end of education is character
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