A transparent world We express ourselves not only in language and the arts, but also in what we build. We make tools and machines to work with, as an extension of our body, we raise our children, and we create systems to support us. Maybe we could say, what humankind has been best at, is making those extensions of our body; a little less good, at raising our children, and what we have been pretty bad at, is creating systems supporting wellbeing for all, including our environment. As the Dalai Lama says in his speeches, science in the past years has been developed mainly in the direction of meeting material desires. Over the whole - education, science, religion, politics, administrative systems, communication - in all fields, a lot of properties of those systems are actually a mirror of the sum of destructive attitudes over the past centuries. Many systems are closed, intolerant, proud and selfish, arrogant, ignorant, mostly designed to satisfy needs on short term, not connected with each other, and they act upon assumptions. They stir up emotions and are sometimes destructive, instead of contributing to peace and prosperity; and we get angry and frustrated. Its not a nice picture, as it shows how urgently a change in education for the next generations to come is needed, and why this is the core message the Dalai Lama is bringing: Establish secular ethics in education. Improve our education system. If the next generations succeed in developing genuine concern for others, being strong and compassionate, wanting honesty and transparency - communication and actions mirror our view on human values and the intention to contribute to the wellbeing of all - this transformation will be expressed in our systems, and they will build a new world. Once this trend is set, it wont take more than a few decades before the results will be noticeable. Its the people that determine how systems work; its dependent on the people whether there is corruption and abuse of power; whether there is friendliness and patience and concern. This goes for all levels in society, not only in the top of the government, as so many people seem to think nowadays. So as long as we dont change, nothing will change. But, in the meantime, there is no reason to stop working on improving our systems. As it is now, systems may trigger frustration and anger, disturbing our peace of mind. Building something good, will give something in return: Not only because it generates positive emotions, but it is also a protection against negative tendencies. To name a few examples: An open system with intervision and supervision, where those who use it are informed about the way it works and have a safe way to complain, gives little room for corruption. Administrative systems, based on trust towards its users instead of suspicion, will generate cooperation. Job rotation in management and political functions makes it impossible to cling to the money and power the position gives. A system in churches, where people are encouraged to think and speak, diminishes the possibility to use religion as an instrument of power, will create respect within the group for other members, and so also for those outside the group. Independent media, where multiple opinions and views are published, diminish the arrogance of authorities. Better systems for mental health care could diminish violence. Those things have been accomplished in several countries in the world, changes like that are certainly within our reach. Everywhere we work and build, with the basic view to protect all life, for now and on the long term, we could help and encourage to design systems with the intention to be of service and to contribute to our wellbeing, and give them virtues - translated into properties a system should have. Based on the truth, that people rather give than take, rather help than ask for help. Based on people controlling technology, and not the other way around. Systems that are open, humble and of service, patient, respectful, more focussed on internal errors instead of too protective against external enemies, based on trust, sharing and connected with other systems. This will automatically imply, systems have less harmful (side)-effects.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 09:37:16 +0000
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