January/February 2023
In times of crisis, it is the poor and the weakest groups who are hit hardest. This happened during the stock market crash before World War II. It happened during the housing and banking crisis in 2008. It happened when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its worst, and it is happening now when war is raging in Europe. Those who rule — politicians, business leaders, multinational companies and others — provide for themselves and for commercial profits. At the same time, the poorest are neglected and end up in desperate situations without a safety net. The gap between rich and poor, both here in Norway and in the rest of the world, is growing and it is becoming visible to everyone.
We have gone too far in our individualism, so focused are we on our own identity that we fail to see the oneness of life. This ‘self-identification’ has led us to create a prevailing paradigm and systems that are based on the wrong principles: competition, division, separatism, inequality and war. This is in direct opposition to the inner reality, which humanity is about to experience, and which is the unity of human beings. The biggest division on earth today is the economic inequality between North and South — between the industrial nations and the emerging countries. But there are also class divisions and differences in the access to resources in individual countries.
It is therefore necessary to establish a system such as basic income that can distribute resources in a fairer way and contribute to a paradigm shift. We need a shift towards spirituality; to a paradigm that makes room for and stimulates human unity, compassion, which sees humanity holistically, as part of nature. The Ageless Wisdom Teaching gives an in-depth description of how to change our physical reality to systems based on sharing and justice, from separatism, greed and competition, and it contributes to the development of all aspects of consciousness. With such a shift, we will experience a real sense of community and equality, and a perspective on spirituality where the central aim is to look after both people and nature for growth and development. Such a change will prevent the poor from having to carry the biggest burden in times of crisis.
Several well-known leaders have advocated for basic income: In the 1960s, civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King argued in favour of it. He talked about poverty and what is needed to live a decent life. Not only should people’s basic needs be met — but everyone should have the opportunity to live and participate fully in society.
In 2020, Pope Francis urged the implementation of a Universal Basic Income in his new book Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future (Simon and Schuster 2020): “Recognizing the value to society of the work of non-earners is a vital part of our rethinking in the post-Covid world. That’s why I believe it is time to explore concepts like the Universal Basic Income (UBI): an unconditional flat payment to all citizens, which could be dispersed through the tax system. The UBI could reshape relations in the labor market, guaranteeing people the dignity of refusing employment terms that trap them in poverty. It would give people the basic security they need, remove the stigma of welfarism, and make it easier to move between jobs as technology-driven labor patterns increasingly demand. Policies like the UBI can also help free people to combine earning wages with giving time to the community.” (https://basicincome.org/news/2020/12/pope-francis-advocates-basic-income-in-new-book/) …
Maitreya’s teaching deals with unity, brotherhood and compassion. The task of Maitreya and the Masters of Wisdom is, among other things, to inspire us to distribute the world’s resources fairly and to take care of nature. In this way, we can create a global society “where no one lacks” the wherewithal to live a fulfilling life, and we can learn to live in right relationships with each other. We can all take part in this process of change and contribute to a much needed paradigm shift for justice and peace on earth. …
