The onslaught of the new

In Britain in 2023, many are suffering from real, material poverty. Although still very wealthy, Britain has recently become more shamefully unequal. The pomp of the Coronation, the richly-dressed guests and the following celebration extravaganza party might recall the words of Maitreya: “where the rich parade their wealth before the poor”.

How can income reform provide room for spiritual development while at the same time involving all areas of our lives — physical, emotional, social, and what we might call the intuitive aspect of our life?

It is 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.

Mounting income and wealth inequalities are among the most pressing issues of our time. People around the world are becoming aware of their detrimental impact on our social and economic lives, and are looking for solutions. Having access to accurate and comprehensive data on inequalities is therefore crucial if we are to collectively take the right actions and decisions.

Universal Basic Income (UBI) can be defined as “Periodic, universal, unconditional cash payments to individuals to provide an income floor for all citizens.” It is ‘universal’ in that it goes to all members of society. It is ‘basic’ in that it is enough to meet all of an individual’s or a family’s basic needs. And it provides unconditional, recurring ‘income’ payments.

One of the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic is that capitalism is unable to respond adequately to basic health needs because of the profit motive. The same is actually true of all other basic needs: food, housing, education, energy, care for the elderly.

How would a person from another planet describe our times? Key traits seem to be selfishness, based in a sense of separateness which springs from a lack of connection with our true nature; greed, competition and complacency, which keep us addicted to materialism. Add to this diseased situation the lust for power, and the result is the enslavement of much of humanity today to commercialization and consumerism.