January/February 2023

The author, Kohei Saito, born in 1987, holds a doctorate in philosophy from Humboldt University of Berlin and is currently an associate professor at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo. He specializes in economic and social thought and is the youngest ever recipient of the Deutscher Memorial Prize for Karl Marx’s Ecosocialism: Capital, Nature, and the Unfinished Critique of Political Economy (translated into Japanese as Before the Flood). Saito sees a solution to the crisis of capitalism in Marx’s later works, and he plans to restore this idea in Capital in the Anthropocene, which differs from the conventional interpretation of Marx.

The impact of human economic activity on the Earth has been so great that Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Paul Crutzen, said that, geologically speaking, the earth has entered a new epoch, which he has named the Anthropocene. …

One of the key concepts in Marx’s reinterpretation is the idea of “common ” or “common together”. By common or commons, he means wealth that should be socially shared and managed by the people. It is “neither the commodification of everything, as in the case of market funda-mentalism, nor the nationalization of everything, as in the case of Soviet-style socialism. The third way, the Common, aims at the democratic management of things like water, electricity, housing, health care, and education as public goods, to be managed democratically by ourselves.”

In fact, for Marx, communism did not aim at a one-party dictatorship and state-run system like the Soviet Union, but rather at a society in which producers jointly manage and operate the means of production as a “common”. Furthermore, Marx envisioned communism as a society in which people manage not only the means of production but also the Earth as a “common”. …

Professor Saito explains that it is the “Common” that will replace capitalism and bring about “radical abundance” in the 21st century. For example, electricity should be a “common” because people today cannot live without it. “Like water, electricity must be guaranteed as a human right and cannot be left to the market, because the market will not grant the right of access to electricity to those who do not have money.” An example of how sustainable energy can be managed is the promotion of renewable energy through citizen power and energy co-operatives. He calls this “citizen-run” as opposed to privatization. …

The author concludes: “In the era of the climate crisis, we need to go one step further than policy change and aspire to a transformation of the social system. The ‘radical opulence’ that can be achieved by getting out of capitalism and achieving de-growth is the real counter-proposal from the late Marx.”

Editorial note: Share International would like to add the following comments which indicate the future economic structure advised by Benjamin Creme’s Master. It is obvious, given the crises facing humanity, that people are frustrated and angry. The growing impatience at the slow pace of change, coupled with the continued efforts on the part of ‘Big Money’ to maintain the status quo whatever the cost to the health of our planet, is driving a new wave of critique of our economic systems. Many now see this as the end time for gross capitalism. That said, we need to avoid an abrupt dislocation of society – all change takes time and acceptance of change requires an orderly and measured transition.

The Masters advocate a balanced and inclusive approach to the economics of the future. Benjamin Creme’s Master advises a balance of 70 per cent socialism and 30 per cent capitalism. This will meet the needs of all and makes possible a steady evolution, not revolution. Maitreya, too, has said that all real change takes time.

In Part One, I addressed the ‘efficiency of justice’ and the interdependence of all things. Part Two explores the concept of an ‘ideal’ civilization. In From the Mundane to the Magnificent, author Vera Stanley Alder describes autobiographic events that took place in rural England during World War II, where she had regular meetings with an advanced human being called Raphael*. He showed her how to ‘leave her body’ to see and explore the similar, if not identical, energetic structures of an atom, a human body and a solar system, illustrating that everything is interconnected, alive and has a consciousness on different levels. He also showed her a vision of what life could (and will?) be like, if people were to live as intimate and benevolent servants of nature instead of as ignorant exploiters.

Alder describes the landscape as seen from above: Beautiful scenery of the countryside that followed the natural contours of the land, with no hedged-in fields denoting property boundaries. There seemed to be no ploughed fields and no cattle. Animals could occasionally be seen wandering at large in family groups. But there were no ugly towns, billboards or railway junctions because the railway transport was all underground. The airship in which Alder and her companion travelled was propelled by a clean form of atomic energy, noiseless, fumeless and very economical, “drawn from the air itself and stored and released by means of the manipulation of vibrations and colour rays”, as Raphael explained. Public highways were beautiful ‘garden roads’, bordered by grasses, cereals, salad plants and herbs, which all people tended and planted with enthusiasm and delight. Rich stretches of fruit bushes and fruit trees were flanked by forests with a preponderance of nut trees. There was no large-scale cropping. The biochemistry of all plants and their action on the soil was carefully studied, and planting was always mixed, so that one type of plant helped another. This prevented pests and soil deficiencies. In all this wealth of harvest, with bees, butterflies and birds, everywhere people were observed to be happy, studying the soil together, planning the care of their joint land. …

Raphael describes how evolution must go on and although mankind, with its free-will, has determined to learn its lessons the hard way, the almost intolerable suffering and degradation thus engendered will stir and bring all that has been repressed to the surface. Being shown our present state so clearly, a great worldwide reaction of revulsion and aspiration will take place and root out our terrible complacency. “The power of this spiritual revolution will reorient the total attitude of humanity to such a pitch that the whole world atmosphere — or aura — will change. This change will enable the greatest event in world history to take place.” …

“Of what will the teachings consist, Raphael?” “They will give understanding of the human being’s real function on this planet, of his techniques in helping with the evolution of all the kingdoms in nature; with international relationships and the new world economics”; and they will give understanding of modes of living that would lead to a kind of world organism — rather than a world government — and a global religion in which “each faith will find its rightful place”.

Asking what she (Alder) could do to help, Raphael said to quietly make it known through writing, speaking and teaching — but only to those who seek.

…

* Benjamin Creme answers:
Q. (1) Is Raphael, in the book From the Mundane to the Magnificent by Vera Stanley Alder, a Master of Wisdom? (2) Was he a disciple of a Master working on the inner planes?
BC: (1) No. (2) Yes. (Share International, October 2011)

From the Polynesian Islands to the eastern seaboard of the United States, from Canada to South America, they called him by different names — the Healer, the Prophet, the Miracle Worker, God of the Dawn Light, the Wind God, the Teacher, the White-Robed Master. Although the names were different, the legends are sung the same: In Polynesia, they tell of three great ships that sailed from the West. Moving across the water, there appeared a fair-skinned man in a long white garment, brown hair and beard glowing gold in the morning sun. When He reached land, the people saw that His robe was dry. Thus they knew He was a God. Scholars ascribe this legend to the 1st century AD.

Among the Toltecs of central Mexico there lived a Prophet with gray-green eyes and golden sandals. With 12 disciples He taught the people His religion of peace.

The Mound Builders of North America told of a great Healer who could raise the dead and heal the sick. He walked among the people, hands raised in blessing. A mysterious cross graced each palm. Such are the stories whispered by the Holy Men and Keepers of the Legends for nearly 2,000 years.

Revealing the holy legends
In 1918, Lucile Taylor Hansen was a college student, spending her summer vacation with the Chippewa Indian tribe in Michigan. Her interest in their life was more than scholarly. Their language and dances, their culture and religion struck a richly harmonic chord in her soul. Dark Thunder, the chief, shared much of the tribal knowledge with her and one day told her of a Holy Man who had visited the tribe in distant times. This man came to the Indians when their empire was united, and great cities stretched for miles. Wherever He went the miracles followed, and always He spoke of the Kingdom of His Father.

In this brief story, Hansen sensed the germ of one much greater. That summer, a council of many tribes was called to tell the young student the holy legends. Her own gift to the council would be a book that would preserve their words for future seekers. Thus was born He Walked the Americas, a book pursued over two continents, during the course of 45 years. …

Review reprinted, with Bette Stockbauer’s permission, from Share International, August/September 1994

Benjamin Creme answers:
Q. You mentioned something about previous incarnations of the Master Jesus in America among Native Americans. Please give more information about this fact.
BC. Jesus taught the native American ‘Indians’ in the sixth and seventh centuries, predicting the coming of a great teacher from the East. Various forms of the name, Jesus, were known, at least until recently, in the oral tradition of the various tribes, North and South. He later went to Polynesia and taught the people of these islands. The only group I have encountered who know these facts are the Mormons. (Share International, November 1988)

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. …