I’m doing some amazing readings currently, simultaneously in the fundamental sciences and ancient indian thought. Both share a resonance in thinking which is also shared by some of the greatest minds in science and history like Schrödinger, Einstein and Toynbee-that the living diversity seen by our sights, actually has unity at its core. Everything in this universe -whether living or non living – has a single origin. We are all made up of the same fundamental particles arranged differently – the various kinds of complexities have evolved over the billions of years – of our atoms and molecules to make us what we are – a mindbogglingly large spread of species of living things. We humans live for merely a moment in the universal timespan and yet we have an urge to understand something of this timeless universe. But do we as a species, gain the far sightedness needed, to benefit from what the individual brilliant deductions that this thoughtful enquiry reveals?
To get an understanding of the sweep of human history, it is important to go beyond the usual mental boundaries of nation, religion, sect or community..
The history of humankind has shown one thing- that no human civilisation has been able to achieve a balance between prosperity and security. Where prosperity rises, disparity also rises and fear sets in. Fear comes from the disparity. When disparity dissolves into oneness with others, love is born. Therefore, a society which thrives on disparity cannot be stable and secure. For stability and security, what is needed is a sense of oneness, which comes from a spirit of tolerance and understanding towards each other and all things – the ancient Indian wisdom of ‘Vasudhaiv kutumbakam’-the whole world is one family.
This ancient indian thinking on oneness and its validation at some level by the facts discovered by the sciences, over the past few centuries, poses an interesting question for policing. How to improve tolerance in society and reduce disparities and self interest, so that there is less crime of hate and needs. The ancient thought combined with the rational understanding from science, points an enlightened way for all governance structures, especially the police and the political.
Policing done with a shortsightedness of individual cases alone, will never improve the sense of safety. A ‘far’ vision and an understanding is needed in its leaders, to put a salve on the wounds of disparity and hate in the society, in order to create ‘trusted policing’. Preventive policing, community policing are useful tools for the same.
