Chapter 3Modern need not mean

Advanced

• We are told that we have progressed with times

• There are newer technologies and discoveries and inventions which have led to development

• We discussed in the last chapter most of the modern discoveries are actually rediscovery of vedic knowledge

• Let us now look at those advancements which are truly modern contributions and decide if they are advancements or fallbacks…

Back in the vedic age, information was disseminated through dhwanis (sounds) in the form of srotas.

As the yugas started devolving, there arose a need for documentation. The vedic knowledge was documented on the Bhojpatra, extracted from the bark of the tree (did not require to cut trees).

3300 years later Chinese invented paper which started the era of massive deforestation.

Then America gave us e-communication. Today, this sophisticated technology has blessed us with exposure to radiation, cancer and a host of other nervous system disorders.

A simple solution could have been to follow the vedic masters and growing more trees to fulfill the needs of nature…

From srotas to emails

From local artisans to Industrial revolution

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Industrial Revolution gave us industries, machine-made goods and flourishing economies of certain countries.

It also led to:•displacement of traditional arts and crafts•depletion of scarce resources•problems of disposal of industrial waste•widespread pollution of air, land and water

Once again we are thinking of returning to vedic way of life with concepts of sustainable and eco-friendly development.

From organic farming to green revolutionGreen revolution involved:

1.Greater use of fertilisers disturbing soil’s balance2.Use of pesticides, poisoning our food and environment3.Irrigation methods that interfered with natural course of rivers adding to our water problems4.Genetically Modified High Yielding Variety of seeds that are slowly altering our genes and making us weaker and more prone to diseaseOnce again, there is a move towards organic and chemical free farming and the western countries are creating vaults to preserve the ‘heirloom’ seeds – seeds which are original, untreated and unmodified.

From Amrit to the White RevolutionOur ancients referred to milk as ‘amrit’.

Today you get this amrit in plastic packets at every second shop because of White Revolution. This amrit (milk) contains:•hormones and steroids injected into the cattle to increase milk production, resulting in disease•dirty water and more chemicals added to increase its shelf-life and quantity, a direct cause of cancer •antibiotics that are given to keep the cows alive, otherwise they would die of the unhygienic conditions and inhuman treatment•Curse of the mother, whose calf is abandoned to fend for itself so that you get its share of milk

Toxic Consumption• As we open our refrigerator to take out the can of cola or packed food, we

think we are blessed to be living in the 21st century. We find it hard to imagine how our ancestors survived without all these good things. According to recent estimates of Centre for Science in Public Interest, the chemical in colas, is causing about 15,000 cancers in the US population

• All those who think beauty industries has flourished over the years bestowing us with all the great smelling, toiletries, should just check the labels of their bath soaps and shampoos for the words SLS and SLES. Modern health experts have confirmed that these cause direct damage to the hair fall, skin, children’s skin and eyes and even leads to liver toxicity. They are also associated with incidents of cancer and disruption of the reproductive system

Nuclear PowerIn mid-20th century we thought we had found the solution to energy crisis of the world with the discovery of nuclear power. What we did not foresee,•The lady who first discovered radio activity, Madam Curie, herself died of radioactive poisoning •The disasters at Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Fukushima and Chernobyl •There is no technology, till date, to eliminate radioactive waste once it has been created putting our planet under grave threat

TehnotainmentIn the vedic times, students would live in ashrams of the Gurus to receive knowledge and skills. Their activities included discussing the lessons and practicing them, sciences, mathematics, literature, arts and sports besides collecting alms, carrying out chores and serving their teachers. Today the kids spend their time fiddling with the computer mouse or the mobile phone or the television remote or the ipads and video games.Result?Bespectacled kids with drooping shoulders, bent spine, little or no strength, blank faces and a directionless life.

Development? Definitely not.