Consciousness-Based Education - Maharishi University of ...

CONSCIOUSNESS-BASED EDUCATION AND Governmentof human life—“to err is human” most appropriately expresses this sentiment—andthe disconnectedness between man-made institutions andnature’s government. These assumptions have become so fundamentalto the modern socio-political paradigm that they seldom, if ever, arisein political discussions.The political philosophy of His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi,however, directly challenges these assumptions, and answers the callfor more effective administration by promising to unfold the unlimitedpotential of every individual and every society. In doing so, Maharishidoes not advocate a new type of governmental structure, nor does headdress the needs of one type of government over another; rather heoffers practical programs appropriate to every government—communistic,capitalistic, democratic, or monarchist alike—that promise fulfillmentto the nation and its citizenry (1995a).Maharishi has outlined his political philosophy in a recently publishedwork entitled Maharishi’s Absolute Theory of Government: Automationin Administration. In this publication Maharishi notes that theprinciples of his theory can be located in the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇ, anaspect of the Vedic literature of ancient India. Maharishi explains that“the Rāmāyaṇ 1 presents the eternal record of perfection in every areaof life,” adding that “here, in the context of government, the AbsoluteTheory of Government locates perfect administration in Rāmāyaṇ” (p.41). The purpose of this paper is to locate the fundamental principlesof Maharishi’s Absolute Theory of Government in the Rāmāyaṇ, andillustrate how Maharishi’s thoroughly modern message is expressed inthe language of this ancient text. It will not attempt to examine everytheme of Maharishi’s book, but will select a few of the most significanttopics as illustration.Absolute, Supreme GovernmentPolitical theorists ordinarily define government as a set of formal institutionswith supreme or sovereign authority over a wide range of political,social, and economic activities. These promote economic and socialwellbeing, protect the nation from domestic and international turmoil,1We have adopted the convention of transliteration used by Maharishi in his Absolute Theory ofGovernment: Automation in Administration, which enables those without formal Sanskrit trainingto more accurately pronounce the Sanskrit expressions.144