CIVILIZATION
“Civilization”
is defined as human society that has highly developed material and spiritual
resources and a complex cultural, political, and legal organization; an
advanced state in social development.
English poet, essayist and critic Matthew
Arnold (1822-1888) has this to say about civilization. Here is the element or
power of conduct, of intellect and knowledge, of beauty, and of social life and
manners, and all needful to build up a complete human life.
Indian poet,
philosopher and pioneer of the transmission of Sufism to the West Hazrat inayat
Khan (1882-1927) has written a beautiful
paragraph on this subject. According to him the best way to understand
civilization is the spiritual way. Once a person understands spiritual
morality, he does not need to learn man-made morality, it will come by itself.
As soon as a man begins to regard the pleasure or displeasure of God in the
feeling of every person he meets, he cannot but become most refined, whatever
his situation in life.
Referring to
Sufi conception of God as the Beloved, he says the divine spirit exists in everyone---is practised in everyday life and
is considered in dealing with everybody.
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G.R.Kanwal
17th
December 2023
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