ROOPA: Research Project Summary

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Morality has a corresponding economic outcome that follows in the wake

of its measure of 'good & bad.' It's uncanny to say the least. If

morality indeed has its counter part in economics, ROOPA will prove the

biggest breakthrough in the field of economics since the invention of

capitalism.

 

ROOPA: Research Project Summary

 

The Economics Of Love & Hate:

Varna-Asrama Dharma

 

Raghu (AT) ROOPA (DOT) org

 

My dear friend, Vrindavan dasa, said he may know some professors

interested in helping research my writing project: ROOPA. The following

outlines the primary areas that need to be researched. This outline is

for those I have met over the years who were interested in helping. Now,

people can choose their area of interest to research and so formalize a

team for this project. The need for this project grows daily.

 

Devotees of India's Vedic life style are increasingly finding themselves

trying to understand their viewpoint in the ideological debates,

policies or local and national politics. The problem is that we are left

to box ourselves into a prefabricated set of terms and premises that are

really quite different from our own. Devotees invariably try to frame

their 'Vedic' position into this polarized and convoluted model of

liberal vs. conservative ideologues. This world view of politics is

completely dysfunctional.

 

There is an ever growing number of devotees and patrons of India's Vedic

ideal who are sketching out a new and refreshing social identity. This

invariably overlaps into a number of areas of political discourse. We

can make a substantial contribution to these discussions if we can

clarify a viable political alternative that translates smoothly in

modern economic terms. But, it must be crafted from our own set of

principles rather then those founded in a colonial era and the modern

times that have distorted them.

 

I believe that economic measures provide us with the broadest political

scope because economics is the sacred cow and world religion of the

modern day. Economics is also the most verifiable and so provides a

neutral ground to clarify our case to both ourselves and the world. As

Madhavisa once said, the economic liabilities of sinful activities is

just another example of the laws of karma at work. Karma accurately

plays out on every level-emotionally, physically, communally and with

ROOPA, we now see it financially. Morality has a corresponding economic

outcome that follows in the wake of its measure of 'good & bad.' It's

uncanny to say the least.

 

If morality indeed has its counter part in economics, ROOPA will prove

the biggest breakthrough in the field of economics since the invention

of capitalism.

 

ROOPA is about looking at the economic outcome of things over the long

term. The modern method looks almost exclusively at the short term. This

remains one of the defining differences between the two civilizations:

modern vs. Vedic. The advantages of either should be obvious.

 

Following the long term outcome of things allows us to see the

liabilities as well as the rewards of different activities that are

otherwise overlooked by modern calculation. ROOPA can therefore bring to

light different patterns of economic relationships that are missed by

the very best of modern economics though obvious in the long run. 'The

Economics of Love and Hate' is a great example wherein good and bad both

correlate economically.

 

This long term view also allows ROOPA to more accurately find the

natural eco system of such things as family, community or the

environment. The further one moves away from this 'eco system,' the more

expensive it becomes to compensate for the added costs associated with

'stepping out of line' with the natural order of things. We vividly see

this in modern agriculture and manufacturing. A closer look will also

show this of the modern family, community and social policies.

 

ROOPA can show many of the advantages of traditional family, community,

lifestyle, social policy, agriculture or manufacturing over those of the

modern day by adding up the economic ramifications of both.

 

A favorite example is the Amish. While as much as 90% of the 'modern'

farmers have gone bankrupt, the local Amish community continues to boom

and grow decade after decade no mater the economic social climate of the

time. Which of these to models of community and agriculture are in fact

'more efficient?' ROOPA demonstrates how much more efficient one is over

the other and maybe reveal why.

 

ROOPA can also contrast the advantages of the Vedic social system of

varna asrama dharma over today's absurdly expensive social political

(non) system. The reason is simple: varna asrama is the most

comprehensive arrangement for life once finely tuned in harmony with

'mother nature.' The modern way is devised to overturn every natural

occurrence as brutally as possible. The results of these two approaches

are dramatized in the economic outcomes of both. Therefore, ROOPA

provides a spectacular contrast between the two. ROOPA can do this for

all systems of social economic policies.

 

Modern technology is impressive and offers a host of advantages.

Unfortunately, this technology has distracted us from the severity of

its problem areas like that of the 'modern family,' community or its

social policies. ROOPA can help clarify the distinction between modern

technology and the down falls of today's modern social economic

policies.

 

ROOPA is a neutral, all purpose measuring post that happens to highlight

everything good and reveal the true extent of everything bad.

 

The following summary highlights the primary areas of research necessary

to provide us with the basic outline of our thesis. The first and

easiest topic that needs to be researched is the total social cost of

vice. But, this is only the opening salvo of things to be researched.

 

I am neither researcher, social activist, nor writer. Obviously, I am

not an economist. I am simply an old war horse of a preacher. I happened

upon these ideas from my days as a preacher. As a preacher, I have

learned how to question one's premises of logic and convictions. This is

all ROOPA really does. ROOPA questions the paradigm modern economics is

built upon. In doing so, we find its glaring short comings and in turn

found the strengths of Varna asrama dharma.

 

I have outlined the ideas by highlighting areas to be researched? They

are only questions really. The answers to those questions, however, will

for ever change the discourse of American politics. The old preacher

will have done his job.

 

Here is an index of things to be researched. Now is the time for

researchers, professors and interested friends who would like to see

these ideas taken to the next stage of development. If there is an area

of interest to you, please let me know so we can put a plan of action

together.

 

Your old preacher boy,

Raghunatha anudasa