Nations have been a comparatively a new phenomenon.
Drawn by physical boundaries, often fenced to wend off neighbors, obsessive on matters of defense, the people within boundaries are forced to remain a nation for perceived mutual purposes and benefits. Nations view other nations especially neighbors as enemies.
Concept of civilization ruled mankind for many millennia. Civilizations are about social development. Marked by a uniting singular culture, often by a belief in Superior powers that sustain the spirit within, a sensitivity and more selfless approach to fellow human beings, excellence in learning, achievements in arts especially in literature and kindness to all living things. Civilisations in brief is all about cultures.
Civilizations influence beyond any territorial definitions, oceans like a mesmerizing idea. We need to define an idea to understand the concept of civilisation.
An idea is one that can influence a period of time. It's strength is definitely defined by its longevity. Need to restrain from confusing with every day ideas of planning one's space. Every thought can't be an idea as its longevity and influence is limited to persons and time.
We shall study an idea. Socrates is well known and propounded a life of reason. A questioning spirit within. Maybe some lived a life of reason before his times but as a whole idea, Socrates can be considered one of mankind's great influence because of this idea. So what happened?
Poisoned to death for this idea of questioning everything and for advocating a life of reason, Socrates was misunderstood during his life. But ideas, great ideas live beyond time. So everyone started to lead a life of reason and we remain reasoning humans. An idea that has influenced a period of time. And space.
This led to humans being formally leading a life of reason. The extremes of reasoning idea has now been reached. It's perils known. We all lead a life of reason now. Every relationship is conditional and every action has a hope of personal benefit. We have an axe to grind in whatever we do. In short, we look to benefit from every other human while the other person is looking at us in the same way.
There surely be no bliss in such life that borders on barbarism.
An idea taken to an extreme can be solved only by another idea. As is law, the new idea will be condemned as was done to Socrates when he was alive. Enter : D H Lawrence
DHL understood the idea of life of reason that was affecting people lives.
Lives without life. Too much thoughts and hardly any contentment. Thoughts have ceased to serve the purpose that they were expected to bring. So DHL came out with an idea that could he prescribed as a solution to this disease of reasoning which was subtly was weaved into all his works. "Stop thinking & lead a life of emotions". Yes. He desired humans be like all other lives, not imagine superiority over other living species, stop judging & accept each other. Make mistakes and accept others even if they err. Suspend judgement on others. Love is the ultimate only thing that should matter & will bring back happiness in human existence, he perceived.
Like Socrates, DHL was beyond his time. All great men because of their ideas are bound to suffer misunderstanding. Socrates calmly sipped the poison given to him as punishment. DHL works were banned for explicit expressions that invoked human emotions ahead of a life of contemporary beliefs that was wrecked by too much thoughts on the arrival of industries. How can anyone say stay stupid, stay honest & lead a life of passion to stay happy? This was DHL's crime.
Great ideas maketh civilisations. Cultures are products of civilizations. Excellence in culture leads to great works of art ranging from architecture, sculptures, painting, music, literature. And any act can’t be called culture as is in vogue now.
Great minds work on civilisations & issues affecting them. Whether it was Sanatan Dharma whose remnants are seen across the planet or Buddha's concepts that spread across Asia, they didn't follow the British procedure of violence to attack, conquer, occupy, loot and then invoke the hypocrisy of Commonwealth to claim unity for her erstwhile territories. Ideas can influence a period of time and get beyond any physical space on the planet.
Civilizations are about civilized world. Where we can let peace rule a society and give posterity the certainty of pursuing excellence in arts as a culture.
Nationhood concept is wrought with dangers. While civilization can bring in a calm sustaining energy that can energise humanity.
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