Cultural Journey: The Turning Point | Chandra Mohan Bhandari

Woven with words, holding the rope,
His blessings, I crossed the threshold.
— Kabir [1]

A saint-poet of medieval times Kabir was a rationalist, a social activist and a visionary.

The poem depicts his strong urge to cross over to the other side, from the materialistic worldly existence to the other, that of simple life and purposeful living. He was looking for a cross-over, and he managed it, holding on to ‘word rope’. Today In the noise and hype of great achievements, unprecedented growth and development, Kabir’s words may find some relevance.

We all come across important thresholds depending upon our interests, circumstances and, of course, some luck. However, the point of interest in this essay is humankind, and the thresholds that have appeared so far or may appear in its cultural journey. Threshold is being used in the sense of a milestone, or some revolutionary change. It may also be similar to taking a big leap.

Thresholds are different, yet rope is often the same, woven with words. The pattern of weaving defines the texture and quality of the product. Language is a unique means of communication; it is also instrumental in shaping, accelerating and developing our thoughts. In the entire process, language itself suffered a change, acquiring more versatility, power, depth and range. Without language our thought would remain at the elementary level. In the process the level of consciousness is somewhat upgraded, in addition to what would be acquired by the process of biological evolution.

The uniqueness of being human lies in our ability to continually weave the linguistic network in which we are embedded. To be human is to exist in language.
— F Capra [2]

Mankind in its cultural journey over around a hundred thousand years crossed three major thresholds: 1) Language threshold: Man gradually acquired efficiency in language-based thinking and communication. This was a cross-over to the other side; from an animal to human (I.e. animal with a language) existence, 2) Agrarian threshold: This brought a settled life, with more time at man’s disposal to use his language skills, (3) Scientific threshold: Modern science that began its journey in the sixteenth century led to industrial revolution.

An efficient use of language-based thinking and communication provided the spring board to take vital leaps. Provision for language is in-built in human brain and to some extent it is like an instinct [3]. Human mind is able to continually weave the linguistic network, discovering and using effectively abstract notions whenever required.

Crossing First Threshold:

We know today that humans have a close relationship with the chimpanzee. We do share nearly 98.6 percent of our genes with chimpanzee; 1) the common chimp found in Africa and 2) the pygmy or bonobo found mostly in Zaire. With that kind of genetic similarity, it is quite appropriate to refer man as the third category of the animal, two of which already stated. In his interesting book [4], “Rise and fall of the third Chimpanzee”, Jared Diamond provides a glimpse of the cultural journey. The leap from chimpanzee to human state was a long process, spread over a span of around 5-6 million years.

With language-based thinking man could handle more complex situations, such as making of tools, hunting and making a shelter. However, he was still living a nomadic life. It took several thousand years after crossing the first threshold when the second major crossing became possible. This happened somewhere around twelve to fifteen thousand years ago when man did learn the technique to grow things of his need. The agrarian revolution had taken place.

The Second Crossing:

If the first crossing gave man his passport to a cultured species, the second one brought a full stop to his nomadic existence. He had more time at his disposal to pursue his interests in speculating about his existence, his environment and the world. Observation coupled with imagination paved way for mythologies, the first step in his long march to understand the world and his (man’s) place in the scheme of things. Inclusion of elements of logic with observation paved way for emergence of philosophical schools. Human population saw an increase with the settled life style, but it was still manageable and the planet was large enough to take care of itself, along with its diverse life forms.

Third Crossing

Unlike the first two, the third major threshold in the cultural journey was instrumental in changing man-nature relationship. With the growth of modern science [5] and technology there was a realisation that man may be in a position to subjugate nature. He was now in a position to manipulate things to his advantage. Francis Bacon stated this in no uncertain terms:
Nature has to be hounded in her wanderings, put on the rack and tortured for her secrets.

Bacon’s views had a definite impact on the growth of the scientific method. Having said this it should be added that even without his views, the direction and intent of the scientific method would have taken the course it has done.
Undoubtedly this was a big leap forward, an important threshold in the cultural journey. The lifestyle of man witnessed an apparent boom. Man was now not in a symbiotic relationship with nature, he in all reality behaved as a master of the planet. Nature was completely at the receiving end. A ruthless drive to plunder planet’s resources started showing its impact.

The newly acquired confidence as regards control of nature derailed the symbiotic relationship [6 - 8] that existed earlier. “Earth is the mother, and I am her son”, this sutra from Atharva Veda clearly states the relationship. In Western mythology Gaia signifies personification of Earth and all the Gods as her descendants. With the scientific-industrial revolution, this kind of symbiotic relationship became a thing of the past. The plunder of earth and its resources grew exponentially and within three centuries its impact became visible as regards the balancing capacity of the planet.

The significance of the impact on the balancing capacity [8, 9] of the Earth system needs to be understood and looked into. Like all living systems the biosphere has an in-built mechanism of self-regulation. Simple examples of self-regulation can be cited: body maintains a nearly constant temperature, and whenever there is a deviation from normal, the regulatory mechanism becomes operative to restore the normalcy. The mean earth temperature, atmospheric pressure and percentage of oxygen in air are based on the mechanism of self-regulation. In some machines, like refrigerators, we see self-regulation of temperature.

Over a span of several thousand years, changes did occur at certain intervals, yet they were generally reversible. However, human actions over the last three centuries have already caused some damage to the delicate balance between various parameters that regulate the system working. Global warming that has been at the centre of ecological concern is just an example along with changing weather pattern. The increasing human population and exponentially rising needs have put enormous pressure on Earth’s resources. A rapid decrease in forest cover too is of much concern as they are like lungs for the living planet.

It is interesting to see the entire cultural journey of man in its totality. The agrarian revolution, around 12 to 15 thousand years ago, was a turning point in the cultural journey. It is understood that human settlements and agrarian revolution have been possible at the cost of earth’s forest cover [10 - 13]. However, planet earth was still big enough to absorb the initial impact of rising human need. Growing human population and expansion of agriculture from 12000 YA (years ago) to around 5000 YA only marginally decreased the forest cover.

A rough estimate gives 57% for our planet’s forest cover around 10000 YA (years ago) with much of the rest as grasslands. Between 10000 YA and 5000 YA the forest cover decreased roughly by 2 %. It is interesting to know that between 5000 YA and 300 YA (1700 AD, onset of Industrial Revolution) the forest cover declined by another 3 per cent. However, the three centuries following this made all the difference. (Table 1)

Table 1

A rough estimate [10-13] of reduction in forest cover during last 10,000 years.

In mere three hundred years of the post-industrial- revolution era the forest cover came down to around 38 percent. This change was almost parallel to the increase in human population during these time domains. Table 2 provides a rough estimate [14] on population during the post-industrial-revolution era.
Table 2

Population rise estimate during the last three centuries [14]; various estimates of population differ. The figures depict some kind of a crude average based on various estimates. Main purpose is aimed at highlighting the rapid rise in population following Industrial Revolution.

Today in the third decade of twenty twenty-first century the major part of forest cover is confined to the Amazon rain forest, estimated to be around 60 per cent of world forests. These too are depleting. Trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere and release oxygen. With a reduction in forest cover the percentage of carbon in atmosphere has increased. Our planet absorbs a wide spectrum of solar radiation and releases mostly infrared that is significantly absorbed by atmospheric carbon dioxide. The heat is thus trapped giving rise to the Greenhouse Effect.

That in simple terms explains global warming.

In a rough estimate [15] a healthy living earth system including its rich bio-diversity would be achievable if almost half of the planet is left to nature with almost no human interference. That is a very tall order to achieve yet that is the only alternative for a healthy and sustainable symbiotic relationship with nature.

Eco-concerns: Inner and Outer

Where is the life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
— T S Eliot

Poetic words elegantly state the possible direction we need to take to address the issues outlined. Information and knowledge have played a tremendous role in the cultural journey.

However, they do not empower us to take all decisions in a meaningful way. The wisdom to choose them in right proportion is equally important.

Man has plundered nature to the extent that self-regulation in the earth system is pushed close to a point of ‘no return’. The delicate balance that sustained itself for more than a billion years has suffered irreparable damage. This is not any secret; it is known to anyone who cares to know. Yet there is a deafening silence when it comes to taking even one small step in the right direction. The ecological issues out there, in the realm of earth, and its bio-sphere are often discussed; they are intricately linked to issues that lie within, in the human mind. The ecosystem of the planet is important, no doubt. However, the dilemma is also related to our inability in taking corrective steps in the right direction. Part of the problem lies in the human mind and its eco-system which comprises the mind, its interaction with other minds and the entire info-sphere. The complexity of the situation requires an appreciation of three factors:

1) Darwin had nicely stated the human condition thus: “In spite of his great qualities man still bears in his bodily frame an indelible mark of his lowly origin.” Use of word lowly needs to be taken in the sense it is used- the evolution from simple to complex life forms.

2) Is spite of lowly origin human brain has evolved in an unusual manner that gave him high level of intellectual capability.

3) Human Intelligence is at the forefront of his impressive cultural journey as embodied in the three thresholds. In spite of his great intelligence man is still psychologically inadequate.

Crucial Fourth Crossing: Beyond information and knowledge

[Present] urban industrial lifestyle has hidden within it the seeds of self — Mahatma Gandhi [16]

These words written more than a hundred years ago must have been incomprehensible to many at the time. Even today with all the noise and hype about environmental degradation not many seem sufficiently alarmed. And those who do understand the urgency can in most cases do little. Strange it may seem to many that the present-day eco-crisis borne out of Industrial Revolution does find a mention of Gandhi’s views [16] in its crucial stage. Gandhi was not alone in identifying the root cause and basis of the entire issue. Arne Naess [17], Warwick Fox [18] and others have in their own ways guessed the looming crisis and possible human response to it. The issue finally revolves around our wisdom and resolve to take ecological issues on a broader canvas. We may prefer to call it Ahimsak, Deep or Transpersonal ecology following Gandhi, Naess and Fox. What is needed today is the essence of all these ideas amalgamated to prepare workable models for the future. However, the scenario out there is least encouraging. Constant wars and various conflicts mark the last few decades as also the present.

Knowledge and information are used very often for destructive purposes. That points to the inner ecosystem being full of disharmony and discord. With this kind of mental setup on an average it is difficult to expect much from mankind. We shall keep on losing life in living, it seems.

As already stated earlier, part of the problem lies within; our psychological status is in complete mismatch with our intellect. Knowledge can guide us to an extent, yet its implementation at the ground- level requires a maturity that connects us to the reality of life and living.

Possible Scenario

Ecology and spirituality are fundamentally connected, because deep ecological awareness, ultimately, is spiritual awareness.
—F Capra

Having successfully crossed the three major thresholds mankind could have hoped for more of the kind. Beyond doubt the cultural journey so far gave mankind an unprecedented power and a sense of achievement. However, in the entire process the very home, where man biologically evolved to his present state, got almost irreparably damaged. Whatever be man’s achievements in science and technology, the basic requirements for a healthy survival seems quite far from being fulfilled. The corrective measures to be taken and their meaningful implementation will define the trajectory and outcome of the so-called Fourth Crossing. There may be several possible trajectories, ranging from highly optimistic to downright pessimistic along with many shades in between. It is enough to talk of the two extreme scenario; the shades in between can be guessed depending upon the quality and quantity of the measures taken.

Two extreme Scenarios:

Scenario 1: The way things are happening at the moment there is every possibility of further damage to the ecological balance. The level of air pollution in our big cities is already beyond the acceptable level. With industrial effluents finding their way to rivers, the quality of water too is not in a satisfactory state. The impact of these developments on the quality of life can be easily extrapolated. The quality of air and water is likely to go on deteriorating. In the misconception of growth and development man may be scripting his own destruction. In Indian mythology the story of Bhasmasur is well known who was granted some special power by Lord Shiva. During recent times Frankenstein’s monster comes to mind. These are symbolic and yet not very far from depicting the scenario.

Scenario 2:

It is gradually becoming obvious that patchwork solutions in this regard will not be able to help for long. Some big and drastic steps will be necessary. In spite of an advanced technological base, and highly innovative human mind, the very survival would require a drastic change in our notions of growth, development and progress. The present notions and models of growth may not be able to rectify degradation of the ecosystem?

There is a small likelihood of a possible scenario; Wisdom would prevail upon knowledge and information in the context of our present day understanding of growth and development. The notions of growth and development could be re-oriented and re-defined. Science and technology with a human face has been talked by some. We may propose to go beyond to include all life including the earth system. That is what Gandhi and several others had emphasized in different ways.

We shall not be able to start an ecological movement to stop violence against nature, so long as the principle of non-violence is accepted as the central policy of human culture.
— Mahatma Gandhi

Ecological degradation is an outcome of violence against nature. From the Baconian perspective of the man-nature relationship, a Gandhian-like perspective is a need of the times. We do not have to go back to the early days forsaking all that has been achieved. Scientific pursuit does not necessarily mean a violent all-out assault on Nature. Like other species man too is a part of nature. Any degradation or destruction of nature would equally harm all life forms including man. A simple life in harmony with nature may not be acceptable to many. A small possibility exists that things may change. Maybe human nature is changing [19, 20] and there is a small but real possibility of realising the gravity of the issue and accepting the principle of non-violence as the central point in our policies and their implementation.

(Author: A former researcher and teacher Chandra Mohan Bhandari has been associated with the University of Allahabad. Besides Physics he has a deep interest in eco-philosophy and literature. His articles are published in Mainstream Weekly, Muse India, Indian Ruminations and Setu bilingual)

[1] Kabir Das, a mystic, poet and saint of the 15th century. The English translation by the author.
[2] F Capra, The Web of Life, Anchor Books, 1995.
[3] S. Pinker, The Language Instinct: the new science of language and mind, Penguin, 1994.
[4] Jared Dimond, Rise and fall of the Third Chimpanzee, Vintage Publications, 2002.
[5] F Capra, The Turning Point: Science, Society and the Rising Culture, Simon and Schuster, USA, 1982.
[6] James Lovelock, Gaia, Oxford University Press, 1979.
[7] James* Lovelock, The Vanishing Face of Gaia, Penguin Books, 2010.
[8] James Lovelock, The Revenge of Gaia, Penguin Books, 2007
[9] C M Bhandari, The Second Descent: Inevitable turning point in man’s cultural journey, Setu bilingual,
[10] Website:rainforests.mongabay.com
[11] FAO, The State of world’s forests, 2020. .
[12] UNEP. 2020. The State of the World’s Forests 2020. www.unep.org.
[13] Williams, M. (2003). Deforesting the earth: from prehistory to global crisis. University of Chicago Press.
[14] Source: Worldometer (WWW.Worldometers ).
[15] Edward O Wilson, Every Species is a Masterpiece, Penguin Random House, UK.
[16] Mahatma Gandhi, The Hind Swaraj Prakashan, Indian opinion (in Gujarati), English translation, International Printing Press, Natal, South Africa, 1910.
[17] Arne Naess, The shallow and the Deep: long range ecology movement, Inquiry, 16, 95-100, 1973.
[18] Warwick Fox, Transpersonal Ecology, psycholiging eco-philosophy, Journal Of Transpersonal Psychology, 22(1), 59, 1990.
[19] Introduction to historical psychology, Van der Berg J H, The changing nature of man, W W Norton, 1961.
[20] John Platt, Step to Man, Johan Wiley, 1966.