Talk With The Unemployed
Question: Suppose an unemployed person came to you and asked: “What exactly should I do?” How would you answer him?
Answer: I would say the following: I want to explain that you are not unemployed. Today families, countries, nations, the world, the entire human society, all of us are entering a completely different existence. We do not have to work for 10 hours a day, but rather we need to organize our life in a completely different way. Everyone inevitably will come to this; you’ll see that you are not alone.
In China, one million people are laid off daily, and this is escalating. The same happens in Europe and America. In Africa, people did not work and still do not work. In practice, we are approaching such a state when the notion of “jobless” or “unemployed” is erased. A person should create an environment where he will feel comfortable. If this requires work, then he will work; if it does not require work, then he will not. Work is not an end in itself.
Let’s think and discuss what should be the form of humanity if today billions of people are released from their work as something unnecessary, superfluous, and even harmful. I received a letter from my student who works in China. He has a large business selling Volkswagen cars, which are very popular in China. He writes: “We have not sold a single car since the beginning of the month. It is a disaster!” And they used to sell a hundred a day. Do you understand what is going on?
So, what can I do with an unemployed person who is standing in front of me crying? This is a natural trend in our evolution. Let us see where it leads and take the necessary steps to ensure that we do not feel inadequate because we do not work. Perhaps, it is not necessary to work. Maybe, all our work only harms nature, us, and the environment. It obviously destroys the environment and possibly us. What can we do that is more enjoyable instead of what we were doing before? This is what we can talk about.
We just need to show a person that this is an objective reality, and if he understands, then he will see that his life is getting better, not worse.
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From a “Talk on Integral Education” #13, 12/18/11
Related Material:
Create Your Own Self
No To Unemployment, Yes To The Real Work
It Is Freedom From Slavery, Not Unemployment
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Rav, I also am finding it very difficult in business at this time. I don’t see how this will help us when one finds himself homeless in the street. How can we find hope and rise above this crisis when people are soon to be dying in the streets?
How does one buy food and pay the rent when one is unemployed and there is no money coming in? Also in South Africa being a white male counts against you mostly when applying for employment.