There should be maximum utilization of physical, metaphysical and spiritual potentialities of unit and collective bodies of human society.

Purport: The collective body, collective mind and collective spirit must be developed. One must not forget that collective good lies in individuals and individual good lies in collectivity. Without providing for the comfort of the individual through proper food, light, air, accommodation and medical treatment, collective good can never be accomplished. So it is with the sole intention of doing collective good that one will have to devote oneself to individual good.

The development of the collective mind is impossible without developing a proper social consciousness, encouraging a sense of social service and awakening knowledge in every individual. So, inspired with the thought of doing good to the collective mind, one has to do good to the individual mind. Absence of spirituality and spiritual morality in an individual will break the backbone of the collectivity. So for the sake of collective good one will have to awaken spirituality in individuals. One or two powerful, learned or worldly-wise people, or one or two spiritualists do not indicate advancement and progress of the whole society. The body, mind and self of every individual have the potential for limitless expansion and development. This potentiality has to be harnessed and brought to fruition. (From Ananda Sutram, 1962)

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Different people are endowed with physical, intellectual and spiritual potentialities. They should be encouraged to serve the society with their respective capacities. In the same way the collective body should also be encouraged to serve society. For example, the Gorkhas are a fighting race, so they should be utilized for special work. Similarly, Germans have an inclination for scientific discoveries and research, so they should be encouraged in this direction.

From “Talks on Prout” (1961), Prout In a Nutshell 15

Copyright Ananda Marga Publications 2009

Progress in Practice

The third fundamental principle states: “There should be maximum utilization of physical, metaphysical and spiritual potentialities of the unit and collective bodies of human society.” All human capacities, individual and social, should be fully developed and properly used, and this full expression is for the good of both society and the individual. Sarkar commented that one must not forget that collective good lies in individuals and individual good lies in collectivity, so it is with the sole intention of doing collectively good that one will have to devote oneself to individual good. This flows from the spiritual concept that real individual interest and fulfilment comes from identification with the collective or macrocosm.

The principle stresses the integrated development of all human capacities, including the often-neglected psychic, creative and spiritual. Individuals in the society should have the fullest scope for development of their various talents without fear of suppression or oppression; rather such expression should be socially encouraged. Such an approach should naturally apply to all, without regard to sex, race, caste or any other sort of categorization. The developed talents, skills and knowledge should not then be hoarded or used for any form of exploitation, but rather be made the collective property of the society that has nurtured them.

From New Aspects of Prout , by Jayanta Kumar, Proutist Universal Publications, Denmark 1987

Copyright The author 20011

Deep background: Maximum Utilization of All Potentialities, from the booklet PROUT What It Stands For