-- *Mar*Belief and Breathing
No logic, discourse, science, philosophy or any ism can eliminate belief. The basis of belief is emotional and one breathes belief. When barter based on tradition, command, belief, sense of belonging was economic life, then belief was the foundation of economic life. One contributed what all one could and society met one’s needs. Giving what all one could was a pious duty, and one strived to give and that giving gave happiness and that happiness was income. The economic life then was part of the hormonal system, creating, love, affection, sense of belonging, loyalty to the king and monitored by the religious priest. Economic life then was emotional life. There were no inequalities and properties were owned communally by the societies as a whole collectively. Usually the king was recognized as the owner of all wealth. Loss of belief indicates the loss of clean air. Disbelief and air poisoning go together. When the air is totally poisoned then corruption takes over and one cannot believe in anything. Elimination of corruption needs the eliminations of poisons in the air one breathes. Next time when you go to Tirupathi and find queue jumpers, it means that there is terrible air poisoning there. You find all sorts of criminals calling themselves VVIPS, lording over in the Temple. To revive belief the air there must first be purified. Urbanization of the place where a Temple stands shall not be allowed. The very sanctity of a Temple, clean air which belief needs will be poisoned by urbanization. Almost all of them are in search of belief and just not able to believe, as the poisoned air creates some unknown fear. We need freedom from the poisonous fumes. For that we need lush and free nature. Lush and free nature creates life giving air. Then all organisms, breathe, smell, sense, perceive, understand and live in belief only, by teaming up symbiotically. Skepticism is a disease created by air pollution. Pollution and bitterness go together. That may be the reason why it is very easy for political upstarts to become great leaders, creation of bitterness and generating the victimhood psychology, becomes a great science. This entire clean breathe based economic system, actually barter, has been dismantled, and we drill the new economic science ( with a protest that it is as good as classical Physics, the role model science) today. There is a basic contradiction in economic theory. Cost reduction is efficiency for a firm. But your cost is my income. So it boils down to income removal of people as efficiency. When income is removed, it automatically reduces demand. The net result is loss of market in the society. This contradiction is ignored by swamping the student with graphs, diagrams, mathematical equations, all built on meaningless and contradictory assumptions. Under the money based economic system, there will always be a section that gets hurled into poverty and unemployment. Not only that. Gigantic firms, employing lakhs of people crash, creating a big economic shock to the society. The simple fact is cost reduction means, reduction of employment, which leads to the reduction of market in the society. We are now in a situation where every firm is trying to reduce its costs. No wonder we see, booms, depressions, recessions, all facets of Social Darwinism. YM Sarma Chat gpt *Reflection and Analysis: "Belief and Breathing" by YM Sarma* YM Sarma's "Belief and Breathing" is a powerful meditation on the deep interconnection between belief, the environment, economics, and the emotional-spiritual life of society. It's written not as a typical analytical essay but as a philosophical, almost poetic reflection that weaves together themes often treated separately: faith, pollution, economic systems, and the loss of societal harmony. ------------------------------ *🌬️ Belief as Breath* Sarma's central metaphor is striking: *"one breathes belief."* Belief isn't just a cognitive stance; it's *a biological and emotional necessity*, like oxygen. Just as clean air sustains the body, *belief sustains the soul*. This suggests that disbelief or skepticism isn't just intellectual—it is a *symptom of something deeply wrong in the environment and social fabric*. When he says *"Loss of belief indicates the loss of clean air. Disbelief and air poisoning go together,"* it's not merely poetic. He’s linking *environmental degradation to moral, emotional, and societal collapse*. In this worldview, *pollution becomes more than physical—it's spiritual.* ------------------------------ *🛕 Temples, Urbanization, and Corruption* Sarma points to *Tirupathi*, a major pilgrimage center, as a symbol of this decay. The presence of VVIPs, queue jumpers, and a polluted atmosphere serves as a metaphor for how *sacred spaces are corrupted* when they’re urbanized and commercialized. He implies that when the air is poisoned—both literally and metaphorically—*even temples become spaces of fear and disbelief*. ------------------------------ *🤝 Barter, Emotion, and the Old Economic Order* He invokes a romanticized vision of a past economic life based on *barter, tradition, and emotional bonds*. In this system: - People gave freely out of duty and joy. - Wealth was communally owned or held in trust by kings. - Economics was intertwined with *affection, belonging, and shared purpose*. This contrasts sharply with *modern economics*, which he criticizes for being: - Abstract and mathematical. - Built on *"meaningless and contradictory assumptions."* - Focused on *efficiency* that translates into *income removal* for many. The argument that *“your cost is my income”* highlights the *zero-sum fallacy in modern cost-cutting logic*. When firms aim to reduce costs (often labor costs), they *reduce demand by reducing people’s income*, leading to systemic instability. ------------------------------ *🏭 Pollution, Skepticism, and the Modern Crisis* Sarma goes further to claim that *skepticism is a disease caused by air pollution*—a bold assertion that again blends the literal and metaphorical. He seems to be saying: - *Pollution affects not just lungs but minds.* - It creates *bitterness*, which fuels *political manipulation*. - Populist leaders rise not through wisdom but by *weaponizing resentment and victimhood*. ------------------------------ *📉 Modern Economics and Social Darwinism* He ties it all together by showing how the current economic model—driven by firms chasing cost reductions—is inherently unstable. The result? - Booms and busts. - Massive unemployment. - Collapse of big firms. - Growing inequality. This system rewards the *strong (firms that survive)* and punishes the weak (workers, small communities), echoing the principles of *Social Darwinism*. ------------------------------ *💡 Final Thoughts* Sarma’s piece is more of a *lamentation and philosophical critique* than a structured argument. It’s driven by *emotion, symbolism, and cultural memory* rather than empirical analysis. But that’s exactly its power. He wants us to *rethink the foundations* of our social and economic systems, not by tweaking policies, but by *restoring belief, emotional connectedness, and environmental purity.* ------------------------------ *🔄 Key Takeaways:* - *Belief is as vital as breath*—and is eroded by pollution (literal and social). - *Modern economics alienates* and impoverishes by turning efficiency into job destruction. - *Restoring belief requires purifying both air and social structures*—moving from mechanistic systems to emotionally bonded communities. - *Skepticism and political bitterness* thrive in polluted, fragmented societies. - Temples and sacred spaces symbolize what’s being lost—and what might be revived. ------------------------------ If you're thinking about how to engage with or respond to this piece—whether as a discussion, an essay, or a creative response—I'd be happy to help structure your ideas further. Here's a detailed *evaluation* of YM Sarma's essay *"Belief and Breathing"*, using academic criteria commonly applied to philosophical, socio-economic, and reflective writing. The evaluation is structured with *categories*, *marks*, *brief commentary*, and a *final grade*. ------------------------------ 📝 *Evaluation Criteria* *Criterion* *Max Marks* *Marks Awarded* *Comments* *1. Clarity of Thought* 10 *6* The essay expresses profound ideas, but they’re often abstract, layered, and metaphorical. This makes the message rich, but occasionally difficult to follow. Some key arguments could benefit from clearer articulation. *2. Originality & Depth of Insight* 10 *9* Highly original and deeply reflective. Drawing connections between belief, environment, and economics is a bold, philosophical move. The metaphor of belief as breath is especially powerful. *3. Structure & Coherence* 10 *5* The essay flows more like a stream of consciousness than a logically organized argument. It lacks traditional structure (intro-body-conclusion), which can confuse readers unfamiliar with the themes. Transitions are minimal. *4. Use of Evidence & Examples* 10 *6* Relies more on observation and philosophical intuition than empirical evidence. The example of Tirupathi is strong, but more specific or diverse examples would strengthen the case. *5. Language & Style* 10 *7* Language is evocative and poetic, but sometimes ambiguous or abstract. Some sentences are dense or grammatically rough, though the passion and authenticity come through clearly. *6. Argumentative Rigor* 10 *5* The critique of modern economics is compelling but lacks systematic development. Key economic concepts are introduced with emotional force but not critically dissected in detail. The “cost reduction vs income” argument, though valuable, needs tighter reasoning. *7. Philosophical Reflection* 10 *9* Excellent philosophical depth. Raises questions about the foundations of belief, the sacred, and society’s direction. Invites readers to think beyond materialistic and mechanistic paradigms. ------------------------------ 📊 *Total Marks: 47 / 70* ------------------------------ 🎓 *Grade: B+ (Upper Second Class / Good to Very Good)* ✅ *Strengths:* · Original and deeply reflective. · Raises critical issues about belief, pollution, and economics. · Emotionally resonant and spiritually compelling. ❌ *Areas for Improvement:* · Needs more structure and clarity in argumentation. · Could use more concrete examples or data to support claims. · Economic critique could be made sharper with clearer terms and analysis. ------------------------------ 🏁 Final Verdict: *"Belief and Breathing"* is a thought-provoking, poetic critique of modernity’s disconnection from belief, environment, and emotional economics. While not academic in the conventional sense, it offers a rich philosophical tapestry that would resonate strongly with readers open to intuitive and symbolic thought. If this were submitted in a university philosophy or social thought course, it would score well for originality and reflection, but the lack of analytical rigor and structure would limit it from reaching the top tier. Would you like a revised or restructured version of this essay to improve the grade? Absolutely — here’s a *poem inspired by YM Sarma’s essay "Belief and Breathing."* It weaves together the central themes of belief, air, nature, economic loss, and spiritual decay, while maintaining a reflective and lyrical tone: ------------------------------ *Breath of Belief* We do not think belief — we breathe it in, Like morning mist, like sacred wind, Not taught by graphs or profit lines, But whispered through the ancient pines. Once, in barter’s quiet grace, We gave with joy, not keeping pace With ledgers cold or margins thin — But measured wealth in love and kin. The earth was lush, the air was clean, The village small, the Temple seen As heart and hearth of sky and ground, Where silence spoke, and peace was found. But now the air is thick with smoke, And trust breaks down in every choke. In poisoned breath, suspicion grows — Belief retreats, and no one knows. The kings have changed, the temples sold, To queue-jumpers with hearts gone cold. And cities rise like rusted spires, Feeding on our old desires. A cost reduced is food denied, A worker lost, a dream that died. And yet we praise this grand machine, That grinds the soul, but keeps it clean. What is belief but living air? You’ll find it not in stocks or shares, But in a child’s unguarded trust, In forests green, in soil and dust. Let us rebuild with leaf and rain, Let breath return to lungs in pain. Where nature sings and hearts can rest, Belief will bloom within the chest. ------------------------------ Would you like this poem in a specific format (e.g. for a speech, wall art, or publication)? I can adjust the tone or style if needed. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CACDCHCLeszvPfPjTb8JjMDdzLsPZrpUHpW46fwKp85EHgVz9nQ%40mail.gmail.com.
