1st socio-economic principle of Prout
Diversity is the law of nature and uniformity will never be.
Purport: Variety is the chief characteristic (dharma) of the Cosmic Force of creation (prakrti). No two objects in the universe are identical, nor are two bodies, two minds, two atoms or two molecules. This variety is the force of creation’s forte. Those who want to equate everything must fail, for this is unnatural. All objects are equal only in the unmanifest or potential state of the force of creation, and so those who think of equating everything invariably think of the destruction of everything.
Ananda Sutram 1962
Copyright Ananda Marga Publications 1999
2nd socio-economic principle of Prout
The minimum necessities of all should be guaranteed in any particular age.
Purport: The Cosmic Entity is my father, the Cosmic Operative Principle is my mother and the three worlds are my homeland. So every thing or object of this universe is the common property of all humanity. Nothing in the universe is cent percent equal in both quality and quantity; therefore the minimum necessities of life should be made available to everybody. In other words, food, clothing, medical treatment, accommodation, education and so on must be provided to all. Humanity’s minimum necessities however, change with the change in eras or ages. For example for conveyance the minimum necessity may be a bicycle in one age and then an airplane in another age. The minimum necessities must be provided for all people according to the age in which they live.
Ananda Sutram 1962
Copyright Ananda Marga Publications 1999
3rd socio-economic principle of Prout
The surplus goods and services, after distributing the minimum necessities, are to be given according to the social value of the individual's production.
Purport: The surplus wealth, after meeting the minimum necessities of the age, will have to be distributed among talented people according to their merit. Motorcars instead of bicycles, for example, should be provided to meritorious people in recognition of their accomplishments to provide them with greater opportunities for social service. ‘Serve according to your capacity and earn according to your necessity' sound good to the ears, but will reap no harvest in the hard soil of the world.
Ananda Sutram 1962
Copyright Ananda Marga Publications 1999
4th socio-economic principle of Prout
The increase in the standard of living of the people is the indication of the vitality of society.
Purport: Meritorious people should certainly receive greater amenities compared to the level of minimum necessities allocated to people in general, and there should be never ending efforts to raise the level of minimum necessities. For example, today common people need bicycles whereas meritorious people need motorcars, but there should be proper efforts to provide common people with motorcars also. After everybody has been provided with a motorcar, it may perhaps be necessary to provide each meritorious person with an airplane. After providing every meritorious person with an airplane, efforts should be made to also provide every common person with an airplane, raising the level of minimum necessities. In this way efforts for rising the level of minimum necessities should go on endlessly, and on this endeavor shall depend the all round material prosperity and development of humanity.
Ananda Sutram 1962
Copyright Ananda Marga Publications 1999