The course

Plans

Chapter 2 The course

“Peter Kurgan,” he extended his hand.

“Charles Mohan. Glad to meet you.”

“Where are you from originally,” Charles asked after they had taken a seat in the lobby.

“Vladivostok,” Peter answered.

“Quite an Asian population there,” Charles intoned.

“That's true,” he answered, “it's very close to China. My wife has Chinese blood in her ancestry.”

“That would explain your interests in Vedanta,” Charles observed.

Peter nodded. “As you are aware, my dissertation was on the origins of the Hindu faith and its relation to human evolution. It's been a curiosity with me since the socialist era, but these days, I think I'm bringing a different attitude to the issues. The fact is, all faith, the way that man has come to recapitulate on the experience, is founded on the common sense relation to his survival experiences.”

“I can't agree more,” Charles replied. “That's why we think you are the right man to take your interests back another step, to the early Vedantic development of the Hindu faith and record the progress that took place.”

Charles continued, “You realize that as a world organization, UNESCO is taking a fresh new look at the development of humanism in the 21st century.”

Peter nodded.

“My boss is from the soviet union and after having weathered the socialist era, she's bringing an outsider's perspective on the issue of faith and human development.”

“I read her quote in the newsletter,” Peter offered.

Charles nodded in acknowledgment.

“It is our view that the present conditions faced by the world is bigger than anything we faced before. We expect some ground breaking work and something original, from this exercise.”

Peter appeared thoughtful.

“In your mail you referred to the Indian experience as being a living account of the development of thought. What you meant is that, they bring the points of their faith to an actual implementation in their lives and to refine their understanding of it.”

“That's correct,” Charles affirmed. “It forms the basis of the individual identity and therefore they stay close to the tenets.”

“But what that also means is that the average Indian identifies himself as a cast member in the legends and attempts to fulfill in his life, that which a character in a story accomplished in their practice of the faith.”

“That is correct,” Charles confirmed. “It is the early development of identity in an individual before they learn to cultivate their identity based on their own observations of themselves in the society.....and in relation to their family, friends and eventually the world.”

“So we are defining the process of identity cultivation as being essentially the archetype for all general identities?”

“We think there is a broad application of the principles. For instance, in the Soviet experience, the deference to the politburo as the mother and the president as father is similar to the legends of faith. In Christianity, the teachings took on the form of the lives of kings, in Buddhism it follows the example set by the Buddha in his life. We think it is a typical condition for man to first adopt a role model before he comes to see himself in his physical and true role in society.”

Peter listened intently. Charles continued.

“What we believe may be happening at this time, is the conversion from the practice with the role model to a new position of recreating the experience of the individual in physical reality.”

“So the subject for the case-study should be undergoing such a transformation?” Peter asked.

“That's correct,” Charles replied. “We have contacted the University in New Delhi and they probably will have some prospects for you when you get there.”

The family joined them in the lobby, a short while later and Charles brought them across the street to a restaurant for lunch.

They made their orders. Charles turned to peter,

“You'll need to come down to the office to sign some papers tomorrow. Say about 10.00 am.”

Peter agreed.

“Its very nice of you to come and meet the family,” Diane, Peter's wife said.

“Its an office protocol,” Charles replied. “We are practicing a policy of putting people first. So before a staff or contact comes to the office, quite imposing that it is, we make it a point to meet them at their place. It forms an important first impression.”

Diane smiled and looking at Peter said,

“Actually, we had no idea that it was already being taken up at the UN.....all these changes that we have been going through.....I think many people thought it was just them.”

Charles smiled in response,

“The fact is, many of the institutions connected with social change, needed to create some responses in society before now, regarding these matters. Unfortunately, the nature of the issues are so complicated that moving any faster to deal with them simply causes more confusion.”

“Are you working together on the project, in anyway?” Peter asked.

“Supervisory only, from here,” Charles replied. “ It's your baby.”

He turned to look at the kids.

“You'll be making arrangements for their schooling in New Delhi?”

“Yeah, at the international school. We made some inquiries.....we don't expect any problems.”

“Will you be looking around Paris this afternoon?” Charles asked looking at Peter.

“Yes,” Peter said eagerly.

Reviews

[Shep]

My mind. Went numb with all that info. I am smart but not that smart to understand what they were talking about. Good chapter and enough for me to keep reading. Moving on to next chapter.