Introduction by the Guest Editor

Abstract

Twenty-four years ago, at the ceremonial Hall of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, a historic event took place with the participation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama: World renowned thought leaders from many parts of the world came together to adopt and sign The Manifesto on the Spirit of Planetary Consciousness. In our time of crisis and transformation, guidance by a planetary consciousness is still more relevant than it was two decades ago. The introduction into the social and political practice of humanity of the spirit of this consciousness, as reflected in the words of the Manifesto, is more urgent and important than ever. For this reason we now call on our eminent Members and collaborators the world over to reflect on how we can bring the spirit of planetary consciousness to the attention of business people, politicians, writers and artists, as well as well-intentioned people in all spheres of society. We all need to realize the urgency and importance of placing the ideas incorporated in the Manifesto to the forefront of contemporary thinking and acting. The Manifesto begins with these words: “In the closing years of the 20th century, we have reached a crucial juncture in our history. We are on the threshold of a new stage of social, spiritual and cultural evolution, a stage that is as different from the stage of the earlier decades of this century as the grasslands were from the caves, and settled villages from life in nomadic tribes.” This observation describes the world of the 2020s just as much, and indeed even more than, it described the world of the closing years of the 20th century. Today we have entered on a radically new era, and we need wise insight to find our way. The Manifesto furnishes the fundamental elements of this insight. It merits being read and re-read, and placed in the forefront of our attention.