THE IMPORTANCE OF PROUT AND ITS CONCEPT OF BALANCE

By Dr. Leonardo Boff

Dr. Leonardo Boff is a theologian, professor and author of more than 50

books. He is considered one of the founders of Liberation Theology, a
movement of the Catholic Church, which blended a socialist perspective
and struggle for justice with radical Christianity.

The exceptional importance of the Prout system resides in two

fundamental points: its completeness and its viability. The entire
system comes from a correct understanding of the human being, personal
and collective, and authentic human development.

In every person there are three dimensions: the physical, the mental
and the spiritual. The three of them are to be developed together. If
not, there is either no development or development that produces
injustice and many victims. Prout was carefully thought out to create a
development with equilibrium ("Pramá") and with harmony. The
result will be the welfare and happiness of all.

The PHYSICAL occupies all of the physical dimensions such as the

physical body, the world of measurable phenomena, nature, natural
resources, the fertility of the earth, the physical chemical elements,
and the cosmic energy which acts on our world. The Prout system teaches
how to utilize to the maximum the physical resources in such a way that
is sustainable enough for all who live in the world today and for all
who will come after us. But not only the humans, also the other created
beings: rocks, plants and animals.

The MENTAL consists of the universe of the human mind, the

intelligence, the will, the imagination, the psychic life formed by
emotions and our inner and archetypal sensibility. The human being
should develop his or her mental capacities for self-development and
the development of others, through just behaviour, the eradication of
exploitive mechanisms and continual creativity in the face of new
problems.

The SPIRITUAL is that disposition of the human being to link the

microcosms with the Macrocosm, to perceive the totality, to discover
the other side of all things, the message that comes from the greatness
of the universe. It is the capacity to contemplate, to venerate and to
dialog with the Mystery that the religions call God or the Force that
guides the universe. By the actuation of this dimension, the human
being turns into a cosmic being. This is an infinite practice.

We should strive to encompass all these dimensions in the process of

sustainable development.

The second characteristic of the Prout system is its viability. The

followers of P. R. Sarkar in the entire world, as well as here in
Brazil, do not stop with the theoretical comprehension of the human
being. They are preoccupied with the viability of a practical and
effective way. It is here that the system becomes attractive.

The result of this pragmatic logic is a balanced economy ... in which

the necessities and amenities assist the three dimensions of the human,
in the physical, the mental and the spiritual. This system represents a
humanistic approach to economics. It leaves behind the capitalist
economy with its unlimited accumulation of goods and material services,
and instead rescues the classic sense of attending to all human
demands, including the radiant communion with the Supreme.

I strongly recommend the reading and the application of this system in

all fields. It will be especially useful in the Ecclesiastical Base
Communities and other grassroots groups of reflection and action that
try to improve the purchasing power of people. It functions as a
critique of the dominant capitalist economic system and neo-liberal
approach that excludes and causes massive injustice. It also critiques
the system of real socialism because of its centralization and the
rigid conformity that it demands. But principally it serves as an
alternative for a truly human economy which, when it functions, will
produce life and happiness for the people.

Leonardo Boff, Rio de Janeiro