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In these days of fear, anxiety and doubt it is hard to believe that things have not always been this way. As we look about and see human beings drowning in their own mental quagmire there is no easy perception of a time when men were upright, free and afraid of nothing. But this is how things were -- once.

A very, very long time ago there was a paradise in which land was free and available to be put to its proper use. The land was rich and covered with forests, woodlands and savannah. There was shelter for birds and game, and food was abundant. Men called it: a land of "milk and honey". Those who dwelt therein were content, happy and healthy. They were guided in their conduct by simple goodness.

Each had a place in this society fulfilling his duty according to age, ability and tradition, providing nourishment for all, and seeing to the needs of everyone. The way of life was quiet and tranquil. Peace prevailed.

Everyone knew of the Unseen One who was ever watchful over them. To Him belonged the earth, the sea and the skies. Everyone knew that it was by His grace that men had been given the use of the land and the duty to care for it. Either at work or at play the people were conscious of the fact that the Unseen One demanded their best. It was His Law that land should be used and never claimed.

All the laws and customs, traditions and values were passed by old to young both by example and in folklore. Mothers had certain duties within the community but their main function was clearly related to the discipline and spiritual upbringing of their children. The elders were responsible for teaching young people the laws, culture and crafts. It was understood that everyone had been granted talents by the Unseen One which were to be developed and used for the benefit of all. Everyone accepted that the quality of society depended on all the inhabitants living a rich, and satisfying life. Idle hands were scorned and boredom was unknown.

Then one day a stranger came laden with gifts and things to exchange for food and supplies. This gave to some men in the ancient land possessions that others had not. Attitudes began to change and the air of contentment became disturbed. The stranger had come to seek advantage for himself. He won from the King concessions to mine, to trade arid to own the land in return for bartered goods, He then brought his friends and they too began to trade.

The traditional way of life changed. The ancient inhabitants, displaced from their land became employees end coins became the means of trade. Sacrifice to the Unseen One diminished. Trade boomed. Luxuries and new devices were introduced from the outside. The standard of living changed. Towns grew -- hives of activity, bustling with life. Following the pattern of the stranger, men started wanting something for themselves: They had moved away from simple goodness.

The stranger was soon hailed as a clever man, one of learning and experience. He had brought progress and employment to the people. When he demanded more land for his projects, the young ones gave it to him. The old men shook their heads; the Unseen One would not be pleased, they said. But the land continued to be given. The stranger and his friends thought to improve the agriculture so they enclosed their land, something which had never happened before. In time, as farming methods became sophisticated, more people were displaced from the land. Despite these methods, food became less plentiful. The new landowners had turned to those crops they could export for profit. Men began to eye each other askance, to WANT rather than to share. There was no longer ample for the old and ill who could not work to produce their share. They began to suffer. High regard for them lessened; they were forced to work in lowly paid jobs on enclosed land, and they could no longer teach the children.

The land of plenty slowly became a land of scarcity and poverty. Happiness dwindled as men fought for existence, each one for himself.

The stranger became leader and the King's authority declined. Most of that which was good in the land had been claimed by the new leader and his friends. The land was no longer freely available to the inhabitants to provide for themselves. They now paid rent to the leaders for use of land that had been theirs.

The leaders grew rich, but the people poor. Hunger and sickness arrived in their midst. The leaders brought men from afar to build their mansions. The inhabitants were forced to labour for a pittance. But those from afar were well paid. To prevent the townsmen crossing their land, the leaders built large walls around their estates. The inhabitants had to survive in some way. Some became skilful poachers so as to feed their families, stealing game that once they had a right to hunt. The leaders however wished to export the game to exchange for luxury goods, so gamekeepers had to be hired to keep out the inhabitants.

With their wealth, the leaders continued acquiring land. Towns grew larger as the population, displaced from land, moved in to seek work and pleasure.

The leaders initiated new ventures and became the captains of industry. They improved methods of manufacture with the use of bigger machines, and sold much of what was produced abroad. There was little left for those who did the work. The strangers were enabled to buy out the shopkeepers and employ them at what was to become a fraction of their previous income.

And so more and more the Unseen One was forgotten. A change took place in the minds of the people, the ancient ways of the inhabitants slipped into obscurity. Men would only do what they were paid to do. Everyone: looked after himself. Duties were forgotten. They gave way to demands for rights as men found it harder and harder to earn a living. To protect these rights, guilds and trade: unions were formed.

There was now no free access to land, and low wages just had to be accepted. Poverty crept into the towns where it made its permanent abode. The leader found it necessary to appoint a council to assist him to govern and to bring relief to the poor. Money had to be raised to assist the aged, the sick and the unemployed; to provide education for the young and for law enforcement.

Soon others from without desired to own the "wealthy" land and the leader had to raise an army.

For all these "services", money was required and had to be raised by taxation on everything but the leaders' land. The leaders called the taxes by different names, but each had the same effect -- to increase poverty instead of diminishing it. As more and more machines were introduced Lo replace labour, life styles changed still further. Men were caught in a web of poverty and misery from which they could not extricate themselves. In time, the land became idle for want of labour, and labour was idle for want of land. As the population increased the demand for land became more competitive and rent soared along with land prices. This further increased the incentive to speculate in land and withhold it from use. Some prayed for relief from their lot.

As towns grew, additional food was needed. But there were taxes on transport, on supplies and on equipment. Farming was no longer a paying proposition. More farmers moved to the towns to earn their living. But still the leaders grew rich and the people grew poorer; poorer in body, mind and spirit.

Eventually the inhabitants began paying attention to other voices from far away, the voices of men who promised them a return to the old ways, not through nobility, but by way of arms. The leaders felt compelled to silence those who sounded any criticism and the need for change, those who wished to restate the old traditions and duties.

But those from without were determined to acquire the leaders wealth and to possess their land. Soon they invaded, and with assistance from some discontented and desperate inhabitants established a dictatorship. Many inhabitants were killed in the "war of liberation".

The survivors realised they had no choice but to bow to the new dictator. They all were told that their rights would be preserved but the inhabitants saw the dictator take all for himself and his henchmen. They realised that he cared little for the people of the land he had "freed". In sorrow it was seen that there would be no relief; no return to the golden days of the ancient paradise long gone by. There would be no fulfilling of the promises of equality and freedom. No return to availability of land for the average man and his family.

Soon the dictator emerged as a tyrant. He deposed the natural leaders who occupied positions of authority and trust. They were replaced by lessermortals. Together they silenced those who were concerned with the welfare of the inhabitants. Land, property and industry were confiscated. Not only the early inhabitants but also those who had come as craftsmen and traders suffered poverty and unjust treatment. Most lived in fear and without hope.

In time man became accustomed to their lot and gradually a brotherly bond started to develop.

A few men of insight and learning realised that only a return to basic principles and law could eventually save the situation. Quietly and systematically they started collecting and studying writings and. teachings of earlier masters. They sacrificed in order to obtain masterpieces of literature, some of which clearly showed how history repeated itself irrespective, of time or place.

Then one day there was found a hidden treasure from the days of wisdom and abundance. On well preserved parchment was set out the laws of the Unseen One and the former civilisation. This provided the key to their search. Therein was stated that "It belongs to the wise man to consider the highest causes".[1] They were reminded of deepseated concepts basic to man and society: concepts of love, honour and dignity. These were given as the coiner stones of spiritual, mental and physical wellbeing, the pillars on which could stand a, secure civilization. Most important of all, they were reminded of the underlying foundation on which it all depended, the willing acceptance of duties by all. They realised that, they had lost their former paradise because too many men had wanted something for themselves at the expense of everyone else.

They also read of the Great King who understood the above principles of man and who built a great nation on the declaration "I will have this land fully manned".[2] In early times a great philosopher had set out clearly the very process by which their society had descended to its state of poverty and despair.[3] They also read of one who understood that the dignity of man depended on access to land and the ability to provide for himself and family.[4]

All there treasures were studied and taught in private. They knew that the time, was not yet right, that the people had first to change their thinking, that they had to desire a return to goodness.

The students grew in numbers, strength and understanding. Men again paid attention to duties and quietly set examples for others to follow. They changed the sound from that of despair, poverty of mind and fear to the sound of hope for the future. A change from cringing and begging to one of giving, from demand of rights to acceptance of duties.

In time the students became teachers, teaching by precept and example. A strong bond developed between the people, a bond rooted in the acceptance of the Unseen One who regarded all men as his children.

In spite, of hardship, mothers stopped seeking employment and returned to their homes. They again accepted the important task of teaching their children obedience, duty and spiritual values, so long neglected. People again started to care for the aged who in turn were able to devote time to teaching children arts, crafts and the laws. True talents again unfolded thus enriching the society.

Like a breath of fresh air duty and happiness spread across the land. Greed was seen as a sickness that could be cured by love and attention. Thinking and attitudes gradually changed as exploitation gave way to the silent strength of the Three Pillars of Civilization. Goodness returned to the land as people once more gave allegiance to truth.