Ein entwicklungspolitisches Un-Modell: Reflexionen über eine vom "Westen" nicht reproduzierbare Institution in Indien - und was läßt sich von ihr lernen?

Abstract

In the social sciences the term "model" suggests that specific effects of a social structure can be reproduced once its working elements are analyzed. But there are social institutions which can hardly be analyzed in this way. In India I visited a Hindu monk (sannyasin) who combines traditional monk life with surprisingly efficient development work among the local population. Peoples’ questions are never answered by him. He trains the people to find useful answers themselves and become independent of outside help. His major "tool" is a meditation which he teaches. According to him meditation increases harmony among people, and harmony tends to create structures in which people can find useful answers to their problems themselves. This institution cannot be analyzed as a model. Here lives a man who does not act in the western sense, nor does he formulate aims and plans nor does he give concrete advice to the people. Compared with development project issues, "religious" actions are irrelevant. Nonetheless, here is a person who moves a lot, without any outside help. The monk said that "development" in fact means development of man as a whole, and not only of fractions of his life (like economy, skills, etc.). So he concentrates on man instead of fractions of man. In his work he also acts as a whole human being, e.g. not in fractions, not in a job attitude. According to him, the limited view of man and his world, and job attitudes are the main factors preventing many development experts from being successful in their work.