All exploration has the possibility of revealing new resources. So the imperative is toward that goal. L Ron Hubbard, the scheming charlatan founder of Scientology, establishes in his first book, Dianetics, the progression of imperatives he chooses to call dynamics. The first is to self, the 2nd to progeny, the 3rd to community and so on. It is really basic psychology, no individual can look after his children if he/she is unfit to look after themselves first.
As for this "trend toward more contemplative living", where exactly is this? I see it taking place in the same reasonably affluent liberal westerners it has always been rooted in, but nowhere else.
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Contemplative living I would not lump with Scientology.
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No doubt those who are not scrabbling to make a hard-fought living perhaps tend to be more likely to embrace meditative paths, but then Asia is just chock full of folks that don't let poverty stand in the way of that or, heck, even have renounced material concerns to pursue just that. earl