About
This is an audio version of the Azadist Manifesto.
Initially released in late 2022, these recordings have been remastered to improve audio quality and to promote the work to Bunga Azaadi’s newer audience. It has been AI-enhanced using Adobe Podcast for clearer and better audio quality, as well as edited to remove a lot of the “Umms” and filler words. The speed of narration has also been slowed slightly to help aid with clarity as well.
Additionally, these recordings are based on a set of “Azadism Webinars” originally conducted to read through the Manifesto live and answer any questions in those sessions. Therefore, there may be some slight differences between sections in sound due to different mic conditions when recording and also because of glitches in the AI.
If you would like to read along and see the additional notes/references, then the whole manifesto is also available for free at www.azadism.co.uk. A paperback version is also available to order via the website.
Blurb
Azadism introduces a framework to promote the flourishing and prosperity of existing and/or hypothetical States. The Azadist Manifesto outlines the political-economic philosophy of Azadism as a Sikhi-based alternative to authoritarianism and central-planning.
Combining both Sikh principles and Economic theory, the Azadist Manifesto aims to bring these concepts to the attention of the Guru Khalsa Panth and the wider Sangat so that we may form appropriate strategies to establish Khalsa Raaj. This is an attempt at outlining a detailed vision of what Azaadi looks like when applied in reality and its eventual full implication.
For more, visit www.azadism.co.uk
Info
In the main body text, there are numbered links to relevant endnotes and references. Below is a list of these, which you may want to consider for further reading, notes and extra Vichaars that didn’t make it into the main body.
Questions, disagreements or feedback? Let us know!
Email: contact@azadism.co.uk
Instagram: Bunga Azaadi (@bunga_azaadi)
Notes & References
1
Link: Levels of Understanding - by Bhai Mani Singh Shahid (manglacharan.com)
Raw: https://www.manglacharan.com/post/levels-of-understanding-by-bhai-mani-singh-shahid
I have purposefully decided not to use the term ‘Khand’ that is mentioned in the translators notes for this since I’ve found that this is often confused with the Khands used in Japu Ji Sahib when discussing this topic in person. The actual word used in the original text is “Adhkaar” which they translate as competency, which I felt was more appropriate for this instance.
2
Bhai Satpal Singh from Nanak Naam expands upon the deep metaphors present in the Ramayan to extract these key spiritual concepts, available here:
Link: Diwali: True Meaning Of Ramayana | Bandi Chorr Divas | Do Sikhs Celebrate Diwali? - YouTube
Raw:
The rest of his YouTube channel is a great resource in English for discovering more than just the basics, with lecture series on Japu Ji Sahib, Anand Sahib and other topics. The approach here is distinctly non-dual and much emphasis is placed on interpreting Bani and Ithiaas through the lens of Ik Onkaar first.
3
Link: Three Chapters of Spiritual Progression - Gobind Gita (manglacharan.com)
Raw: https://www.manglacharan.com/post/three-chapters-of-spiritual-progression-gobind-gita
I have retranslated some parts of this from Manglacharan’s article linked. Antar = within/inside I felt was more accurate than simply “one’s mind”, although I would agree it achieves a similar purpose of the translation. A few of the English translations throughout have been mended for mistakes and to make them more accurate. Please take time to read both the original and translations, and let me know if you feel like there have been any errors on my behalf also.
4
In a banned TED talk given by the Biologist Dr Rupert Sheldrake named ‘The Science Delusion’, he goes through some of the dogmas held within parts of the scientific community that are largely baseless assumptions. One of these was the belief that consciousness was “produced” by the brain, to which Sheldrake suggests that these two may have a different relationship. Instead, he gives the example of a TV signal and the receiver within the TV. The same way the TV signal is always present but only manifests when there is a receiver to capture it to display its contents, similarly, consciousness may also behave similarly. Our brains, therefore, act as the receiver of consciousness rather than the producer.
Link: Rupert Sheldrake - The Science Delusion BANNED TED TALK - YouTube
Raw:
The field of Panpsychism is at the forefront of these types of studies, with much of its premise based upon the idea that all things are contained within a sort of mind space, and that the most fundamental building blocks of reality is consciousness itself. This channel is a great introduction to these topics, as well as the accompanying ‘Waking Cosmos’ podcast, where you can hear interviews with some of the field's top scientists and philosophers.
Link: metaRising - YouTube
Raw: https://www.youtube.com/user/metaRising
5
Bhagat Dhunna similarly was given, to what would most of us today would see, a ritual to observe in the form of worshipping a rock. However, his innocent nature and pure love for God, spilt this “ritual" over to devotion as he refused to eat till the rock (which he thought was God) ate first! If there was no love in this, then he would have been mindlessly worshipping this stone since that was all he was told to do, hence he would have remained in the state of duality and on the competency of Karma. As the Sakhi goes, the rock does indeed eat the food after God appreciates the level of devotion here, and then Bhagat Dhunna is enlightened. Whereas it can be easily interpreted that his love bore fruit and this is a metaphor to show the listener that this is the power of loving devotion, the fact that he was also enlightened in the story shows he reached the final stage of understanding, Gyaan. How would we react to someone doing this today? We would likely accuse them of idol worship and throw all sorts of Panktis at them to prove they are wrong. However, it is important to recognise that the path of spirituality is indeed a path. Everyone is progressing at their own pace and each are on their own levels. That relationship between the Guru and the Sikh is personal to them alone. Obviously, there are limits to this, but it is still something to think about when observing even the worst people in the world.
6
There is also Pratibhasika - apparent reality. In fact, Advaita has many breakdowns and terminology defined for these things, but they have been left out for now for brevity. These two parts are sufficient enough to express the point, however if interested, consult this:
Link: Rope-Snake Analogy Using Logic: How Falsehood Becomes Truth (yesvedanta.com)
Raw: https://www.yesvedanta.com/rope-snake-logical-analysis-advaita-vedanta-analogy/
7
There are other breakdowns such as in terms of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh (Shiva), but this is my favourite and is often overlooked.
8
Credit must be given here to Harwinder Singh Mander (Naujawani) from where I first heard about this idea that we as a Panth are reactive and not proactive. This one statement is paradigm-shifting in understanding why our community behaves the way it does.
Link: | naujawani
Raw: https://naujawani.com/
9
A separate post will be made on this as a case study since misinformation and misunderstanding of the issue seems to be occurring on both sides.
10
Link: Thomas Sowell Brings the World into Focus through an Economics Lens - YouTube
Raw:
“... because I want people to read it!”
11
Link: Praxeology: The Methodology of Austrian Economics | Mises Institute
Raw: https://mises.org/library/praxeology-methodology-austrian-economics
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