Davenant says that a social breakdown is coming. We will see that happening in the next story, "Brake," but, after that, we will jump much further ahead to an entirely different period, over half a millennium further into the future if the Chronology is to be believed.
Davenant and a colleague, the Venusian Kruse, discuss whether it is better to belong to an organization like the Order that keeps itself above politics or whether, on the contrary, the Order's neutrality cuts it off from its roots.
If a breakdown is coming, then surely it is wrong to do nothing about it? Which course of action is "right action," in the Buddhist sense? Personally, here and now, I want to be involved in activities that address current issues while also accepting advice about individual meditation practice from monks of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives which, like all such organizations, is non-political. As when driving a car, it is both possible and necessary to look in two directions at once.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Another story by Anderson touching on ideas about a scientifically oriented "order" is "The Communicators," which arose from scientists who originally focused on trying to translate messages from aliens. They became a quasi religious "Order of Communicators" which survived the ups and downs, rise and fall of empires, focusing on preserving scientific knowledge and dreams of communicating with "others" for centuries.
And one reason for why the Order survived was by preserving strict neutrality in the politics and quarrels of human beings. "The Communicators" revolves on whether the Order should start taking a more actively political role and ends with one Brother saying: "Sir, we...we can't murder, we can't take sides. It's not in our t-t-tradition."
Ad astra! Sean
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