Living in Tantalus’s Hell: Abundance Without Access The world today increasingly resembles Tantalus’s Hell. In Greek mythology, Tantalus, the son of Zeus, was condemned to eternal punishment. He stood in water up to his neck, yet whenever he bent to drink, the water receded. Fruits hung ripe above his head, but when he reached for them, they slipped away. He was surrounded by abundance — and denied access to it. That ancient metaphor has become a modern reality. Never before has humanity produced so much wealth, food, technology, and knowledge. And yet, billions remain unable to enjoy even the basics of a dignified life. The reason is not scarcity. It is man-made barriers — political, economic, monetary, and ideological weapons wielded by superpowers and corporations alike. Politics in war and war in politics have become the international order. Tariffs of 100%, 200%, even 500% are imposed or threatened, not to protect people but to punish nations. Total bans on imports turn essential goods into political hostages. Protectionism invites counter-protectionism, choking the free movement of goods and services. Sanctions weaponize money itself — when “free exchange” is curtailed, money loses its meaning, and people lose their ability to live. A striking example of this moral contradiction surfaced a few years ago when a major luxury fashion brand 'Burberry' admitted to destroying millions of dollars’ worth of unsold clothing to protect brand exclusivity. This happened in a world where millions lack adequate clothing. The backlash was swift, not because it was illegal, but because it exposed something deeply wrong: when profit outweighs responsibility, abundance becomes obscene. God — or nature, if one prefers — has given this world enough for everyone. Yet most people cannot enjoy it, not due to fate, but due to laws framed by governments and policies designed by corporations. The fruits hang low, but invisible hands keep them out of reach. Humanity has experimented with many ideologies — Communism, Capitalism, Socialism. None has delivered holistic well-being, because all remain incomplete. They address systems, not consciousness. That is why the attention of many Western thinkers is slowly turning toward Vedanta — not as religion, but as the culmination of knowledge. Vedanta does not obsess over God alone; it questions desire, ownership, and the illusion of separation. What humanity needs today is not another ideology, but a cultural shift — one that is truly international. Unfortunately, even the United Nations, the only global body meant to represent collective humanity, is often sidelined by powerful nations. A unified moral vision seems distant. Yet, there is a ray of hope. The internet, mobile phones, and social media have systematically weakened borders. Science and technology have done what diplomacy often failed to do. The European Union functions as a single market across many nations. Birds fly without visas. Multinational companies operate beyond flags. Like it or not, the world is already moving toward interconnectedness. The question is not whether the world will function as a single organism — but who will guide it. When humanity truly becomes a living organism, pain in one part will be felt everywhere. Relief will not wait for political negotiations; it will be swift and collective. Ironically, corporations — global by nature — may act faster than governments trapped in nationalism. World leaders speak of nukes and domes. They should speak of peaceful humanity instead. Modern education teaches skills, not morals. It teaches competition, not compassion. Individuals chase wealth for personal happiness, often at the cost of another’s peace and dignity — forgetting that lasting happiness cannot be built on shared suffering. Tantalus’s Hell was a punishment. Ours is a choice. The fruits are within reach. The water is all around us. What remains is the wisdom to remove the barriers we ourselves have created — and finally eat and drink. #📺அரசியல் 360🔴 #🚹உளவியல் சிந்தனை