Bai Lan ( 摆烂 ) is a Chinese term which literally means “let it rot”. It is the sentiment of voluntary retreat from society and societal expectations. This happens when society splinters internally due to various reasons. Most people get disgusted and walk away from both their rights and responsibilities. A society that is extremely materialistic with a few haves and mostly have-nots, a society that is unjust to most of it’s people, a society that goes against the natural order of life, a society that upholds ideologies over pragmatism – these are societies that create the groundwork for people to walk away from.
The “Universe 25” experiment, conducted by John Calhoun, is one of the most striking and unsettling scientific studies ever done, using a mouse colony to explore social behavior and societal collapse. Calhoun created an ideal habitat for mice, offering abundant food, water, nesting materials and ample space. Initially, the mice thrived, reproducing rapidly and increasing their population.
However, as the population grew, social problems emerged. Increased aggression among male mice led to fights and territorial disputes, causing females to become more aggressive and less interested in reproduction. This decline in mating and infant care resulted in plummeting birth rates and increased juvenile mortality.
A unique group of males, termed “the beautiful ones,” appeared; these mice refrained from mating or fighting and instead focused solely on eating and resting. Over time, these “beautiful males” and isolated females dominated, further reducing reproduction rates. Same-sex pairings, social withdrawal and cannibalism increased despite plentiful food.
The population ultimately crashed, with juvenile deaths reaching 100%. Calhoun repeated the experiment 25 times with the same grim outcome. The study serves as a powerful metaphor for social breakdown, highlighting the importance of meaningful social roles and interactions for societal health.
The above experiment shows what happens when you interfere and try to change the natural order of life. Every life is an opportunity for the individual being to grow and evolve. If there are no challenges and obstacles for the individual being, boredom sets in and the individual starts to regress rather than progress on their own path. It’s a downward slope for the individual being. In the same manner, society too heads for decay and collapse.
So what is the solution?
Materialism will not solve anything in this world. Extreme materialism divides society into haves and have-nots. The more materialistic one becomes, the more one feels stuck but does not know how to get out of the rut. What is important is that if one is well off financially and materially, one should use that to explore what else is there in life and beyond. Doing the same old things day in and day out will just drive one insane in varying degrees.
The antidote to materialism is meditation. Meditation is your individual journey. And meditation does not mean escaping this world but living in this world. When you are bored with all this world has to offer and nothing excites you any more, instead of slipping into depression and despair, start your journey of meditation. Not only will you start enjoying your life again but you will also uplift and rejuvenate those around you.