Mario Rodriguez Cobos - Silo, founder of the 6 Humanist Movement January 1938 - 16 September 2010

Tonight on Thursday 16 has died in Mendoza, Mario Luis Rodriguez Cobos, (SILO), a universal Argentine. We transcribe a reference to his life and work made by Luis Ammann on the occasion of the presentation of Silo's book "Apuntes de Psicología" at the Book Fair in Tandil, Buenos Aires, the 16 of August of 2007

- Argentina Mendoza | September 17 2010 17: 28

In Apuntes de Psicología, the most recent book published by Silo (Ulrica Ediciones, Rosario, Argentina, 2006), the editor presents the author's "biography" in thirty-three words.

That synthesis was sent by the same Silo in an attitude that has been reiterated: we never had a biographical comment made by the author that exceeded half a face. Therefore, what we are going to expose next is a kind of unauthorized biographical reference that is made under our responsibility and with the desire to give some information closer to the person and the work of this man who has spoken and written about all the topics except about himself.

In 1999, in a booklet entitled The Thought of Silo, we write: The environment of uniqueness that surrounds Silo does not come from his ideas that, acceptable or not, are clear and have a well-structured discourse. Rather, one must look for the reasons for the mystery and ambiguity that surrounds it in three factors, two that are alien to it and one that concerns it. The other factors: 1. the mental state of the Argentine, military and civilian leadership, and 2. the attitude of the local media. 3. What is attributable to Silo is his annoying independence from the factors of power and the exercise of his freedom.

The first to prohibit and defame Silo was the dictator Juan Carlos Onganía. His most persistent persecutors were José López Rega, responsible for the "triple A" a gang for police and Ramón J. Camps, convicted genocide. These characters perceived that the preaching of Silo for the "nonviolence" to endanger their interests and the violent system they defended. Thus, they persecuted their ideas, threatened and committed attacks and homicides against the members of the Movement generated spontaneously by these ideas.

On the other hand, Silo is a man of simple and austere habits, oblivious to the spectacle of power and publicity. He is not a man of "media relations". Finally, he has thought, written and spoken about all the subjects that interest the human being, skimming or penetrating decidedly the field of psychology, religion and politics, always promoting the methodology of the "nonviolence" active for the change social and personal. In short, it has damaged interests, put the ridiculous in its place and ignored the dispensers of fame. But the irritating thing for the System is that Silo, although he does not propose it, is a leader, a spiritual Guide. A person whose behavior is inspiring; whose ideas fill a void and, above all, give a different future orientation.

"Think, go and go", has been the pragmatic position. But that an original thought, which encompasses human existence and experience, arouses the adherence of very diverse people and gives rise to an active and growing organization of volunteers, this has been "intolerable" for the well-wishers.

The harassment always ran in the same way: they tried to subtract merits from their contributions, their writings and sayings were hidden to plagiarize them, their ideas-force were misrepresented by using them as advertising slogans. None of this prevented his vision of the world from breaking through and his words reach the hearts of simple people.

The intention to degrade is the one that underlies the different insults that have been made from the power of the day. It is not, by the way, the unprejudiced look of the Russian academics who distinguished him with the honorary doctorate at 1993. This is how we wrote in 1999.

The diffusion of his non-violent ideology led him, at 1981, to give lectures in different cities in Europe, a tour that included an event in India. They were difficult events to frame, because Silo gave his message to thousands of people gathered in salons and covered stadiums and in large open spaces, such as the Choupaty beach in Bombay. It was known thus, what they themselves denominated the "nonviolent current of Latin American root". Subsequently, his lectures have taken place in universities, cultural centers and the public road in almost all the world, achieving a growing adhesion that already involves millions of people in 140 countries.

Recently, the position of mass media seems to have changed and the recognition of institutions, personalities and media in Europe, in Asia and - more timidly - in our country is arriving. The media have lowered the barriers of prejudice and are willing to allow the freedom of expression of this thinker. In 2006, his preaching for World Peace, which focused on nuclear disarmament, won the squares, the streets and, for the first time, the screens of televisions, cinemas and stadiums. Today, there are millions who listen to Silo and many more seem to be prepared to listen to a good man whose word gently inspires the spirit.

His last public exhibitions on the mountain have turned into mass pilgrimages. In 1999, when commemorating the 30º anniversary of his first public harangue, some four thousand people came to listen to him in "Punta de Vacas", the desolate place where he spoke for the first time to some two hundred people. In 2004 they were around seven thousand and in 2007 the number grew to more than 10 thousand. The park built there receives permanent visits and has been called by the press "Watchtower of faith."

From 2002, year in which Silo presents The Message (a rescue of individuality in everything according to its social solidarity) have been emerging around the world Urban Rooms and Parks. These spaces of meditation and spiritual inspiration are being developed in the five continents. Some of them are Parque Punta de Vacas, Manantiales, La Reja, Kohanoff and Caucaia in South America; Red Bluff in North America; Attigliano and Toledo in Europe and, already initiated the projects, the Parks of Asia and Africa.

The personal references that Silo gives are concise: his name is Mario Luis Rodríguez Cobos, the 6 was born in Mendoza in January of 1938. He is married to Ana Cremaschi, is the father of Alejandro and Federico and resides in a small town (Chacras de Coria) in the outskirts of Mendoza. He is a writer and, for a few years, he partially abandoned his agricultural activities.

His main published works are: Humanize the Earth, Contributions to Thought, The Day of the Winged Lion, Guided Experiences, Universal Roots Myths, Letters to My Friends, Dictionary of New Humanism, Silo Talk and Appointments of Psychology. They have also edited two volumes of his complete works. These books have been translated and published in the main languages, dialects and languages ​​and are current reading of young contestants, the New Left, humanists, ecologists and pacifists. From the year 2002, as we have said, Silo drives The Message, a spiritual dimension.

If we had to outline a profile, we would say that Silo is the ideologist of a current of thought: New Humanism or Universalist Humanism (or Siloist Humanism, although he rejects this denomination); a non-violent political-social movement: the Humanist Movement, and a spiritual expression: The Message.

The doctrine of Silo covers, in short, the fundamental issues that interest the human being.

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