An Open Heart: The State of Humanity and the Call for Compassion
"In a sense, the concept of 'us' and 'them' is almost no longer relevant, as our neighbors' interests are ours as well. Caring for our neighbors' interests is essentially caring for our own future."
— The Dalai Lama
As tensions rise between China and Japan, as well as between China and the Philippines over disputed islands, and as Muslim communities around the world are incited by thoughtless actions like the creation of an offensive movie, one is forced to confront what lies ahead. Civil war rages in Syria, conflict continues to devastate Yemen, and Israel remains poised to strike Iran. Meanwhile, the United States has its fingers in almost every global conflict, and the specter of nuclear warfare looms large. We are on a collision course, and it's only a matter of time before some reckless trigger sets off a catastrophic chain of events.
Some have even prophesied that the world will end in 2012. While this may seem far-fetched to some, when we look at the state of humanity, it's hard to dismiss. War, greed, and destruction seem to define the course we are on, and it appears that we will never learn from the past. We continue to build greater and more powerful weapons of destruction in the name of our gods, countries, and beliefs. We have become masters of destruction, following the paths set by our ancestors.
Man has become, in many cases, worse than the animals. Humanity, at times, seems to have lost its way. If not for the relatively few who still strive for peace, compassion, and reconciliation, we might have self-destructed long ago. We’ve lost our humanity—the ability to care for our fellow man, for life itself, for the sanctity of our existence on this planet.
We have abandoned our role as the caretakers of the Earth. Instead, we have become the virus, destroying the planet from within. Where is our compassion? Where is our loving-kindness toward one another? Where is our awareness of the temporal nature of our existence?
Spurred by greed, hate, and ignorance, we have lost our sense of equanimity. We have squandered our inherent capacity to love and forgive. We have become desensitized—killing is no longer sacred, and the sanctity of life has been reduced to mere survival. In Malaysia, it has become commonplace to hear stories of newborns abandoned in toilets, thrown from windows. How have we become so blind to the sacredness of life?
While we chase after wealth and power, the Earth suffers. The environment is being desecrated with impunity. The idea of sharing, wealth distribution, and a sustainable economy has become a far-fetched notion. The rich cling to what they have, and the poor remain ever more destitute. We have lost sight of compassion and generosity.
At the same time, science denies the existence of a higher being, and politicians thrive on division. The religious mind preaches what is right and wrong, while the younger generation is lost in a sea of distraction, seeking escapes from the crushing pressure of simply existing. The extremists in every religion destroy themselves and others, living in a world where the spirit is forgotten, and only the ego remains.
If we take God out of the equation, man has lost his spiritual nature. Without this, we are no better than animals—machines simply running through the motions of survival. The human mind is the only thing that can save us from ourselves. The day we start believing that we are the center of all creation, driven by ego, is the day we truly lose our way. Our knowledge of the Universe is still in its infancy compared to what lies out there, waiting to be discovered.
Mother Teresa’s Wisdom:
"People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
… Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
… Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
… Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
… Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
… Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
… Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow.
… Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.
… Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway."
No comments:
Post a Comment