I’ve been spending a lot of time crying for people I do not know in countries near and far. Time and time again, we humans show that we are capable of such cruelty. With each person that leaves before their time, we lose just a little bit more of our humanity. I am sick and tired of signing petitions that do little but make us feel good for the moment. And looking at our leadership around the world and in all sectors, it’s clear that empathy is not part of their DNA’s foundation but an afterthought. Why? How much more pain does the world have to go through before we understand that we are at the roots of all of our issues. It’s hard to come up with words, but I found that the Dalai Lama has managed to once again show us an important thought:
People want to lead a peaceful lives. The terrorists are short-sighted, and this is one of the causes of rampant suicide bombings. We cannot solve this problem only through prayers. I am a Buddhist and I believe in praying. But humans have created this problem, and now we are asking God to solve it. It is illogical. God would say, solve it yourself because you created it in the first place.
We need a systematic approach to foster humanistic values, of oneness and harmony. If we start doing it now, there is hope that this century will be different from the previous one. It is in everybody’s interest. So let us work for peace within our families and society, and not expect help from God, Buddha or the governments. (source from Duetsche Welle and Reddit)
He may be talking about the terrorists’ most recent unimaginable actions in Paris, but it is far from the only place to be hit recently. And terrorists are not only those who use physical violence, but must also include those who use verbal and thought violence. There are far too many people in this world who love to label people for their own ease of existence, without taking into account respect for others. This hurts everyone! Frankly, I for one and sick and tired of hearing these people in the limelight. What will make them shut up, listen and learn for once? Politics is most definitely not the answer, and changing leadership does nothing when we refuse to acknowledge the broken system we all contribute to.
It’s hard to find an organization, cause, or message to support when each only sees themselves as being the primary focus and not the world at large. We need to stop the cycle of tunnel vision. The world is made up of many intricate parts, with much outside of the human influence. It’s about time that we come together to create something that contributes to the growth of life and not the stunting decimation of it.
If you are looking to a leader in the government or industry to give us the answer, then you’re looking at the wrong people. Go to a mirror and take a look at your reflection. Do you only see yourself, or can you see the bigger picture? The world is a very big place and we all have a part to play. Counting on a system to give you the answer is like being able to count the grains of sand on a beach.
But if we focus on the interconnectedness of the world in all of its glory, then we see that any small piece that goes missing starts to unravel the big picture.
My sympathies are with Parisians at home and abroad. But my sympathies are also with those countries who live this existence on a daily basis. My heart hurts so much and the tears just keep coming. But we need to move past sympathy and find solutions that will stop the violence from continuing on all fronts so that people will stop getting hurt. Terror comes in many forms and in many places, but they can be fought with the light, whether it is knowledge, love, or understanding.
We can’t wait for the next election, the next meeting, or the next poll to uncover the answer. By then, it may be too late to stop the destruction of humanity. And I’m not just talking about our species, but also our worth. The issues are many but they all tie together, just like humanity and this world. Why we refuse to see this all for the sake of short term gains is beyond me.
I want the hurt to stop for everyone, but we can only do this together and it won’t be easy. Nothing worthwhile ever is.
