The Third Prong

After two lengthy blogs of such negativity, I’d like to cast off those mental constructs which captivate us all, and think towards the future. This is where I dive into the philosophical deep end.

For all my seeming ranting about the state of the world, the misguided actions of our government and NGOs, my focus is not, in fact, on the negative. I did not write those words with the intention of pointing out all that is wrong, or lay blame. My words are the expression of observance - observance of our actions and where they have lead us. To fully grasp where we stand today, we must look at where we began and how we arrived. Not to separate those who are “right” from those who are “wrong”, not to feel guilt for the paths we have chosen, but so we can understand the ebb and flow of life, and the patterns we hold on to – those that work, and those that don’t. Reflection is essential to growth, but let’s not become stuck and stagnate, hey?

My intention with the last two blogs, “The World at Your Fingertips” and “The Flip-Side,” was merely to show that there are no “good guys” and “bad guys”. Despite all outward appearances, this is not a world of right vs. wrong, left vs. right, rich vs. poor. There is neither a war with a foreign enemy to be won, nor a powerful monster to be destroyed. The battle for peace, justice, and equality is not a battle at all, but an opportunity for transformation – a transformation that can only be forged from within.

When one looks at the modern world, it might appear to be split into two. There is the faction that lives for economic growth and power, and there is the faction that fights for the underdog – be it Mother Nature, the poor, the oppressed, or the indigenous. We have seen that there are upsides and downsides to both of the supposed sides. But from what I’ve seen, life has no actual sides. About the only way you can split it is into actions: those based in love, and those based in fear – and the two run rampant the world over.

There is no “black-or-white” here, no “us-versus-them”. Saving the world is not about a romantic group of compassionate revolutionaries fighting an evil empire of right-winged, corporate elites. Nor is it about providing wealth and western know-how to the less fortunate. Though we might state otherwise, we are not on a bend to save the planet. The planet does not need saving. What does is humanity. And human salvation lies in compassion and respect: an act of love that must be extended to the Embera child in Panama, to the gang-leader in NYC, to the corporate CEOs and military officials.

And so we have a choice: do we act in fear to avoid environmental disaster, economic ruin, and political instability? Or do we act in love to increase peace, sustainability, and human happiness? Are we are fighting against an enemy, or are we fighting for humankind? We grow that which we focus our intention upon. If it is peace, love, and compassion we want for the world, don’t we begin by cultivating this holy trinity within our own hearts? If we free ourselves, as individuals, from our own judgments and negative belief patterns – if we open our minds and truly listen to others – solutions to the myriad issues of modern life will unfold before us.

The greatest challenge we face today, therefore, is not that of bringing down big business, ending poverty, corrupt governments, or terrorism. Our greatest challenge is to tear down the walls of our perceptions, to walk away from the flame of ideology, to move forward with compassion and respect. Once we have realised our innate connection to the rest of humankind and the planet, our potential is limitless.