I have a question…. When you look at the world as a whole, do you like what you see? I am not talking about your little world, but the world as a grand vision. Do you see lots of happiness and wellness or passive suffering on a global scale? All I have to do is watch CNN for 15 minutes and I am immediately so thankful for my comfortable existence here on Earth. I am reverent! From poverty to war, political and religious strife to pollution and climate change. We see it online and on TV everyday. I guess my next questions is this…. Where are we really headed? Where is humanity heading?
I have learned through my own mindfulness that every person is a collective piece to the puzzle that is humanity. Each of us were put on this planet to serve a purpose. A purpose beyond the instinct to procreate and survive. Do you know your purpose?
Let’s face it, we live on a small planet and our existence is interconnected: Interconnected by quantum physics and also energy from a spiritual sense. Are we so different that our petty views divide us? There is a common bond to be realized in regard to humanity. Once people get that concept on a global level, gone will be the threats of war and even poverty could be admonished. It is up to everyone to contribute to this collective puzzle for the greater good of mankind. You can begin by gaining more clarity and responsiveness in your own life. But how do we pay this energy forward? How do we share this wisdom?
It starts by surrendering our ego and false-self to a more spacious vision of life and Universe. Right here, right now; in our own lives, we need to make open-minded decisions that create positive karmic results. Imagine if every person in the world spent one solitary minute of their lives to find a little compassion and do good for the common world, free of money, selfishness and ego. Just one minute could create this contagious wave of positive energy that could ripple across the globe. Is this even possible? In Buddhist philosophy, one is not fully enlightened and free from suffering until the world as a whole is at peace. That is a lot of pressure as we try to find our own place in this chaotic world. Are we so different? Maybe there is something the majority of the Earth is missing. Something that is not tangible to touch or sight but reachable if we garner the right perspective and mindset from within. Less suffering and more happiness begins with you and only you. Each of us has a responsibility to uphold that shifts this world we live in to a more palatable utopia. Once we realize we live in a Responsive Universe we come to realize we have within our power the ability to create a living heaven on earth; or a living hell… Each of us has that choice… to deny that is to not live to your full potential….
John C. Bader
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Hi John,
Love your positive take on watching the [so often negative] news! 🙂
I like the way you see us as all pieces of the puzzle. Nothing gets you out of a funk faster than wondering how you can contribute in some way.And it’s too easy to forget this!
Lori
Thanks for the kind comments Lori! I really appreciate it! JCB
As long as I don’t contribute to the many blockades, and divisions humanity has set up, as long as I transcend that nonsense, doorways are open for a peaceful existence. Only I have the power to do that for myself. A peaceful existence is, a happy existence. I make that choice.
Wonderful articles, John!
I’m a bit confused about your take on the ego. You wrote above “It starts by surrendering our ego and false-self to a more spacious vision of life and Universe.”
But you commented on Naia’s Article “The ego’s bad rap” this way:
John C. Bader | June 22, 2012 at 12:31 am | Reply
“Great article! I totally agree that the ego, though crude is necessary in the social evolution of humans.”
Is there a conflict there or perhaps I’m not understanding you entirely.
Thanks,
Dan Jacob
There is a lot of confusion surrounding the existence or concept of an ego. I have overheard many prominent spiritual and wellness advocates say that we do not need an ego – that the ego is unnecessary. Maybe if we lived in a utopian society that would be true. But we don’t do we? Many of us are born into a world where social Darwinism defines our existence. The ego was necessary for the early evolution of humans; competing and foraging to survive; and it is necessary in the early development of children today. Though its mechanisms are crude, the ego is an unavoidable social phenomenon. Now, imagine if a child lives totally alone and isolated from social interaction; he or she will never come to grow an ego. But that is not going to help in human evolution. This child will remain like an animal never progressing or evolving. As an example, humans need oxygen to breathe; carbon dioxide is a byproduct of oxygen. We exhale carbon dioxide and it is clear living organisms and planet Earth need both atmospheric gases for life to exist. Yet, if humans inhale too much carbon dioxide, there can be dangerous side effects. Here is the similarity; the ego is also necessary in our human evolution but when we let the ego govern our life it can also be dangerous.True Nature is the fundamental core of our being. It is our center where only love and wisdom arise. The concept of an ego is itself a yardstick in societal evolution. Whether we need the ego or not is really not the point – the ego exists whether we like it or not. The focus is not to say we do not need the ego but to acknowledge that it exists and then separate its facilities within our mind – make space for it so that when thoughts and emotions arise we can distinguish which ones are proactive to our evolution and development and which ones are merely there to create false-self and ultimately suffering. We cannot deny the ego but must find awareness for its power – the ego helped build a crude but necessary foundation in our human evolution. Now in the search for enlightenment, the key is to limit its authority and power so that true authentic empowerment can arise from within. Hope this clears things up – JCB