Improbable Peace

As a human being, I like order and justice. Seeing all the turmoil that is going on almost everywhere, I keep asking myself, Why?As dangerous and scary as violent behaviors are, we can't help seeing their root, their trigger in the injustice that is rampant on the "higher" levels. I know, such unfairness has always existed under the sun but today, as it is repeatedly shoved under everybody's nose, we are more aware of it. Therefore some consequences are inevitable. When corporations mercilessly put helpless people in the street, when film stars have the power to "own" a major city for days on a private affair, when the difference between the income of teachers and footballers is abysmal, we can't expect the world to live in peace.  

No Respite

Have you ever noticed how there is always something we are compelled by the media to focus our attention upon? I am not referring now to the gossip about the "rich and famous" but to more serious matters that keep happening around the world. Let's see. A certain situation is on the headlines for quite some time. As soon as it seems to be quieting down, another immediately pops up. It seems that it "has to" materialize. No respite. How come that not one month, one week, even one day can pass by, without us hearing about a dreadful happening on the international scene because of this or that group, organization, faction? Is there an elusive script writer who creates situations just to have fun at our reactions? In every play there is one moment where the audience is allowed to relax, maybe even to smile. Why aren't we?

The Importance of Talking

We have often said that nowadays people talk far too much. The media - all of them - blare as loud as they can, either with spoken or written words, with the result of confusing our minds. This is clearly negative. But there is one kind of talk that is totally positive. It is the exchange between two individuals who wish to understand each other. This is true communication. It is the expression of one's ideas, maybe with the hope of finding advice when in doubt or help when needed. True communication is what is mainly lacking nowadays. Too many insignificant, useless, often harmful words. Too few meaningful, sincere, helpful expressions of one's mind.

Great Past, Greater Future

Lebanese-American poet Kahlil Gibran said that life leads us from our great past to our greater future. How wonderful it is to think of your past as great, isn't it? Don't you often, though, see it as anything but great? You perceive it as rather disappointing, you feel you haven't been able to reach your goals. At times, you might even see it as a failure. But it is not. Your past is great because it gifted you with experiences which - if you are wise enough - can teach you a lot. And precisely these experiences will take you towards a future where you may still be able to fulfill your dreams, provided you do your best and work for it. 

Unconditional Love

The idea of unconditional love puzzles me. I understand the meaning of love and I understand the meaning of hate. They are antonyms, as they are feelings caused by opposite experiences. I also believe that it is possible not to hate because such extreme feeling can be mellowed down and replaced - although with effort - by aversion and resentment. But love cannot be replaced by anything. You can bring yourself to be lenient, understanding, forgiving etc. But I still wonder if it is really possible to love "unconditionally", i.e. no matter how the other behaved towards you, how much they hurt you. Saints are probably able to do it. What about us, ordinary mortals?

Prophecy

More than thirty years ago, A. de Mello (one of the wisest individuals of our time) wrote:

"The main goal of Life is the development of human beings. Nowadays people seem to focus more on the development of things."

He was a good observer as well as a prophet, wasn't he?

Answers & Questions

There are three kinds of people:

1. those who don't need an answer because they don't care to ask the question,

2. those who don't need an answer because they already have  it without asking the question,

3. those who don't get an answer despite that they keenly ask the question.

Number 1 and 2 live quite happily. Number 3 don't.

Which number are you?