Do you want to change the world? So did I… until I understood that the world is perfect as it is. “Perfect” doesn’t mean that the world is wonderful beyond any need for change – that is simply not true, for a variety of reasons. The perfection of the world resides in its perpetual gravitation towards balance.
So, if the world takes care of itself, our efforts to change it are in vain… Not at all. Aren’t we part of this world? It changes, we change. We change, it changes. It really is that simple.
In our quest for (what each of us considers) a better world, some of us become too assertive, loud, violent, even destructive, totally oblivious to the balance that is always restoring itself, and problems expand and diversify. Whoever wants to live in a different world should plant the seeds of change wisely, taking into account that each cause has an effect, and by sowing wind one can only reap whirlwind.
If you can envision a generally peaceful, prosperous, joyful world, here are some words that may inspire us to take the right steps in our desired direction 🙂
When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else, you are being violent. Do you see why it is violent? Because you are separating yourself from the rest of mankind. When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence. So a man who is seeking to understand violence does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or partial system; he is concerned with the total understanding of mankind.
Jiddu Krishnamurti
I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone, if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness — not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another.
In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.
The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood, for the unity of us all.
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Charlie Chaplin, “The Great Dictator”, The Barber’s speech
When one is not understood one should as a rule lower one’s voice, because when one really speaks loudly enough and is not heard, it is because people do not want to hear. One had better begin to mutter to oneself, then they get curious.
Carl Gustav Jung, “Nietzsche’s Zarathustra”
Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.
Nelson Mandela
Do you want to improve the world?
I don’t think it can be done.The world is sacred.
It can’t be improved.
If you tamper with it, you’ll ruin it.
If you treat it like an object, you’ll lose it.There is a time for being ahead,
a time for being behind;
a time for being in motion,
a time for being at rest;
a time for being vigorous,
a time for being exhausted;
a time for being safe,
a time for being in danger.The Master sees things as they are,
without trying to control them.
She lets them go their own way,
and resides at the center of the circle.Lao Tzu, “Tao Te Ching”
Peace & inspiration! 💜