Month: February 2018

Regardless of hunger and instinct, cannibalism is not prevalent. It has not evolved in most societies, whether discussed openly or in remote areas. Most societies naturally avoid this topic. In this day and age, we have an acceptable level of crime in all human societies. Each level of crime may be slightly different, but no society is crime-free, including religious societies with the harshest punishments, which are also riddled with various crimes.

Despite the crime rate, we have made some progress. My question is, where do you personally stand in this evolving world? How far would you be pushed to break the limits or rules of the group to which you belong, whether it be a social issue or one concerning your religious beliefs? Would you commit a spiritual crime knowing it is wrong? Would you blow yourself up to kill innocent people or bomb a city in the name of your group? In the end, would you resort to cannibalism if you were starving? I have not read or heard news of cannibalism, yet I hear of humans dying of starvation throughout history. Cannibalism is rarely heard of these days; why do you think people don’t kill others for food? They kill each other all the time. What are the reasons behind this? What makes us different from other creatures?

Education. Education. Education.

Interestingly, most societies follow a phenomenon where we don’t kill each other due to our aggressive nature or lack of education but kill each other because of our sense of belonging and politically tainted education. As babies, we don’t discriminate, yet as adults, we can’t stand each other. Growing up with knowledge acquired through education as part of our wish to be better informed about our fellow humans shapes our identity. We wonder why others cannot understand that we will follow a group that encourages us to be informed and make informed decisions regarding other people in our society. We need to assess individually to choose whether to act as a human being in the group to which we belong. Your political identity is what you assume is the same as the groups you have chosen to follow.

To me, knowledge is only knowledge when practiced. Wisdom is about the effects. If we learn to become or accept being human beings, we can overcome our identity crisis. Personal weakness and powerful politics within our groups give us comfort in adhering to our sense of belonging. This forces us to reject the education of opposing groups regardless of the wisdom it contains.

The fundamentals of civilizations are based on education, yet it is not that simple when it comes to the politics of a sense of belonging, evolving nature, or even starvation. Obedience to the rules, respect for law and order, and religious beliefs, including God, are things of a full stomach. A few days of starvation create hallucinations, making this obvious. Regardless of our education, each of us comes with conflicting sides due to the ideas we receive from our group of birth. Despite the strength of our animal side, humans possess an equally strong spiritual side at our core.

Yes, our good and bad are related to our core. Why would God do that to human beings? Why are there bad people, or why do people who are bad become good over time? Common sense comes to mind when people use the human body as an example of humanity.

The first words of wisdom about good and bad are that we would not know the differences if there were no good or bad. I am not certain, but I have read somewhere that the human body consists of ten trillion cells with twenty-six thousand genes. We have a hundred trillion good and bad bacteria with three million genes to keep our body alive. Even bad bacteria, viruses, and parasites are important to keep the immune system in tip-top shape to help the body stay healthy. To appreciate the good in life, individuals must understand that without both, there can be no distinction between bad and good. If we don’t have anything bad like poisons in the body, our immune system is a dead duck, and we will not survive this world full of infections. We have earned the right to live on Earth by surviving infections.

Good and bad can be an opinion of a certain time and era and related to education or understanding. The bad in our gut is actually good if it helps us survive. People in society are like colonies of bacteria working for God or humanity. It may be chaotic if everyone in society is good because there is no gauge to compare good and bad. Bad has its importance for educational purposes, or we don’t understand it at this time. Remember that our past bad behaviors are acceptable as well as the good things today, so an evolving entity can’t be completely sure of their evolving knowledge. It is still a choice for the individual regardless of the era they are born into. When it is established that choosing good or bad comes with a choice, that means there is much more responsibility on the individual’s shoulders than we are taught to believe in religions. You simply can’t hide behind the Devil or God for your good and bad choices. God or Devil don’t come into your decisions because you have been blessed with free will; thus, you individually have to take charge and be responsible for the decisions you make.

Today, we have court systems in most human societies, and the fundamentals of justice are based on individual responsibilities and personal choices. No one disputes free will. Since good and bad are assessed by the popular beliefs of the era you are born into, it becomes problematic when the politics of the group you belong to conflict with the wishes of your fellow individuals.

We may be taught that it is good to commit spiritual crimes for our belonging groups, whether in the name of nationalism or religion. This group may try to convince you that it is not a bad thing to do something bad even though you are acting for the group, including so-called religious groups.

The human individual is a subcontractor to God, so there is no if, and, or but regarding personal responsibilities for all the evolved and educated individuals. The more we evolve, the more responsibilities are placed on our shoulders to live as we must. These are the reasons why, in modern times, religions have taken a hit in popularity. If you choose to act and murder someone innocent of any crime in the name of your religion, you are still responsible for your actions. If it is determined that you did commit this crime, you, not your religious group, will be tried and, if found guilty, punished in a court of law. This could mean many years in jail or the loss of your life.

If you are told or personally believe that God will save you from any court because you have done it for God, you will have a rude awakening on both levels. First, you may get the death penalty, and second, you may lose your belief system because God will not show up to save you. God may say, the reason I gave you free will is to make choices. If you can choose and own the decisions you make, you are using your individual powers. If you do not choose to own your decisions, you are undermining God.

One can blame ideology for being violent, but when it comes to responsibility, it is all about individual responsibility. If it is related to the extreme, it comes from choices made by individuals. Being good or bad has been, is, and will continue to change with time. If your acts of being good are related to the politics of your sense of belonging, they may be tainted with something you perceive. It can be good, but if it is proven to harm innocent human beings, this is a spiritual crime committed by you, the individual.

In this day and age, if you are still living in the past or want everyone else to live in past glory days, you are not paying attention to the changing world around you. If you believe even the leaves of the tree can’t move without God’s will, how can you choose to act independently to extremism and rob someone of their God-given life? If you believe someone’s death by your hands is God’s act, remember the power of the politics of your belonging group over you. Assess your sense of belonging and freedom, and create a balance so you can make a good judgment as an individual blessed with the Godly gift of free will.

You have been blessed with free will by God, not by your belonging groups, for a reason. The free will you have received is a gift from God to use within your belonging group, so think spiritually, not politically.

Both good and bad are usually related to the choices of our animal and human sides. If everyone around us has a larger or dominating animal side, we would naturally follow, which is the norm. Yet, potentially, each of us can use personal choice. As individuals, we make choices but are dependent on the circumstances we face at the time. For instance, natural disasters or acts of God, national or religious conflicts, or serious health conditions will have the power to force us to comply regardless of our free will. I am saying that in the same breath because we need to use our personal politics to survive in a world full of political infections.

God’s wisdom comes into play when you take chances and walk on fresh snow, not knowing what danger may be hidden beneath. The story of life comes from God, but the steps are taken by individuals with free will. Carving pathways is the individual’s choice, which may take sacrifices, but the survival of humanity requires the physical hardship of human individuals. You may have a dotted story line in your life, but you have been given the choice to connect the dots. Remember, we all come into life with a purpose, so God’s work will be done through you.

You may not feel or understand the spiritual path you are on at the beginning of your life, but as you grow and understand, or I should say choose to understand, the value of free will, you will see nature and spirituality clearly.

A while back, I wrote a blog about the fragmented picture which described the importance of finding personal satisfaction in living a mortal life. At the end of the day, each and every one of us comes with a personal and prescribed journey, which makes the learning of free will the most important and valuable lesson for evolution.

Interestingly, as a mass or collectively, we discourage individual independence. Many religions and ideologies even force individuals to stay within their boundaries. Yet, we are continuing to evolve. Without free will given by God, we would not evolve. Every bit of progress made by humanity has been, is, and will be dependent on that one revolutionary individual who comes up with God-inspired ideas.

From religions to ideologies and on to democracies, and everything in between, all have attempted to govern human societies, and they all have a human input. Religions may process God-inspired knowledge, but they may also be brought down by their own human interpretation. Throughout history, humanity has favored mass over the individual in philosophy. Most religious organizations and ideologies have been disrespectful and controlling towards their followers.

Finally, democracies brought in respect for individual equal human rights. When mass is chosen over the individual, regardless of who is right, it leads to group rights violations. Larger and stronger groups often try to dominate smaller and weaker groups, much like they do with their own citizens. In my opinion, this is the root of our group conflicts. Thus, I hope that embracing equal human rights as a new paradigm will not only help individuals but also humanity as a whole to resolve our conflicts.

A respected individual learns to respect not only the group they belong to but also other human beings and groups. This respect can lead humanity to respect each other both individually and collectively, which could be the key to achieving long-awaited peace. With our current capabilities, we have the power and ability to make a deliberate decision to eliminate all our weapons of mass destruction.

While there is no solid evidence that democracy is the solution to all human problems, it has played a crucial role in advancing equal human rights. One notable contribution of democracy is voting, giving citizens the right to vote knowing that one vote equals one voice, regardless of color, gender, race, or religion. Personally, I believe this makes it the best system to govern human societies so far. People are drawn to democracies not only for economic reasons but also for the promise of equal human rights for all citizens. Many who lack these rights may choose to leave their homeland and immigrate to such democratic countries.

Simply accumulating knowledge from books without putting it into practice may make you knowledgeable, but practical living is what truly matters. Religions offer wisdom, but our interpretations are often tainted by politics. Politically tainted religious beliefs are now linked to today’s social problems like prejudice and discrimination. This has placed spiritual aspects of religions in an awkward position as they’ve transitioned from teaching us to be selfless and compassionate beings to embracing politics, abandoning spirituality.

Regardless of authenticity, God and spirituality do not govern because humanity is evolving. Knowledge evolves over time. The bitter truth is that truth cannot be mixed with politics. If combined, you may eventually commit a spiritual offense in the name of God, so it’s better to keep them separate. We are not perfect beings until we reach our full potential, so politics should not dictate our belief systems.

If you disrespect even one individual and feel superior, you are entering the realm of politics. You cannot judge who is going to hell or heaven. That decision lies between the individual and God.

As we evolve, our concepts of good and bad seem to be shifting or becoming blurred. Today, no one wants to be associated with racism, slavery, prejudice, or discrimination; these are increasingly seen as crimes. In our recent past, however, they were trademarks of superiority in both religious and governing systems, actions used by various groups to demonstrate pride.

Kingdoms, dictatorships, authoritarian regimes, and religious governing systems have all disregarded and continue to disregard individual human rights. Thanks to the internet, humanity, a sleeping giant, is waking up with the goal of achieving equal human rights for everyone worldwide. No one should be on the wrong side of history. Democracy’s promotion of equal human rights should be respected because it aligns with God, spirituality, and humanity as a whole. Most other governing systems prioritize the politics of group membership over humanity as a whole.

God and spirituality are universal truths for all of humanity. Religions, if used as political systems, ideologies, and other politically driven security systems, represent our individual and collective truths.

Understanding and seeking security in both God and humanity as a whole is the new paradigm facing resistance, like other contemporary causes of turmoil. You can stick with outdated practices and continue to harm each other, or embrace the new paradigm. The choice is open to all; choose humanity over group membership because we now possess weapons of mass destruction, and our current path is leading toward our extinction.

If someone wants to know me: I can provide my name, my father’s name, my family name, and where I am from. This might seem sufficient for my identity, but it isn’t. These are just the basic layers of my identity! Should I also include my neighborhood, city, province, nation, religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, size, age, or any other detail?

If you delve into genetics and science, you begin to understand that we are all composed of the same fundamental substances—a blend of all the aforementioned characteristics. So, let’s ponder: what are my issues and where do they originate?

What has become of the human beneath all these layers? Well, we’ve become embroiled in an identity crisis. The undeniable truth is that we are all mortal. We require oxygen to breathe and food to sustain us. We are born, we live, and we die. Some suffer from events that similarly affect many of us, impacting others in comparable ways. All of us need love, compassion, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice—as individuals and collectively for all humanity.

Do we behave like turtles, retreating into our shells as if safeguarding Mother Earth from myriad threats? Consider how we collectively and individually react to every social and spiritual transgression committed against us. Are these offenses perpetrated by our fellow human beings? If we were to strip away all man-made political borders and shed all political and sexual identities, we would find a physical world inhabited by genuine human beings capable of uniting.

All political boundaries were and continue to be created in the name of peace. After millions of years of evolution, have these divisions truly brought about the elusive peace? No, they have not. Despite our evolution, our animal instincts remain intact within us. Today’s supposedly evolved human is far more perilous than its predecessors, thus political divisions based on identity can prove fatal for humanity. We may rescue other species from extinction, but through our actions, we are hastening our own demise.

To rid oneself of prejudices, racism, and discrimination, one must shed all societal identities, a task achievable only through universal education. It must be mutual; change must come from both sides—individually and collectively. I say “sides” because it remains an ongoing debate: which holds greater importance, the individual or the collective? When you bring politics into the equation and attempt to sway the masses or your chosen group, many within your group will inevitably reject your ideas. It’s challenging to veer from established societal norms and ideologies. If a society fails to uphold equal human rights, it opens itself to a host of crimes, including spiritual offenses, which ultimately plague the entire group.

The dilemma lies in our reluctance as groups to prevent such crimes, fearing it could spell political suicide. As individuals, we are loath to relinquish the sense of belonging politics affords us. For millennia, we’ve been conditioned to think this way, so transitioning to the next stage of evolution—transforming our security and current belief systems—is an uphill struggle.

To grasp this concept, we must first examine ourselves as individuals. If I were to select a single human attribute and scrutinize its intricacies, would I choose to alter it? I say “known attributes” because our understanding of the human body is still evolving; we don’t possess all the answers. When you introspect, not only does your belief in God deepen, but so too does your respect for fellow individuals. All the known and unknown capabilities of an individual are squandered when one kills or is killed pursuing the politics of group affiliation.

Do we diet to the point of emaciation, sacrificing our health? Such behavior is lamentable, considering our mortality. Homicide and being killed for a cause are commonplace in many societies, all due to the politics of group affiliation we willingly adopt to fit in. Do I strive to impress others within my group to gain acceptance? Seeking admiration and acceptance is linked to our need to belong.

If your sense of belonging is distorted, you must awaken your sense of freedom to align it with your true self, enabling sound decision-making that values your life.

Disliking a slight weight gain while striving for health stems from the pursuit of freedom. Such actions, like starving oneself, are unwise and unhealthy for any functioning individual. Discarding a perfectly healthy body just to conform to group norms is a clear sign of individual weakness. Stand up to your human potential!

As Kabir, the ancient poet, said centuries ago, “The drop is in the ocean, everyone knows; but few know the ocean in the drop.”

Since you’re not merely a drop in the ocean, but the ocean in a drop, dig deep and uncover your God-given potential. Don’t let trends, friends, or the politics of belonging rob you of life’s gifts. After all, you are the subcontractor of the Almighty.

Looking at the societal melting pot, one realizes this transformation is already underway. People are discovering that their core values and God-given identity are simply human. Like a vibrant coral reef with myriad hues, humanity thrives and survives.

Human individuals possess two facets and must balance responsibility between the two. Both our spiritual and physical sides influence our conduct. The physical side craves security, understanding human mortality, while the spiritual side finds security within, connecting to the source.

Extremes are often visible due to our shared humanity. While we yearn for physical experiences, extremes lack spiritual essence in an evolving world. As unfinished beings, we cannot claim omniscience, despite vast knowledge. We continue learning daily, reacting for eons, always claiming complete understanding. This isn’t to belittle anyone, but to highlight our ongoing evolution as individuals.

God bestowed upon us free will, empowering us to make decisions. Some may believe otherwise, but even leaves sway according to God’s will. Look around—do we all move and live like marionettes? Raised in the same family, we grow up to be different, choosing distinct paths, values, thoughts, and levels of dedication in our personal and spiritual lives. Why such diversity? Did God intend for us to be identical? This isn’t to diminish anyone’s knowledge but to foster self-awareness.

If leaves can’t move on their own, how can we think someone can abort a child without God’s will?

We may elevate God, feeling so vulnerable we can’t breathe without oxygen. Yet God does as God wills. With free will, God deputized us as subcontractors—subcontractors to execute God’s work as we choose. Does this enhance your importance as an individual, fostering accountability for your actions?

It’s often said a drug lord aids their community to the point where residents feel obligated to support them, believing their purpose is to safeguard them. But if drugs, harmful to the innocent, are truly understood, would aiding a drug lord be morally right? No! This is a matter of belonging, depriving individuals of personal justice and denying free will. Such actions lead to personal ruin. A destroyed individual cannot serve as God’s subcontractor.

God grants us equal opportunity to be good or bad. Understanding our spiritual compass is vital at every level of humanity. Lacking personal justice, individuals follow and enforce their group’s rules, rituals, traditions, and customs. This subjugates them to the group, not to God. The more one preaches group politics, the less one’s personal value.

Know your worth. You are an ocean in a drop, not a drop in the ocean. Many groups restrict individual greatness, favoring the masses. Yet, the essence of every group is its individuals. Religious beliefs, socialism, and communism often succumb to the politics of belonging, sacrificing individual rights. While we’ve progressed from human sacrifice, when it comes to mass versus individual rights, religions tend to favor the masses.

Equal human rights are a new phenomenon, the most spiritual principle humanity can embrace. Many are indoctrinated to feel good through self-sacrifice, from sleep to starvation to self-harm, common in various religious practices. Yet, it’s universally acknowledged that an active individual contributing to humanity fulfills God’s work. Reciprocity is a part of the contract we all sign with the Contractor, giving and taking, not just giving. Even bees and ants serve their queen but require sustenance. Genetically superior, we understand we’re all queens, thus none should live as worker bees or warrior ants.

Individual security is paramount, evolving from home walls to community, national, and even nuclear barriers, enduring through the ages.

As we’ve placed our faith in the “Big Brother,” securing our homes and walls, we’ve earned some respect. Yet ultimate security remains elusive. We’ve accepted that crime, to some extent, is inevitable in civilized society. Perfection is unattainable; we sometimes sweep our flaws under the rug. We play the blame game, attributing our deeds to the Devil. But no one should hide behind the Devil. We must all assume responsibility, as subcontractors serving as the CEO of our lives, irrespective of our beliefs.

Educating our animal instincts for self-regulation is crucial for social harmony, far more than stringent laws. Fear may elicit compliance, but the inclination to stray lingers once the threat passes. Rehabilitation, not harsh penalties, is the solution.

We need justice and security because not everyone can self-regulate or respect others. As we continue to evolve, we recognize that crime-free societies remain a distant goal. If you seek safety behind walls, consider the cost—not just monetary, but the stress and health issues robbing your quality of life. Given our mortality, we cannot sacrifice our happiness and health. We must respect both our physical and spiritual sides, bestowed upon us by God. Some religions connect rituals with customs like animal sacrifice, but is this necessary in God’s name?

Personally, I believe that our life is a gift from God, meant to be enjoyed in return for reciprocation. This reciprocation is deeply connected to our spiritual side. If you fail to reciprocate, it implies that you take and take without giving in return. This alone is a disrespect to God. Even if you claim to have spiritually subdued your animalistic side and yet do not contribute to God’s work, it must be understood and accepted that this is not the answer. By doing so, you seek validation from those around you rather than fulfilling God’s directives. This stems from your need for acceptance within your group. You may assert inner peace by suppressing your inner animalistic tendencies, but you have not done justice to yourself by sacrificing your physical life for the approval of your group. This extreme action robs you of true inner peace. So, can you genuinely claim to have inner peace?

Seeking to please and impress your belonging group externally may provide some satisfaction, but it does not lead to the inner peace we strive to attain and maintain. Without inner peace, you may unwittingly go against God’s wisdom of reciprocation.

If you find inner peace within yourself, you can embody and achieve spiritual enlightenment. As a spiritual being, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, love, and sacrifice become your virtues. While the spiritual aspects of religions preach these virtues, the politics of belonging often strip individuals of these spiritual treasures.

These virtues are personal spiritual assets that come with the responsibilities of free will. With free will comes responsibility for your actions. You cannot simply hide behind the desires of your belonging group. Why do you think we all possess free will and a sense of freedom? If you choose to act solely for the sake of your group, it has nothing to do with spirituality; it becomes merely about politics, and you are the one accountable for your choice. Thinking that you are not a cog in a machine is incorrect. You may be a small part of a machine, or you may be The Machine itself.