Let’s not deny it – weapons are everywhere – and if you really want to be creative you can create a weapon out of anything. Just look at the news over the last few years. Planes can be used at missiles, trucks can be used as tanks, and chemicals can be used as biological weapons.
The larger question is how a weapon such as a knife or gun should be used? The only thing that keeps coming back to me is the intent by which something is supposed to be used and what is the seed of an individuals intent. The problem us humans have is that we create a lot of material things and confusion reigns on how something should be used.
This intent of using a gun or knife to me seems to be in three forms:
- Harming or actually taking action to harm: the weapon is used to create harm. Death may or may not be the result of using the weapon but there is definitely physical harm created such as stabbing a back, shooting someone in the leg, or driving your fist into a face. As this is occurring, there may be a sense of “extreme darkness” created in the environment.
- Threatening or getting ready to harm: the weapon is used as a means of threatening without actually physically harming – it’s more toying with the emotional states of people and playing the “will I do it OR won’t I don’t it” game. This can be done by pointing a gun or knife at someone creating an ambiance of a potential attack. There is a 50/50 chance of an attack. The environment is getting “extremely heavy” and tense and about to burst. We don’t really know what may happen in this situation.
- Non-threatening or Non-harming: the weapon is not used to kill anyone. The weapon may be visible but it is in a holster or not pointed at anyone. The weapon is used in alternative ways such as a knife to cut vegetables or perform surgery to open up the body to help and assist in healing. There is no ill will created through the use of a weapon. There is absolute clarity in the non-harmful use and intent of use of the weapon. The environment is “airy and free”.
So the next question becomes: what the is response from each of these actions? Well again three possible results in my opinion:
- If you are non-threatening the response from you and toward others will be pure and respectful. There will be an opportunity to overcome differences and perhaps engage in discussion.
- If you are threatening the response from you and towards others will be forms of anxiety and stress. Now the hurdle for unity gets bigger and each party needs to work harder to overcome differences.
- If you are harming or killing someone, your response may be extreme guilt (if you are any bit human) and of course pain or even the death of the person your anger is directed to you. There is likely limited chance of unity and even forgiveness. Well, if you kill someone I am really not sure what you are proving other than the fact that you may want to spend the rest of your life in jail.
What is the seed of your intent and action? This is perhaps one of the most fundamental questions we all need to ask. It comes to the driving force behind our action. Three seeds in my opinion:
- Non-threating seeds: Joy, peace, unity, acceptance, forgiveness, adjustment, unconditional love, sense of perfection, feeling of belonging
- Threatening seeds: Fear, cowardice, powerlessness, lack of perfection, lack of acceptance, prejudice, sense of personal trespassing, incorrect idealogy, false sense of unity, comparison, competition, differences
- Harmful seeds: Ego, lust, anger, greed, hatred, jealousy.
Here is the formula for why we kill or intend to harm: your anger takes root from a “feeling of powerlessness” or “not being in control” or “existing outside of false boundaries” you have set or those who have got inside your head and raised you to believe that only your existence is the real existence of the universe – completely false! You can’t bear to be like other people and you realize others can’t be like you. This goes from looks, opinions, beliefs, religion, to demographic and social boundaries. You can only live in the box that you have falsely set and feel no one else can exist in. Discussions with others are futile as you believe your opinions are what count. You are not willing to change. You are not willing to accept others. There is only one way and that this to eliminate the person OR cause harm as a symptom of fighting back your non-acceptance of others and feeling of being powerless.
How do you stop the killing? Try the following actions:
- Develop acceptance of all things immaterial or material that belong to others and exist within you. Think of people in the world as a garden where it is possible to plant more than one flower and where many flowers of different scents and colors can coexist within a small bed of soil.
- Contemplate upon taking action that is positive toward others and yourself. Just do good service toward all beings regardless of background, color, and social stratification.
- Destroy your will of thinking that others needs to be more like you. You are unique but so are others. Physical and mental boundaries are part of the struggle of life to overcome. The problem is you and your inability to accept others. Focus on this small thing – overcome it in patience – and you will be amazed at the sunshine you create.
This is one idea to control how we can act limit harm toward others. If you think you have other ways to reduce harmful actions toward others, please email me at [email protected]. I would love to hear your ideas.