It’s troubling to continuously hear the sad news of suicide bombers and shooting sprees taking place in the world we live in. From the town of Suruc, Turkey to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the United States, it is evident that many people out there are determined to “mark their position” by taking the life of another.
Yet, what is the mark that they are making?
I am not sure of the logic that is used. Even I have a tendency to raise my voice in disagreement toward those closest to me, yet even I question what drives my motive – and even if I have won and made my mark.
What I do know is that there is a big chasm these days between an action of bad to create something that is deemed as good, and an act of kindness to really create good.
If you look at history, nothing is really achieved from mass killings, war, feuds, and dueling matches. Those who win, only enjoy the fruits of victory for so long until another event takes place to lose the joy.
If you look at any empire (i.e. British, Persian, Mongol, Persian, Spanish, etc.) in history – none have stood the test of time. They all have enjoyed their fruits of victory only for so long until time runs out and their fruits of victory are destroyed or morphed into something else. In other words, even empires – no matter how large or small – eventually fall.
What I understand from this phenomenon is that violence in any form is a dynamic action. To summarize it takes a ton of resources, time, and money to act violently. You have to strategize, plan, get up, take action and expend loads of energy to create harm.
Does this really make sense? –take someone’s life away? – to make a point to humanity? – to represent your group’s higher goals? – to win your argument?
I am finding that it is not even worth my time these days to even argue with someone on their points on how they want me to behave and act. The fallacy with humanity is that we want others to conform to our way of thinking without really letting others be free thinking – and if they don’t conform – we take an extreme action sometimes to kill.
“I’m convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they’re stones that don’t matter. As long as you’re breathing, it’s never too late to do some good.” ~ Maya Angelou
Free thinking doesn’t have to be threatening. Free thinking can be done through discussion, not debate. Thinking freely doesn’t mean killing freely.
The central theme of free thinking is simply letting other people be – and respecting their opinion without being judgmental.
Non-violence (Ahimsa) is a static action. You have to realize that an act of kindness doesn’t really take that much effort. It’s probably one of the easiest things you can do starting with a simple smile towards others.
In fact, we spend more energy and time and create more harm toward others than good these days. We can achieve a lot more, making an impact through a gesture of kindness to one individual than using a gun to spray a group with bullets because they are different than us.
Acting in peace is living in peace.
Making your mark in this world is not going to be achieved by doing harm to others. People may remember you for the amount of harm you caused, but people will remember those who create good a lot more.
All mass killings whether they occur in the boundaries of the home, boundaries of an institution, boundaries of a nation or boundaries of a continent, achieve nothing.
No good is created from this action and the fruits of the action are only short-lived. Just look at history and you will see why the creation of good has always survived the test of time and it always will. Be good and do good.