We live in a world of many divides.
For example, Social Divides exist that separate those above or below the poverty line. Digital Divides exists between those who have access and availability to technology. Ecological Divides exist between the existence and depletion of agricultural lands.
In all of these cases, the meaning behind the division is created by man himself. In other words, if we have a choice, we could shift where this division really lies. We could lower the bar or raise it as we choose – but many of us look at the world in term of conformity where they are relative to each other – and hence some differentiation is needed to show variations driving the force behind the creation of divides.
So, where I am I going with this? We are living in a world where we set the terms of what something is or isn’t. We live in a world where we set the boundaries of what something is or isn’t. Moreover, we are living in the world where we, with either some luck, further education, good fortune, or humanitarian assistance could potentially drive a shift in our position from where we are to where we want to be.
One divide that I am going to introduce is what I am calling the Kill Divide. This is the line between taking action to kill someone and not kill someone. One thing to note is that the drive to kill may be driven by a group, gang, or an organization’s ideology but in all cases, the ultimate act to kill someone is still an individual action. I don’t want to get into the weeds of the reasons behind what causes man to kill another driven by peer pressure of acting behalf of a group, gang or organization which we can explore later. My interests are those events in day-to-day life that drive man to kill another based on his own struggles in life.
The Kill Divide below the line has one telling characteristic: the driver for the kill is based on a level of unhappiness that has enveloped an individual either immediately or over time and the only way seen to eliminate this unhappiness is to make the choice to destroy the very person that is creating this level of unhappiness.
The illusion created when below this line is that destruction of the individual causing the pain is seen as destruction of personal pain – and this is false. Killing someone is easy to do, can occur in a flash, without any degree of thought – just pick up a gun, knife, rock, hammer, iron bar, bare hands, whatever it may be and get the job done.
One common problem here: the very thought of elimination of unhappiness through the act of picking up a weapon results in temporary satisfaction that only ends up leading you back toward the path of unhappiness. In other words, the satisfaction will be short-lived and the guilt of creating violence will catch up to you. Thousands do wrong only to regret their actions – so why do wrong in the first place?
The Kill Divide above the line has one telling characteristic: the driver is based on a choice of resolving unhappiness without action to inflict physical pain toward anyone. One of the tenets of being above the line is a higher sense of consciousness for human life, regardless of what the person did to you. There is a higher sense of value towards human life. So we may raise our hand, but not strike. We may pick up a gun but not fire. We may draw our sword but not charge. A majority of society is way above this line.
Killing someone in self-defense may be adequate grounds to justify the action. However, killing someone for the sake of killing due to personal pain, suffering, and unhappiness is acting like a coward. It achieves nothing, creates more pain within and increases your suffering. There is nothing to be gained. I know so many people who regret bad actions that they have taken only to regret it later. I am one of them.
So how do you keep yourself above the Kill Divide? Simple: You learn to value human life. You learn to value the opinions of others. You learn to let people be as they are. You learn to let go of the pain ANYONE has caused you. You let anyone believe what they want, when they want, and how they want. You learn to live in a world where you don’t make a single enemy. You learn to let things be as they are. You learn to view any personal suffering as temporary pain. You let others live in peace. You serve others toward their fulfillment of joy. You try to eliminate the suffering of others. You NEVER EVER let any actions of harm towards others for material gains, “conversions in ideology,” or to create a new system of living be driven by peer pressure, group think, or organizational ideology.
Remember one thing: Everyone is born above the Kill Divide. Life is a test to see if you can remain above the Kill Divide. People will get inside your head. People will drive you crazy. People will not accept you. Every situation that has been given to you is by design. Every person that has walked in your path has been gifted to you by design. Situations will arise in life that will drive you to take action to go below the Kill Divide. Only you are your best judge to remain above the Kill Divide.
Valuing others is valuing life. Stay above the Kill Divide.