Unlearnt Lessons (360 repost)

As I read and watch the news from around the world, I have begun to question some of the things I have come to believe.  I always thought that living means learning. That in most any situation, if we are mindful, we get away with a lesson that we can use in our life.   But then there are situations where we seem to repeat the same mistakes in endless patterns.  It could be something as simple as giving someone else permission to dictate how we feel or behave or something as complex as learning to be pro-active in our lives.

The most talked about news today is the Israel-Lebanon conflict.  I am not an expert in history, but from what I know, I have noticed that at different points of time, a group of people have been targeted for extermination. And the Jews have been one among them.  Like any oppressed people, they have been homeless, starved, lived in a constant state of uncertainty, and fear of untimely death,  faced immense hardships and had no place to call home.  As any Human Being, they are resilient, resourceful, having gotten out of  and oppression, more determined to make their lives worthy, more rooted in their faith(talking generally, there are always exceptions) and they were viewed by the rest of the world as a productive, compassionate, respectful people.  

One would think having gone through the oppressive regimes would make them more mindful of any other people going through the same situation, but somehow that doesn't seem to be so.  The claim is that Hezbollah was involved in bombing Israel and in retaliation Israel kills innocent Lebanese citizens... guess their anger is justified, but a lesson seems to have been lost and forgotten.

What I said could seem like I am supporting Lebanon or Terrorism, let me clarify - I do not condone any Nation or groups who have a political/economic stake, in keeping the war going or killing people to make a point. I do think there is a serious lack of ethics when it comes to seeking solutions to war in any of the warring nations in our world.  Greed and Power are the primary players in most conflicts. 

Apart from this human psyche theory of Conflicts, I can also take a very liberal, spiritually lazy view of the war- Its just Karma in action.  History tends to move in a cycle, of the oppressed becoming powerful and powerful becoming oppressed, each group of people getting their turn on the wheel of time.  So que sera sera - what will be, will be.  Events occur so that each of us has had a chance to play out our Karma.  How we make our choices under the given circumstances at the event is what redeems our karma.  Do we act with Honour?  Do we act with Compassion, Honesty, were our intentions for the good of all or just the good of ourselves?

Our thoughts and intentions behind our act is what makes our life worthy or unworthy.  If we can look at the things we have done and say with all our heart- yes I did my best, acted in a way that would make my ancestors proud(cause they did work in their time so that you might be where you are today, even if it just means you are alive). It has nothing to do with what others think its worth, its more about what we think its worth.

Everytime we look at a conflict, we must get to the root of how it started to get to a solution.  Its like a vehicle service station, you cant do patch work if you want the vehicle to function well. You cant cure appendicitis with a topical ointment.  That's how every conflict is.. if we really intend solving it then we must, in all honesty, get to the root of the conflict and then look at what each party  can give up, so that each party gets what they NEED(not want).   Yes!  Give up something, sacrifice something of value to you to gain something more valuable.. Nothing in this world is Free,  we have to let go of something to move forward and gain something else.   

Now the only problem seems to be.. who is going to bell the cat? How do we bell the cat?   The bell is our attitude as people and the Cat is the realization that each of us must improve ourselves so that others would want to do the same.  When we live by example (as opposed to preaching from the rooftops) we can function as a sustainable community and not as a community that needs wars so that we can have the best of the resources.. It's a lifestyle change... it's a change in the way we think of ourselves and of others... It's learning to be honest about our needs and our wants.  It's learning to let go of wants and keeping what we need. It's learning that the only thing that we own is the legacy we leave to the generations in the future.  It's learning to be aware of the "Evil" that resides in us before we judge the same in others... It's learning to develop the "Good" that resides in us so that we know how to stay in peace and harmony with ourselves.  After all- We have to be peaceful in our dealings with others if we want to see peace around us. 

Yeah! I know this is a nai've view of life, its so cliche', it's a Utopian View, Not practical at all, Ok..its childish and immature...The simplest solutions usually seem that way.  But I feel that "We can get where we want to go only if we are willing to believe we can get there."

Forever Hopeful of peace within,

Mithuna.