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| ~ ∞ ~ Humanity – The Pinnacle of Evolution? 4/4 – The Essence of Life ~ ∞ ~ |
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And with this, we arrive at a conclusion of profound importance: when we exploit nature, we exploit ourselves – as individuals, and as a species. From this, the question arises: If we are doing all this, can we call ourselves civilized? Oh yes, most certainly we call ourselves civilized alright – how could we not, after all, we are humans, not animals, are we not? But now the question becomes: How civilized are we?
If we are civilized, which by definition means to be at an advanced stage of social and cultural development, would it not require us to treat all living things with respect? What would it take for us to see that we as a species are on borrowed time? Needless to say, for those who have eyes to see, it may come as a bit of a shock to realize that our lives are intimately bound up with the fragile organism of life on Earth and the interdependence of all species.
This is where we face the inevitable: you see, there’s no gentle way to say this – the survival of our species is threatened as never before by an ethos that seeks dominance and control of nature. This ethos reflects a vicious and brutal desire to conquer and master nature for our own purposes, shows no respect for the Earth, and disregards the perils of our present interference with the intricate web of relationships upon which life on Earth depends.
We are an integral part of this great web of life, and cannot survive without respecting all aspects of it. If we destroy our habitat, whether inadvertently or deliberately by continuing on our present path – we may risk destroying ourselves. What we leave behind for those who might survive is but a fable of a highly advanced race of beings called humans – who in their naivety allowed themselves to be destroyed by their hubris.
Here we can but imagine how this fable might be told several thousands of years from now; how there might be a myth of once great, highly advanced race of beings, but the archeologists and scholars of that time would dismiss as complete nonsense; how there was a myth that told of a time when there was an advanced civilization living on Earth.
Their level of advancement was so incredible that they could harness and control the forces of nature. They were so advanced that they were almost gods – they had supernatural powers – you see, they could look at the little device in their hands and speak to one another, even see one another on opposite sides of the Earth.
They could fly around the Earth; they could even send people to the moon, but they became corrupt; they became cruel; they became conceited and arrogant; they imposed their powers on other less powerful people around the world. And so it happened that this once great species faced their own demise, and only few lived to tell the tale.
From the previous, it becomes clear that the human story unfolds against a backdrop of deteriorating conditions of the Earth – the only habitat for human life in the universe. On that note, nowadays there are people in the scientific community who have come to the conclusion that maybe we have messed up this planet; but worry not, because these people think that they have a solution. You see, they have suggested that we should go find (or perhaps create) a new one.
These people think that with the aid of technology, we could export life from Earth to other planets, and someday perhaps even leave our solar system. This has to be the ultimate delusion of a throwaway society*1, don’t you think? What does it tell about us, if among other things, we are ready and willing to throw away our home, as well?
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*1 The materialistic worldview has resulted in excessive production of short-lived and disposable items, and thus the Western society has become a “throw-away society” where consumerism is being worshipped. This area is explored in more detail in the chapter The False Sense of Self.
*1 The materialistic worldview has resulted in excessive production of short-lived and disposable items, and thus the Western society has become a “throw-away society” where consumerism is being worshipped. This area is explored in more detail in the chapter The False Sense of Self.
From this, the question arises: Are we really so disconnected from everything that we truly think that the only way to solve our problems is to relocate – so that we could mess it up all over again?
The reason we are having problems on Earth in the first place is because we have ignored what nature is capable of giving us when we live with nature’s principles rather than against them. Hence, yet again, we should ask ourselves: Why is it that we are geared towards the destruction of life – rather than nurturing and preserving the Gift of Life itself?
It is against this backdrop that we begin to see the absurdity of our current situation. Therefore, one should be inclined to consider whether we deserve to live here on Earth. If we are incapable of respecting and caring for it, do we really deserve to live here? Even more importantly, we should be asking the question of whether humanity is worth saving, and at what expense?
The honest truth is that it’s no one else’s responsibility but ours to change our ways, which brings about the question: Are we capable of saving ourselves from the path of self-destruction we are on? And if we are incapable of saving ourselves – who’s to save us?
Aliens? Well, I would not count on that, and I bet you wouldn’t either. What about Angels and other Celestial Beings of the Divine nature? Or perhaps God? Maybe, who knows? And if so, is it probable? It is here where the reader of this book is called to use their faculty of reason and inner knowing, for you see, it is up to us individually to arrive at a conclusion whether there is a greater plan for humanity or not; whether or not there is a higher power that guides us.
But let us suppose, for a moment, that somewhere out there in existence there would, indeed, be such beings. So, let us entertain this idea for a brief moment, if not for any other reason than to illustrate just how obnoxiously absurd our present day situation in all of its paradoxical absurdity is. Well, then, what purpose could it possibly serve to save a species that is naive, irresponsible, and immature? And to what end?
So that they could repeat the same mistakes all over again? And if some kind of Divine intervention were to take place, how would it affect our free will? Is it not, precisely, through our free will, by which we are permitted to be ignorant in the first place, repeating our mistakes? Is it not, precisely, through our mistakes, and by the difficulty and suffering they cause that we are eventually able to see, realize, and acknowledge the error of our ways, and through this process, in turn, change?
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~ ॐ ~ Sambodhi Padmasamadhi ~ ∞ ~
Get the Book: Awaken the Living Awareness Within – Discover the Keys to Happiness, Inner Peace & Harmony
~ ॐ ~ Sambodhi Padmasamadhi ~ ∞ ~
Get the Book: Awaken the Living Awareness Within – Discover the Keys to Happiness, Inner Peace & Harmony
[ Click » here « to read the next part: Humans – Masters of Storytelling 1/2 – The Essence of Life: Part III ]
Extra Material: Video: Society, A Perpetual Cycle [Alan Watts]. Video description: "Alan Watts talks about how our society conditions children to live with a constant frustration and worry about the future, and never learn how to live in the present."
