“You have to be the change you want to see in the world.” - Gandhi.
I recall reading this so often quoted phrase on the wall of some museum when I was a child. Perhaps it has subconsciously altered my life forever - forever ’til the day I shall, someday, pass away.
When, partially responsible to Obama, ‘Change’ has become such a word that so many throw into their statements, I often wonder what actually are we talking about. Sherese has mentioned her impression that Obama is very good at motivating people, but the practicality of promoting change, and change being the main ‘theme’, is questionable. Kyle has commented that in such chaotic state of the world, if apocalypse is not arriving soon the bible will lose its credibility. I disagreed with his point, but it is quite interesting that, somehow, we all feel like something is wrong, something needs to be changed. None of us are truly satisfied, truly contented. What needs to be changed?
I desire justice, love, truth and unity. I despise discrimination, hatred, dishonesty and separation. Perhaps we call this being idealistic. The truth is, what I desire I cannot achieve always, what I despise I practice often. Gandhi certainly achieved the desirables more, and the others less. You may have noticed, from our knowledge which is passed down humanity, so did Jesus, Muhammad, and the Buddha. In what non-sense could we live by the name of god - whichever one it is - and think that the other person is of lesser quality than ourselves? We may have better education, better clothes, better equipments - cameras that can ’snap’, play back and show it to the kids here in Tanzania to make their day - but how are we better? We are all, as someone puts it, ’stardusts’.
I am not a buddhist. But I am learning to appreciate the idea that ego is the source of suffering. You may find plenty of passages in the bible as well in the attempt to humble ourselves. 「人算甚麼？」 If I were a parent, having some kids, and one of them came to me and ask “do you love me, daddy?”, I say “Yes, of course.” And in response he/she said, “I love you too, Dad. So that makes me better than my sisters and brothers, right?” Whichever god you believe, or no god at all, a person who knows to love and receive love, humbly, is always beloved.
“I am not a smart man, Jenny, but I know what love is.” –Forest Gump.
My dear, let us change.
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:34 am
“perfection” is only a spark, a moment. “process” is what matters at the end. — taken from a TV show.
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:48 am
I wonder if perfection is ever even there for a moment. But yes, process is life. Life is process.
August 15th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
hey joe, hope you’re doing good. yea i do remember the time we talked about the creditability of bible, i do agree with your point that the generation we are living is not that chaotic compare to the history, things are improved in some ways, people learn from knowledge and experience, and relatively we are having ‘better’ lifes. i believe the urge of change is always in everyone’s mind since the the first human was born/evolved. it could possibly be a reason why religion exist, christians are born with sin and trying to act like the christ, buddhists believe in karma and rebirth then reaching the state of nirvana. somehow everyone are seeking the way to change from bad to good. but there’s always a conflict with another root of humanity, possession, greed, selfishness…i guess this struggle would hardly end, the perfection/ ideal state would never exist, we are all living in a process that trying to make this change as further as we could. and i believe a lot of us are making great effort toward this change. keep it up n take care =]