Blessings.
This is the second part of this weeks blog discussing the issue of war and reaching a state of non-violence.
I shared with you on Monday a passage emailed to me over the weekend. To sum up what was said:
War cannot be outgrown while one takes one side over another. This only fuels the conflict. In order to outgrow war, we need to first rise beyond the thinking that got us into the current situation, for that state of thinking that got you into it will not get you out of it. War is a manifestation of Fear and separation. When one moves beyond these two factors, war begins to fall away.
Second, we need to embrace the possibility that a world without war can exist. If two people can be at Peace with one another and Love the one another unconditionally, or rather, if one can be at Peace with THEMSELVES, then a world in which war ceases to exist, is more than possible.
We must come to the realization that all beings are One, our minds exist as One, as a unified consciousness. War is a result of unhealthy and fear-based thinking. To remove war from our reality, we must remove it from our minds. That is not to say we must dismiss the fact that war is a very real problem in today's world, but rather me must transcend the thinking that brings war into existence. One must develop the mind to a point where war is seen as unnecessary and insane, which is exactly what it is. As each person begins to raise their level of consciousness to new heights, so the collective consciousness begins to rise as well. A step towards Peace in your own mind is a step for Peace in all minds.
Some may look at nations at war and say "That's terrible, but it doesn't affect me" or "It's not my problem". I say to you now that it DOES affect you, and it IS your problem. It doesn't matter what races, religions or nations are at war, these are are fellow human beings, brothers and sisters sharing this planet with you, suffering unnecessarily.
You may ask "But what can I do?"... The solution lies in shifting our way of thinking beyond thoughts of violence towards others and yourself. Begin training your mind to think differently. The mind is an incredible tool, and if used correctly, is capable of great things. You are already aware of how "thoughts become things." The world around you reflects your state of thinking. With that in mind, I challenge you to harbor thoughts of Peace, Love, and Compassion. When you live your Life with these qualities steady in your heart and mind, the world you know starts shifting to align itself with that state of being.
Bare in mind also that violence cannot be overcome with the use of more violence. "Violence breeds violence". Only through Love can violence be resolved. " Wherever there are wars, wherever we are confronted with an opponent, conquer with Love. I have found that the certain law of Love has answered in my own Life as the law of destruction has never done." Mahatma Gandhi
In reaching a state of non-violence, one must also learn to be forgiving, again of others and oneself. .
War and crime never pay. The billions of dollars that went up in explosive nothingness would have been sufficient to have made a new world, one almost free from disease and completely free from poverty. Not an earth of fear, chaos, famine, pestilence, the danse macabre [dance of death], but one broad land of peace, prosperity, and widening knowledge.
The non-violent voice of Gandhi appeals to man's highest conscience. Let nations ally themselves no longer with death, but with Life; not with destruction, but construction; not with hate, but with the creative miracles of Love.
"One must forgive, under any injury," says the Mahabharata. "It hath been said that the continuation of the species is due to man's being forgiving. Forgiveness is holiness; by forgiveness the universe is held together. Forgiveness is the might of the mighty; forgiveness is sacrifice; forgiveness is quiet of mind. Forgiveness and gentleness are qualities of the Self-possessed. They represent eternal virtue."
Nonviolence is the natural outgrowth of the law of forgiveness and Love.
[Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda]
Forgiveness must be granted not only in current situations, but to all issues of the past as well. Hanging on to past hurts will hold you back from attaining this state of ahimsa [nonviolence]. Forgive those who did you harm in the past, and forgive yourself for allowing yourself to become a victim. Forgive yourself if you have done harm to another, or if you have made choices that have perhaps held you back. Accept differences between human beings, but recognize that, at the core, we are no different from one another. We are made of the same energy, all expressions of Divine Consciousness, of Cosmic Mind, of God. Treat all beings as such.
These steps taken to raise your own vibration, to evolve to a higher state of consciousnees, will not only bring a remarkable change in your own Life, but a massive change in the entire world as you raise the level of consciousness of all beings. Remember that as you do this, so it becomes easier for the next person to do so. A world that knows only Peace and Compassion is within grasp, but an effort on your part, as well as mine, is required if that utopia world is to come into manifestation.
Unite, dearest brother and sisters, in this cause for a world that knows no war, only Peace; no hatred, only Love and Compassion. Unite, knowing that our combined efforts make the possiblilty of such a world increase exponentially.
You are capable of bringing about this change, your task now is to BE that change.
Your Brother in Peace, Love and Compassion
Ryan
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