One Civilization?

Since the events of September 11th, 2001, it seems

reasonable to suggest that the world and all of its

people have undergone a change that has not been a

pleasant one to experience.

People are more concerned about who lives next door to

them and down the block, they have more fear, they

have more suspicion and they probably have more

mistrust about people from other countries and

religions which they can not unfortunately see are

very similar to them in so many ways.

We have become so attached to thinking of mankind as

consisting of different civilizations and people, that

we see differences that are not even there while

overlooking the similarities that should be obvious to

us all.

Perhaps all of us would benefit from doing some

traveling at one time or another, not with our

hometown and school buddies, but alone, in a way that

we are vulnerable and have to make some effort to

listen to others and see them more clearly.

Maybe we need to get away from the newspapers, radio

and television that feed us the same kinds of news and

analysis on a daily basis, most of which can only make

us more concerned, worried or anxious about things.

If we are worried or anxious, we are losing our mental

and physical edge and ability that helps us to

understand people and situations better.

We can not see the that in essence we are one

civilization, a civilization of man and human kind,

and that we all have tendencies to goodness and

wickedness, and can be lost and confused or discovered

and found.

Certainly all peoples have had to do some individual

and religious self –examination since Sept 11th, 2001,

though some have been quick to blame others for the

current situations and circumstances.

It can seem that things are getting more and more

confused and out of hand.

If we can see that we are one civilization, we can

then look at the world and others as one of giving and receiving, instead of accusing, plotting and deceiving.

We can also then try to be putting something healthy

and wholesome into this international discourse, and

at the same time take something healthy and wholesome

from it.

Perhaps we will be better able to listen to what

someone says, instead of looking at them in terms of

where they are from, what language they speak, how

they dress or what religion they practice.

We also will benefit when we are somewhat mindful

about the influence of history on how we are as

individuals and how it affects how we look at and

relate to others.

Is some of what we have been told lies, to influence

us to continue to hate or think that we are superior

to others?

We find such a thing in some of the educational

systems, teachings and books in Asia, as a way to

control the people and foster feelings of patriotism, nationalism and xenophobia, while at the same time taking

 our attention away from things within that would make us stronger as people and countries and need to be

 addressed.

Many times such lies, no matter where they are told,

just make us more confused and easy to manipulate.

Perhaps one teaching of the Buddha and the one that

its practice is built around is important for us to

know and understand.

That is that all beings suffer.

So all beings in this man and human kind civilization

do suffer.

With that understanding, we may be able to make some

effort to grow to a new and healthier understanding

and acceptance of others and with that, both feed into

and receive from this world civilization something

that helps us and others to be better people.

©2004 John C. Kimbrough

(John lives and teaches in Bangkok, Thailand. He can

be reached at johnckimbrough@yahoo.com)