Sometimes when I step out into a light rain, I feel as if I am captured by the moment. One foot proceeds the other and soon I am on an adventure to somewhere – I am not even sure where. I am foraying into my time of peace. Can you feel it? I am sure everyone can. This magical period does not come often enough. I believe that when we discover that instant, we want to stay with her and see where she takes us. The other umbrella-laden figures seem like a blur as we continue on our journey. Like oarsmen in a rowboat, we want to stay with the flow. The speed intensifies and we are lost in our own thoughts. This is our own temporal span of nirvana, our own moment of tranquility. It is often claimed that we live in a violent world. When the mist touches our face, we realize that this is just not true. But, how do we come to this assumption when the average person has never been physically traumatized — neither shot nor stabbed or nor blown up? We adopt this position because of the news and social media. Their non-stop “streaming” has a profound influence on how we view the world.
“The average American watches nearly 5 hours of video each day, 98% of which is watched on a traditional television set, according to the Nielsen Company. (1) Nearly two-thirds of TV programs contain some physical violence. Most self-involving video games contain some violent content, even those for children. … ‘Anything that promotes something can be called propaganda. What we call entertainment is really propaganda for violence. If you manufacture guns, you don’t need to advertise, because it is done by our entertainment industry.’
In reality, the number of violent crimes has been falling, but the public’s perception is that violence has increased. According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics, the overall violent victimization rate (e.g., rape and assaults) decreased by 40% from 2001 to 2010. Similarly, the murder rate in the US has dropped by almost half, from 9.8 per 100,000 people in 1991 to 5.0 in 2009. Yet the propaganda … makes people feel that crime is everywhere and that guns are needed for protection.” (2) This would be true in most First-World countries. (3) We are subjected to a deluge of horrifying images, yet we are intrinsically peaceful and gentle. What is the average person to do? It behooves us to return, psychologically, to a time that was more fraternal, more caring and more intimate. We do this, I believe, with little acts of kindness and generosity. Hold the door open for someone, stand up when someone is introduced to you and say “Good morning” to a total stranger. These gestures make us realize that we are all the same. We are, in theory, all committed to each other for we collectively comprise the Common Good. This is an association of fair-minded people — our society or civilization. As beings, we are not selfish or parsimonious; we are generous and kind. This general attitude can only be returned to when actively promoted by each one of us. This is one of the major problems with individualism, (4) in my estimation. I can act individually in my own “self-interest” only after an education and some insight. (5) In this way, I can truly appreciate the others walking along with me in the drizzle. The composer and philanthropist, A.R. Rahman (b. 1967) leaves us with a thought: Each one of us has our own evolution of life, and each one of us goes through different tests which are unique and challenging. But certain things are common. And we do learn things from each other’s experience. On a spiritual journey, we all have the same destination
A closing thought: How I see the world is most certainly of my own creation. If I am fortunate not to live in a society that is conflicted with violence and death, and most of Western humanity is not, then as a student, parent, teacher, and educator, it is my moral responsibility to promote peace, dialogue, and human harmony. The forces that bring us fear and seek to divide us are only doing this for business and profit. This concept of “security” is an excellent marketing ploy to sell us more weapons and slow us down in our international travels. I am not naïve, bad people do exist. Extraordinarily somehow, in my over sixty years on this planet, I have never met one — just like I have never met a lottery winner, though I am told both exist.
To sum up: This week we spoke about a peaceful walk in the rain. It is analogous to living the calm and attractive life that we all naturally desire.
A small joke: “My cousin has 10,000 people under him, “a man stated. “Wow!” was his colleague’s response. “He must be a very important person!” “Yes, he is,” was the cheeky riposte. “He is a janitor who works on the tenth-floor on an office building.”
Just for fun – Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings / Ozawa Saito Kinen Orchestra
This week, on your thoughtful walk, please contemplate your own peaceful nature.
Quote: Beauty, harmony, and peace are all around us. We only have to open our eyes to their glow.
Footnotes:
1) Nielsen
2) Violence in the Media: What Effects on Behavior?
3) First World
4) Individualism vs. Collectivism: Our Future, Our Choice
5) Why ‘worthless’ humanities degrees may set you up for life