You have the power to end war and suffering
GC: Why does war still occur? Do you know we have the power to end it, without lifting a finger?
Questioner: This seems impossible - we have been having wars since the beginning of time. Isn’t it human nature to fight?
GC: I question that.
Questioner: Which part?
GC: Human nature.
Questioner: It has to be - it’s part of our DNA! We are violent!
GC: It may be part of a DNA that has evolved over time. But I question if it’s our natural state?
Questioner: I don’t understand.
GC: Sir, if I may ask, why does war exist? We are educated, probably more than ever in history. There are about 4 or 5 million people in the world with PhDs. Has that made the world any smarter? Is this what we suppose is intelligence on this planet? If we are so educated, why hasn’t the human being been able to solve one of the most terrible occurrences in the history of the world? With all of this knowledge and wisdom, we are still stupid enough to pull a trigger and kill another human being. Not just one, but millions of people have died throughout history as a result of this terrible violence. Whether a result of defending a country or religion, differences in culture or skin color, the human being is violent. Is it education? Is this why we have wars? When in our own life growing up in this world, that is, at what point did we decide it was okay to kill another human being? Have you ever asked this question?
Questioner: We do it for our country. To protect.
GC: WHY? Why do we do it for our country? Why is our country worth more than life? If it is so, then we haven’t understood life, AT ALL! So in order to understand life so we can put an end to all killing, murders, violence, we must understand something rather important: death. Then I say ending war forever is possible.
Questioner: Are you saying that by questioning death, we will end violence?
GC: It’s a question worth finding out. Don’t you want to live in a world of peace? A world. Not just your neighborhood or country but the whole world! If so, you must be wanting to know the answer to this question, If you really, sincerely care humanity, then let’s go a little deeper. Humans have divided themselves for thousands of years, maybe since the beginning of time. We have created countries; and belief systems; and communities, and groups. We have societies and all of these fragmented parts of the world are the doing of humans. As such, we may think we want to respect all cultures, but does that bring us together or just accept that we are separate?
Questioner: I think it’s good to accept… that is that we can be respectful of each other.
GC: Sure, but does it solve the fundamental problem. Is being respectful in such a way going to help when my country tells your country to go to war?
Questioner: No, probably not.
GC: So, we can see that the human being is quite divided based on all the cultural upbringing, values, belief systems, countries, etc. This has come from centuries of conditioning over time, hasn’t it? And suffering, whether it be war or other pain stakes, violence, corruption, greed, competition, all exist in countries all over the world. These problems are no different from one person to another - we all experience suffering. The content might be different, but the human experience is the same. Now, I’m going to ask a very important question, will you listen?
Questioner: Yes.
GC: No, I mean, please don’t jump to an answer right away. I mean really listen, with all your heart to what I have to say? So, there is death as in physical death of the body ending, when the organism itself will deteriorate. Then there is psychological death. I’d like to explore the psychological death. You are the accumulation of knowledge from the past. Everything you do, say, and act on in the now is going to be based on the knowledge you have in your mind. So if we carry on like this, we will continue to evolve this earth generation after generation without change, psychologically. We may make some advances technologically, but not psychologically. So if we carry the current knowledge in our minds to this current moment and we act on it, then the future, the present, and the past are one and the same. Are you with me so far? If so, then, how can we create a future that is not based on the past?
Questioner: I’m… well… not sure. Maybe to stay silent.
GC: Wait… which means what?
Questioner: Not to… react… I’m not sure.
GC: Okay. well, if we act in our now based on the past, then why wouldn’t we want to put an end to the past. The past must come to an end in order to be something new. So we must die to our past if we have any chance to be able to create anything new. For the past to come to an end, we would need to end all self-centered activity. That is, all self-centered activity, which is constantly creating images. Images of my identity. My country, my wife, my beliefs, my values, my likings and dislikings, the image of who I want to become, where I want to live, and so forth. Over time, millions of images have been created by the mind. These images, created by the self… the me. Is there a way to put an end to them. That is, not to record anything at all so that images are not created.
Questioner: What do you mean by record?
GC: Meaning, when you have a sensation, perception about something, there is recording. You identify some emotion, or you associate an identity of belief, or values, then you have recorded an image and stored it in your mind. And that is the information you will use to decide your actions. So it is possible not to record at all. That is, not to identify yourself with anything, not to join anything, not to follow anyone. These are all things that are the building ground for the ego-self to use. As soon as you do, for example my country, you will become confused and obliged to follow rules to protect.
Can you observe, this? That is, the nationalism. How countries cause divisions (by borders and walls). Language is another one. Ending is the key so it is very important to understand what it means to end something. Have you ever tried to end a habit, for example drinking, or smoking? This is important. Can I see the separation nationalism causes and can I end it? If you look with your heart you will see! If you see how religions divide - look with your heart. If you truly perceive these things, to see the pain they are causing, you start to see all of the false peeling away. Then the mind becomes very intelligent, very clear. If you can see things as they are, without opinions, or prejudices, without biases, observe without any direction, without any expectations - JUST observe, purely observe.
Questioner: If I see all of this, won’t I only end it within me?
GC: What is my relationship with the rest of humanity? What is my relationship with another human? I am humanity. I am not separate from anyone in the world. If I don’t see this, or I believe this isn’t true, then it’s time to question the ego. If we all understood love, I mean really understood love from our hearts, then we would realize there is already a relationship with every single person in the world. There is a relationship with every single animal. There is a relationship with every organism. There is a relationship with nature. This is not a part-time choice where I go to work and then I set aside 15 minutes to be compassionate about the rest of the world. It is universal. But instead, we are taught and conditioned to own… to possess. My wife, my husband, my kids, my God, my house, And therefore, we don’t see the truth of it. So that is why we are talking about death.
GC: So what will you do next?
Questioner: I’m not sure, I need to absorb this information.
GC: No! Don’t copy-paste what I’ve just said. Observe and see it for yourself.
Questioner: And then?
GC: Therefore change - metamorphosize. Not sure that’s the right word but see the truth, the actual truth that you are the rest of humankind. When you do, everything you do, attitude, approach, action to live, it all changes. You will find that relationship is not two images fighting each other but one that is alive and passionate about life itself.
Love and light,
GC