Can we save the planet? No. It’s a damn planet! If the sun eventually wants to engulf the earth, there’s nothing we can do about it. It was here before us and it will be here after us. So, when we talk about saving the planet, we’re really talking about saving ourselves. It’s about optimizing our living conditions on this rock and improving that quality far into the future.
But if you watch any movie ever made about the future, it’s a grim setting. Post-apocalyptic landscapes, famine, poisoned waters, poisoned air, death and destruction. Maybe zombies or Skynet takes over. You never see a movie where the future is bliss and beautiful for us humans. No, we don’t like stories like that, do we.
Save this country? From what? That other country? Those other 194 countries? That’s a lot of countries, each with its own politics, religions, and philosophies, and beliefs. Territory, power, control, and … money. It always comes down to money.
Save ourselves? From what? Well … ourselves for starters. We can be our own worst enemy, personally and communally. We have turmoil and drama within our own selves, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and psychologically. How can we trust others, when we don’t trust ourselves?
Besides, we humans get bored easily and our first go-to is conflict. It’s in our DNA. As the T-800 said to John Connor in Terminator 2, “It’s in your nature to destroy yourselves.” So, how the hell can we even entertain the idea of world peace?
We never hear about the FBI taking down a notorious peace dealer. You know? The bust happens on a shipping dock at 2:00am. Two black vehicles. A duffle bag full of bliss and self-acceptance is exchanged for cold hard cash when the feds burst from the shadows to arrest these illegal peace dealers. No. This is not a thing. But, weapons of war? There’s money in that.
When we say “World Peace”, we’re really talking about the collective peaceful interaction of almost eight-billion people, throughout 195 countries, and according to some estimates, over 4,200 religions. Even those religions and religious leaders fight among themselves, in terms of their beliefs, rules, philosophies, and approach.
So … is world peace even possible? Yes, but not probable. The math is against us and so are we.
However, I think we can make the math work in our favor if each of us can get out of our own way. I know; it’s a big ask, but we gotta start somewhere and that somewhere is inner peace. Without that first, there’s no shot at outer peace and we can just forget about world peace.
Hey, I’m not a hold-hands-in-a-circle while chanting kind of guy. It makes my “spidey-senses” tingle and I just want to run. Still working on that. No; yoga is a personal journey inward, where we reacquaint our soul with peace. From the time we were born, we’re inundated with social division, war, hatred, and negativity, because that’s what sells. It’s nearly impossible not to get caught up in it. It’s sold to us and force-fed to us. Eat it! Now, pick a side!
World peace isn’t about a one-world religion or no religion at all. It can’t be. It’s not about one giant country. It’s not about one set of beliefs, laws, or language. It’s not about a single, all-encompassing culture. That’s impossible, nor should be even try. What a miserable existence it would be if eight billion of us where all the same. Ugh.
But, with everything considered, if each of us could find inner peace; peace within ourselves, then our outward interaction would be so much more peaceful and positive. We’d be more conscientious. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not delusional. The sheer math and close proximity to each other, multiplied by circumstance, equals friction. Things will naturally heat up, but the lubricant is inner peace.
The world has a fever and the only prescription is more Yoga. Or … cowbell; whatever.
Peace, peeps. And get on that mat.
Photo by Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash
I Am No Yogi 