Earth-Love: Where are the Signs of Progress?

Zhuhai, Guangdong, China

How does one measure progress? You do the same actions every day, and you wait to see if there are any improvements in the results...how do you know if you are improving or just staying in the same old constant flat-lined barely even admissible level?

This can affect us in many parts of life, whether it comes to exercise and reaching our plateau, or when it comes to exploring new ideas and always reiterating the same old points and repeating them in our minds over and over. The thirst for improvement must continue.

There is a possibility that our lives need adventure and excitement. They bring much joy, and they can also allow us to share great moments with other people here on Earth. However, what limits does one need to employ in our quest for adventure?

It can come to the point where the thrill of your own quest can drown out every single other motivation in life...yet if one reaches that level of excitement on this adventure, one will lose awareness of consciousness. At that point in time, one will no longer able to be aware of whether or not they are causing harm to any living thing. Harm or prosperity will turn into a giant blur.

Therefore, as we continue onward each day through the changing of the sun and stars, we must remember that we can find contentment in the even the simplest moments in life. Adventure is one thing, but it is fueled by the trampling of untamed lands. This can lead to destruction. Excitement is one thing, but it is fueled by losing awareness of how other people feel. As someone once said, there is nothing wrong with being excited as long as you don't hurt anyone. Once again, the end goal is the same...remove the destruction.

Yet if one is to continue every day, how will we see progress? How will one know if all the choices in life are making a beneficial difference to humanity and the Earth or not? Some say that one must put all of their power into faith. They must believe that their pathway and plan for peace and prosperity is the only one and to never stray from the path.

There is a certain degree of value in this, and it needs to be partnered with an empirical understanding. One must not perceive any form of destruction with the five senses. One must also believe that this plan will bring less destruction in the future, and one must have faith the pathway that rids the world of destruction and replaces it with peace is good, ethical, moral, and pure.

All of human thought must converge upon this point. The combination of ideas and the journey to peace on Earth is the most profound adventure of all. The elimination of material desires is greater than any form of excitement, for it leads to a life of calm nerves, clear neurological processes, and a lack of lust for things which only bring conflict into your life and those around you.

Try your best to share this message of peace with the world. Look for the signs of progress not only in your daily life, but also within you as well. Await the challenges of the day-to-day struggles and respond with purity. Expect a reduction in conflict, but also an increase in kindness.

These are the signs of progress we must use in our daily life.

Prosperity. Honor. Progress.

Taming the Donkey: Return to the Convent by Eduardo Zamacois y Zabala, 1868

Taming the Donkey:
Return to the Convent by Eduardo Zamacois y Zabala, 1868.

At once point in life, I had the idea to start sharing paintings like this one above on my Facebook page. I had decided that I would only use the images of paintings and masterpieces as my Facebook timeline cover.

Then, I was inspired by Julius Caesar's line "It is better to create than to learn. Creation is the essence of being." On Facebook, I only use my own photos as my timeline covers. It might be small, but it sharing something with my small circle.

Nevertheless, I can share things here. Perhaps this blog is a place to post paintings that have always fascinated me.

I first saw this painting on the Wikipedia for "Schadenfreude," the joy in watching other's failure or misery (abridged definition, I know).

Also, when I share content, I only try to share things that promote an image of peace to the world. Therefore, to use this imagery in a peaceful context, let us remind ourselves that there are those in the picture who are laughing and not helping....but the man with the donkey is strong, and he is not giving up.

Be Strong, and Never Give Up.

Good Morning to You All.

Spiritual Musings: The Dark Nature of Humanity, Going for Idealism, and Leibniz and the Best of All Possible Worlds

A person what asked me what Peace is? I did not have a good answer, and I turned into a rambling mess. Peace is a subjective term. The word, Peace, perhaps had a different meaning to Gandhi than it did for someone like Chairman Mao, yet it has been the fascination of individuals across the world for centuries, as well as thousands of years.

Let's focus on the removal of destruction. Free our material world from the dangers and torments that come each day. This can only be done with unity. However, as one individual who lost his child in the Columbine shooting points out, too much focus on unity leads to too much compromise. It must be possible for us to envisage a world where we can share ideas, stand by our principles, but not respond with anger. 

One of the largest threats to the stability of h
umanity exists on the internet. Behind the guise of the computer screen human beings are using verbal abuse as form of idea expression. This promotes destructive behavior into the world. It is possible to share ideas without attacking someone else's character or making assumptions about the nature of their intellect. 

One night while Channel Surfing on the television, I encountered a panel discussion featuring the talk show host, Tom Green. He grew to fame as a shocking MTV personality, and I was surprised to find him on a show about medicine and psychology. He stated that there is a very dark and violent nature of humanity that has always been there, but just now because of the internet we are learning about it. His intention is to  say that there were many incidents of abuse, both physical and verbal all throughout the discussion of ideas, they were just not recorded. Moreover, individuals held very dark, negative, and even destructive feelings toward other people, but they did not show them because they were not able to hide behind the anonymity of the comment sections. 

We live in a world of destruction, yet as Leibniz reminds us...without relent...this is the best of all possible worlds, for in this world we have the possibility to correct any problem, to find any solution, and to forge an antidote to any ailment. 

One of the first steps we, the people, can take is to show more kindness on the internet, to uphold a standard of integrity when it comes to sharing ideas, to choose the idea over the emotion, and begin to engage in conversation as opposed to argumentation. Unity without compromise is possible.

I am not a realist. I am an idealist. Let's strive forward to a standard of excellence that will bring joy, courtesy, consciousness, sharing, love, optimism, and success to as many people as possible. Listen not to the cynics who doubt the amazement of showing polite words to those who disagree with you. Listen not to those who say that a world where people coexist is impossible. Listen to those who want to share a message with the world, a message of care, nurture, strength, honor, passion, and support. Do no harm, but do not accept any abuse. Do not hurt, but stand tall in defense, both in the literal and metaphorical sense.  

It can all begin with sharing words of kindness instead of words of destruction. If love is all there is, let us honor love in its own maximum perfection.