Here we are, embodied, competing in a dog-eat-dog world. It’s a world that commands our attention if we are to survive.
Is the invincible peace of the soul even possible to attain while we are here? Or is that only possible after death however we conceive of it, whether that be in an imaginary “place” called heaven or in eternal nonexistence?
Right now, we are called to action in our world. We compete to win whatever our desires have us competing for, and if we can’t win, we at least try not to come in last or to die.
We see what happens to those who lose, those we try to ignore, those who struggle just to find something to eat, those who shelter under cardboard and plastic sheeting, those who suffer in despair, commit suicide or lose themselves to addiction. It’s a human jungle, and the law of the land is “survival of the fittest”.
Who then do we deem to be our winners?
The top one percent? The autocratic powerheads and those they favor? The lawmakers and enforcers who elevate their personal interests above others while turning a blind eye toward the underprivileged? The champions on the fields of competitive sports? The Hollywood, Bollywood stars of the screen? The top docs, lawyers, businesspersons, scientists, preachers, generals, cartel leaders, politicians, tech developers? You name them. The Pope?
Who among us are our winners? They are out there in the world doing what the world has taught them to do. Fulfill themselves. Some find fulfillment in making the world a kinder and gentler place. Who do we admire?
Looking beyond their accomplishments, what characteristics do our winners possess? Which of these might we want to emulate to help us succeed? Which character traits do we value?
On the competitive field, we value strong will, determination and resilience. These qualities help us achieve most any desire, whether that be to join the ranks committing genocide in pursuit of dominance or to be among those delivering humanitarian aid.
Good and evil flow into our world from our innermost desires and fears. These are the drivers of our thoughts and actions. Our desires reflect our character. How important to us is character? Do we try to improve who and how we are?
It seems that many people applaud the victors without giving much thought to the motivating energies that led to their victories. Whether we think about it or not, we possess values. They influence our votes, our relationships, our alliances, our prejudices, our choices in all aspects of our lives. They are worth looking at.
Do we value trustworthiness, honesty, authenticity, perseverance, generosity, calmness, courage, compassion, courtesy, integrity, open-mindedness, respectfulness and freedom from prejudice? Or for the sake of winning, do we overlook these?