There are many definitions of the word culture but the one I think comes closest to it's true meaning is this; "the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people at a particular time." These beliefs, I think, include morals, art, law, and customs.
It can seem as if the world's gone completely mad these days; there is unrest everywhere we look. With all the political turmoil happening all around us, it's easy to get swept up in the notion that life, as we know it, is (or soon will be) over. But then I am reminded of a quote by Mahatma Gandhi. "A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of it's people." In the hearts and in the soul of it's people...collectively. He didn't say in the heart and soul of the country's leaders or governing body. A nation is judged on what it's peoples think, do, and say...as the collective whole. Culture can be seen as "a series of activities and worldviews that provide humans (and frog groups) with the basis for perceiving themselves as 'persons of worth within the world of meaning, i.e. raising themselves above the merely physical aspects of existence,'" say the folks who came up with the idea of TMT (terror management theory). And I concur. Yes, we CAN raise ourselves up beyond the daily doses of terror, violence, hatred, and bigotry that we see on the nightly news. The power to do this lies in each of us.
But humans, in addition to their individual consciousness, have a collective consciousness, as well. And although it's not as well-defined as in the animal kingdom, humans innately know what's wright and wrong. The strange part about the human collective consciousness is that certain rulers (government leaders and politicians) absolutely do not want certain matters, that are known in our collective consciousness, to actually become part of society. If they did, it would foil their plans to rule not only their nation, but also the minds of it's citizens. Ideas and beliefs get squashed; in large part because they conflict with the economic mindset of the top-tier wealthy and, too, because humans who are aware of their collective consciousness (i.e. their personal power) are harder to control.
I've heard it said that our collective consciousness creates our reality. I believe this is true. I see it all the time in the stories that make headline news. The good, uplifting stories get moved to the back, if they're ever told at all. Lately, it seems as if we all thrive on hearing and reading the negative. Sadly, sensationalism sells. Together, humans have created the reality we now live with; the reality that affects every living thing on the planet...not just humans. That's the bad news. The good news is that, collectively, you can change the course of your history (and mine). Thoughts are powerful. Actions are powerful. Does society want to continue down its current path, or do you, as citizens of the world, want to alter it and move in a direction of kindness, compassion, and love? That can be the collective consciousness of our future. Those beliefs can easily be turned into actions that move humanity forward. Otherwise, we risk decline.
This is way more political, and deeper, than I normally go in these blogs, but I felt it was time to say what I've been thinking for a long time. Goodness comes naturally, if we just let it. We (all sentient beings) cannot allow the forces of evil among us to prevail. We, and I do mean all of us, are living in difficult times. But, together, we can follow our hearts and minds and do what's right...what's best for our individual countries, as well what will best benefit the entire world. It is no longer feasible, I believe, to think merely as individuals. Each of us, both human and frog, must think and act globally for we are one collective consciousness. And that collective consciousness knows what's right. We only need believe it and act on it every day. Little acts of random kindness will go along way in keeping the nation's culture intact...this nation and all other nations. A nation's culture does reside in the hearts and in the soul of its people...it does not reside in the heart and soul of any single person, ruler, or political body. They cannot change our way of thinking, the national culture of doing what's right and just for all, unless we allow them to. We need to remember that.
Let's join forces, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, and be grateful for what we as a civilization have already achieved. But we have more greatness inside of us. There are new roads to travel and more goodness to give. Together, we can alter our future and make it one to be proud of! The new future starts today...and it starts with you. As Gandhi famously said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
It can seem as if the world's gone completely mad these days; there is unrest everywhere we look. With all the political turmoil happening all around us, it's easy to get swept up in the notion that life, as we know it, is (or soon will be) over. But then I am reminded of a quote by Mahatma Gandhi. "A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of it's people." In the hearts and in the soul of it's people...collectively. He didn't say in the heart and soul of the country's leaders or governing body. A nation is judged on what it's peoples think, do, and say...as the collective whole. Culture can be seen as "a series of activities and worldviews that provide humans (and frog groups) with the basis for perceiving themselves as 'persons of worth within the world of meaning, i.e. raising themselves above the merely physical aspects of existence,'" say the folks who came up with the idea of TMT (terror management theory). And I concur. Yes, we CAN raise ourselves up beyond the daily doses of terror, violence, hatred, and bigotry that we see on the nightly news. The power to do this lies in each of us.
But humans, in addition to their individual consciousness, have a collective consciousness, as well. And although it's not as well-defined as in the animal kingdom, humans innately know what's wright and wrong. The strange part about the human collective consciousness is that certain rulers (government leaders and politicians) absolutely do not want certain matters, that are known in our collective consciousness, to actually become part of society. If they did, it would foil their plans to rule not only their nation, but also the minds of it's citizens. Ideas and beliefs get squashed; in large part because they conflict with the economic mindset of the top-tier wealthy and, too, because humans who are aware of their collective consciousness (i.e. their personal power) are harder to control.
I've heard it said that our collective consciousness creates our reality. I believe this is true. I see it all the time in the stories that make headline news. The good, uplifting stories get moved to the back, if they're ever told at all. Lately, it seems as if we all thrive on hearing and reading the negative. Sadly, sensationalism sells. Together, humans have created the reality we now live with; the reality that affects every living thing on the planet...not just humans. That's the bad news. The good news is that, collectively, you can change the course of your history (and mine). Thoughts are powerful. Actions are powerful. Does society want to continue down its current path, or do you, as citizens of the world, want to alter it and move in a direction of kindness, compassion, and love? That can be the collective consciousness of our future. Those beliefs can easily be turned into actions that move humanity forward. Otherwise, we risk decline.
This is way more political, and deeper, than I normally go in these blogs, but I felt it was time to say what I've been thinking for a long time. Goodness comes naturally, if we just let it. We (all sentient beings) cannot allow the forces of evil among us to prevail. We, and I do mean all of us, are living in difficult times. But, together, we can follow our hearts and minds and do what's right...what's best for our individual countries, as well what will best benefit the entire world. It is no longer feasible, I believe, to think merely as individuals. Each of us, both human and frog, must think and act globally for we are one collective consciousness. And that collective consciousness knows what's right. We only need believe it and act on it every day. Little acts of random kindness will go along way in keeping the nation's culture intact...this nation and all other nations. A nation's culture does reside in the hearts and in the soul of its people...it does not reside in the heart and soul of any single person, ruler, or political body. They cannot change our way of thinking, the national culture of doing what's right and just for all, unless we allow them to. We need to remember that.
Let's join forces, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, and be grateful for what we as a civilization have already achieved. But we have more greatness inside of us. There are new roads to travel and more goodness to give. Together, we can alter our future and make it one to be proud of! The new future starts today...and it starts with you. As Gandhi famously said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
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