If one had their way, they would do away with most of the commandments and replace them with one general principle – to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
As simple as this may sound, it is probably one of the hardest challenges most humans are yet to overcome. It is the one and only principle that, if practised, will make half of human suffering disappear – if not all. If this principle could be universally reinforced in every school, institution and in every human interaction, humankind will start feeling what it is like to have heaven on earth. Humankind will realise it already has everything it has always wanted. It will also learn just how much co-existence is much better than self-hate and destruction. It is only then that we shall all start to feel what it is like to be truly free – that the territorial and political freedom alone are not enough for as long a sister and a brother are not united and free to and with one another – free to be our true selves and accept others for who they are, their gifts as well as their dreams and aspirations.
No competition but collaboration. No separation and hate but compassion. No need to feel more important than the other, as we are all an expression of one consciousness. It is currently very hard to imagine a world where the practice of this general principle is normalised. It is so because somewhere along the way, humankind went astray and against itself. It started idolising bigotry, self-hate, division, self-destruction and magnifying our differences than our similarities. It became infested with the lust for power and control and sometimes at the highest expense of the other. As time went on, this trend continued and humankind slowly adopted and normalised it to the point that one who stands up to it is seen as a fool or being delusional.
In this process, humankind became indifferent and only cares about self-interest.
Humankind became insensitive and
indifferent to its own kind so much that even the suffering and misery of it is of no concern.For it, everyone has the same opportunities, and whoever happens to find themselves destitution is by choice. This is done in oblivion and ignorance of many factors that have both created an uneven playing field.
Clearly, as much as humankind preaches love and harmony, it is obvious that is the only best it can do. Too much talking and sloganeering with no action. We can stand on top of mountains and hills and see the Promised Land, but we shall never get there – not because we cannot get there, but because with every step we take, we create tenfold obstacles that will make it impossible. We prefer to imagine everything we ever wish for than to experience it. If this one general principle can bring the love and harmony that we have ever wished for, then what are we waiting for? It is, however, up to every one of us to commit themselves to practise this general principle. It is so reciprocal that as much as we think we are doing it for others, we realise that we are the first to benefit from it. It shall be on earth as it is in heaven.
*karlsimbumusic@gmail.com
Uncommon Sense is published every Friday in the New Era newspaper with contributions from Karlos Naimhwaka