May the New Year bring wisdom, peace, good health and prosperity to all.

May we transform hatred, fear and anger so problems like racism, the use of government sponsored torture, the rise of self-centered nationalism, vast disparity in wealth, religion based hatred and strife and epidemic disease, fuel an ever-increasing expression of loving kindness, compassion and joy in the good things that come to others.  

May there be a general recognition that the purveyors of selfishness, fear and hatred should not lead.

May the following quotation be an example of universally accepted values.  

"There was a time I used to reject those who were not of my faith.

Now, my heart has grown capable of taking on all forms.

A pasture for gazelles, a convent for Christians.

A temple for idols, a Kaba for the pilgrim.

A table for the Torah, a book of the Koran.

My religion is love.

Whichever the route love's caravan shall take, that path shall be the path of my faith."

~ Ibn' Arabi (1165-1240) 

From Wisdom at Work Dec. 11, 2014

Whether it is about religious faith or political ideology, beliefs get in the way of unity.  Disunity leads to entrenched positions and unnecessary conflict.  

The killing of blacks by police is a prime example with supporters of the police clashing with those who are angered over the killings in Ferguson and Staten Island and elsewhere, over many years.  There are few voices addressing reconciliation based on root cause analysis. On the fringe, the demonstrators resort to violence to express their anger and frustration.  Those who support the police deny any racial bias or wrongdoing.  The wall goes up replacing transparency with unreconcilable arguments.

Similarly, divisions between Islamists and secularists, Palestinians and Israelis, Indians and Pakistanis, Shiites and Sunnis, Russia and the Ukraine, Iran and the U.S., etc., etc. etc.

On the bright side, conflict raises awareness, which, in turn, makes the insanity of irrational, belief-based conflict increasingly obvious. That helps to resolve the root causes of the problems.  Awareness enables dialogue and dialogue can cut through entrenched beliefs to enable objectivity.  

Objectivity enables practical decisions and action, particularly if it is combined with acceptance of universal values to replace greed, hatred and ignorance with generosity, acceptance and wisdom.

May we have a future in which open mindedness, health, prosperity, and unconditional happiness prevail.  May our children and our children's children inherit a world that continuously improves in all ways.

� 2014 George Pitagorsky                                                 Top

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