HUMBLING EXPERIENCE

This experience that we are going through right now with the COVID-19 should be, at least, a very humbling experience for humanity but, if not, definitely for us individually. For centuries, religions, educators, government leaders, parents, etc. have been telling us how great and superior we human beings are compared to everything else. We have put humanity on top of everything, and throughout history, we have taken this concept to such an extreme that certain groups based on the color of skin, place of origin, religion, belief, etc., have believed that they are superior to others because they look or think differently. Just because a group of people of a certain place, or with a certain belief, color, or religion decided that they were better than another group does not mean that they are superior. This fact, the fact that we feel superior has given us the right to exploit, abuse, and even kill anything and everything, including ourselves and everything around us with the justification that “it is for the well-being of humanity or the country”, “It is a God-given right”, “It has been said or commanded by God”, “we are the best in the world”, and the many other slogans and propaganda used to manipulate the beliefs of people and justify the atrocious trespassing we have done.

It has gone so far, that even individuals think that they are superior than the rest just because they are financially wealthier, more intelligent, more powerful (have more power), better looking, or simply stronger. We see this individual superiority everywhere: parents feel superior to the children, at least for some period of time, just because they are older or “wiser”; teachers feel superior to students just because they have read a few more books; employers feel superior to employees just because they are the employers or owners; priests and monks of different religions feel superior just because they think they are closer to God or are the ones in contact with God; men feel superior to women just because they are physically stronger; and so on. This complex of superiority is the result of two major human misunderstandings, believing without questioning and our complete loss of perspective.

Believing without questioning has to do with what has been told or taught to us and the fact that we have not questioned it at all. We have been living in the context of the smallest picture, our small world, or what we call our individual or personal life. We have been completely ensnared in studying, working, forming a family, being entertained, and so on, all our lives that we either have not seen or realized the bigger picture or have ignored it completely.

Losing completely our perspective has to do with our place as individuals in the world, in the bigger picture, in the universe. If we look at human beings from the species standpoint, we are really nothing, worthless, and do not count at all. In fact, if we were to disappear tomorrow for any reason, it would not even be noticed it in the universe, and all other species on this planet would thrive. We are by far the worst virus in this planet. Therefore, from the species standpoint, we really do not count. 

Now, if we look at human beings from the individual standpoint in relation to the whole, we are less than a particle of dust compared to the size, magnitude, complexity, and magnificence of the universe. If we are less than a particle, if nothing depends on us, if we really do not count, believing that we as individuals or as groups are superior is really a huge misunderstanding and a problem, an atrocity to humanity and to the world. We just forgot our place in relation to everything (the universe) and forgot that we cannot survive without other human beings, without the flora and fauna, and without resources like air, water, minerals, etc. This is not about the survival of the fittest, about conquering other species, about exploiting and abusing mother earth and its resources. To the contrary, it is about realizing that we are an integral component of this harmonious ecosystem, that we are a part of the whole, and that if we break this harmony, we are doing as much damage to ourselves as we are doing to the earth or its content. 

If we look at history, it has been these individuals, groups, religions, and countries, that feel special, who have committed the most appalling acts against humanity. In addition, if you add the current lack of social consciousness on the part of governments, institutions and companies and the existing emphasis in individualism on the part of individuals and education, where they will do anything to anyone and anything just to increase the bottom line, or with the excuse that is for the wellbeing of my family, country, religion, God, etc.; we have, basically, given ourselves the permission to step on other human beings, animals, plants, forests, resources, seas, etc. No wonder why we are where we are and have the problems that we have.

For the first time in our lives and probably in the history of the humankind, the world has been brought down to its knees (worldwide lock down of people and a paralyzed economy) not by a nuclear war, an idealistic political or religious ruler or country, a natural disaster, or by monsters, zombies, or aliens but by an invisible microbe. All of our intelligence and superiority has been smeared against the ground, and we have been put in our place…sadly enough by a microbe. This is how vulnerable we are; our economy is; our lives are. And, yes, we will conquer this microbe and come out of this situation victorious. But, if not for humanity, at least for us individually, this should be the most humbling experience to date where we are forced to reflect about our place on this planet and our purpose in this world…in this life. 

Nobody is better than someone else. We are all just at a different level of perception. That’s all! We are not so big, so superior, so strong or so intelligent as we thought. In fact, we are very insignificant. We are just another species and an integral component of the ecosystem of this planet. Let’s use this humbling experience to change our ways, the way we think and treat ourselves, others, animals, plants, resources, and the planet. Diversity is a wonderful thing. It is what makes life wonderful, intriguing, fascinating…interesting. Why are we so against it? As a species, we are insignificant, but as individuals, our potential is endless, only if we start thinking in terms of the wellbeing of the community, country and planet, and not only of our own wellbeing. 

Let’s stop spreading so much negativity, abusing other human beings, taking advantage of animals, cutting and burning our forests, polluting our waters and oceans, etc. Let this humbling experience put us in the right place, a place where we embrace and include instead of excluding; love instead of fear, anger and hatred; accept and respect instead of judging; and grow and evolve instead of just simply get old. This is us now; this is our planet; this is our life; and this is our opportunity to make a difference for future generations! As Mahatma Gandhi said, “be the change you want to see in the world.”

Author: Maurice Correa
Website: pathtoone.com