Just as love leaves an imprint on the souls of those around us, the darkness within us is reflected in our actions and in everything that happens on the global stage. Whether it’s revolutions, coups, demonstrations, or wars, all these events mirror our inner turmoil—full of agitation, dissatisfaction, negativity, hatred, and a desire for revenge.

We detest lies, yet we use them, swearing deceitfully on so-called holy books. We crave kindness but only extend it conditionally. We seek respect yet fail to respect ourselves and the opinions and beliefs of others. We desire our uniqueness to be recognised, yet we condemn those who attempt to express it. We strive to remove from our paths anything that displeases us, believing it must be destroyed, avenged, or transformed to suit our tastes, all to fulfil our arrogance, ego, pride, haughtiness, and ignorance stemming from selfishness. We try to change the outside world when our inner turmoil causes the external chaos we see around us.

We often blame our rulers and politicians, yet it is we who elect them, support them, and overlook their vile deeds. We failed to take a stand when it mattered. Whose responsibility is it to make the world a better place, as we all desire? We often defer to the mindset of “Let someone else do it” or “Let those who are paid to handle it,” which reflects our reluctance to engage with issues around us. We expect others to pick up the discarded garbage and take on tasks we find unpleasant.

Egoism revels in the belief that it has “value” by exploiting the work of others, but feels humiliated and degraded when required to perform what it perceives as “low-level work” or face poverty. It thrives on appropriating the efforts of others, seeking to stand on high peaks, bask in wealth, and chase quantity without offering quality. It hopes another will take on everything it finds distasteful or unpleasing.

And yet, who is this “another”? I am “another” for you, and you are “another” for me. The distinction of “I and others” creates division—a separation that the ego and selfishness support, a false understanding that is perpetuated by ignorance. As Lao Tzu wisely states, “False knowledge is the appearance of the Path and the beginning of stupidity.”

The world divided into “someone else and me”, or “the rest and me” is a fake world, for in the world we live in, everything is interconnected.

(excerpts from manuscript)

Love, Manuela

Copyright © 2016-2025 manuela@inalove.world

References:

• Lao Tze – TAO TE CHING

Photo by Chris G