What’s Wrong with the World and How to Fix It
By David Schwerin
People are confused, anxious, and insecure. Most don’t know why they think what they think or do what they do. Societal dysfunction is rampant; educational, religious, cultural, and political institutions are failing us. Books are banned, inequality is tearing us apart, global warming and other natural disasters are destroying the planet. Business as usual is no longer feasible. We need to free ourselves from distorted thinking and start living with scrupulous honesty. One serious misunderstanding is the belief that never-ending happiness is our birthright. To quote Carlos Castaneda, “we can make ourselves happy or miserable; the amount of work is the same.” Another misconception is that we should experience only pleasure and no pain. We must accept both positive and negative experiences in order to learn all we can from them. While distorted beliefs can be temporarily comforting, the old ways of doing and thinking are not working. We must stop clinging to the past so new ideas and behaviors can flourish.
Most misunderstandings could be corrected if we knew who we are and why we are here. We are all a part of the whole of all that exists. We do not see the complete picture and don’t, therefore, view our lives in the proper context. For thousands of years, seekers have been striving to understand the unity of all life. This wisdom is contained in the teachings of the perennial philosophy. These teachings, also referred to as ageless wisdom, are a spiritual philosophy that views religious traditions as sharing a single, metaphysical truth. This truth is timeless and universal, although different religions and spiritual paths use varying language to express these ideals.
This perennial philosophy is considered by many to be the basis for normal human rationality. That said, Thomas Aquinas, among others, has argued that intelligence alone is insufficient to understand the meaning of life. A relationship with a higher power or a strong spiritual connection is also necessary. That relationship unfolds over time, depending on the sincerity and persistence of the seeker. We all have free will and can choose to pursue this relationship when we are ready.
A primary teaching of ancient wisdom is the importance of self-knowledge. Self-knowledge refers to understanding one’s mental state. It is focused on the inner states of the mind, beliefs, feelings, thoughts, desires, and values. It involves exploring our strengths and weaknesses with total honesty. Initially, exposing shortcomings was quite challenging for me. Early in my spiritual journey, I discovered a perfectionist streak that resisted letting others see personal weaknesses and faults. After some time, overcoming this perfectionist tendency became easier and, in fact, was liberating and empowering. This was a lesson that will be long remembered. Self-exploration gives a sense of who we are and who we can become. Are there motives behind our behavior that don’t correspond to our beliefs? Are our biases adversely influencing how we interact with others? Peace, contentment, and confidence are signs of having attained a meaningful degree of self-knowledge. Knowing oneself encourages realistic decision-making combined with the lessening of frustration, envy, stress, and insecurity. The ability to take responsibility for our behavior heightens compassion for self and others. Thus, knowledge of the self is essential for a meaningful, fulfilling life.
So, who are we? We’re each a part of an ineffable creation. Our conscious participation in that creation grows slowly to full maturity over eons of time. Why are we here? We are here to explore and create until we come to understand life in its full expression. We are spiritual beings experiencing life in a physical body. As such, we experience pleasure and pain as we evolve over time, learning important lessons in the physical dimension.
As we explore, we begin to understand all that exists. This process involves unlearning patterns of behavior that no longer serve us. Will Rodgers said, “It isn’t what we don’t know that gives us trouble; it’s what we know that ain’t so.” Because of past traumas, wounds, and conditioning, we live our lives with biases and misunderstandings – the spiritual journey endeavors to eliminate unsupportive beliefs and habits.
Life can be compared to a sandbox where we are encouraged to build and do anything we want. Some of our actions will be immediately successful; others require multiple attempts. In addition, we all have a task to accomplish for our Souls, a responsibility to deepen our self-knowledge, and an obligation to contribute to life according to our gifts and talents. When we remember we are loved, safe, and eternal, temporary hardships can be more easily accepted. We are part of the Divine creation; we are all one. In our temporary physical body, our vision is purposely clouded, so we cannot see the entire picture. When we leave the physical experience and return to spirit everything becomes much clearer.
We were designed holographically, which means all of creation is contained in every part. This is analogous to the Hermetic Principle of Correspondence. Simply stated, “As above, so below; as below, so above.” Said differently, there is an exact correlation among all levels of existence. Therefore, if we discover fixed laws in one area, we may, by analogy, conclude that the same quality exists in other areas. Just as the principles of geometry allow us, while remaining on Earth, to measure stars and their projected movements, the principle of correspondence enables us to reason from the known to the unknown. Through this connection, one can be a master of life. Going within, where all is contained, you begin to know all parts of the puzzle of life. Intent and focus are the keys; when done well, nothing else is required.
Searching to understand who we are and our place in the world, we enter holy ground. We embark upon a process to know life in all its wonderous aspects. We are all an integral part of the Divine expression. This profound understanding colors all our beliefs and actions. Knowing that we are an integral part of all that exists means, at the deepest level, that everything is connected and interdependent.
When we forget our unalterable interconnectedness, we become selective about how we treat others. As an example, we usually have compassion for our immediate family but often fail to do the same for our extended human family. Why shouldn’t we extend feelings of compassion to all who are going through difficulties? Expanding one’s vision and acknowledging that all sentient beings are worthy of help is a logical step once it is understood that everyone and everything is connected. Some version of the Golden Rule — what we do for another, we do for ourselves; what we fail to do for another, we fail to do for ourselves — is found in all cultures. When the Golden Rule is fully comprehended, giving and receiving are understood to be the same.
So, what is within each of us? On the macro level, we are pure consciousness. Consciousness is always aware of what is happening, internally and externally. At the micro level, our distorted beliefs and misconceptions become part of our psyche or our “personal stuff.” Our psyche includes our feelings, thoughts, and emotions. It encompasses much of our inner life. The quality of our life is largely determined by what is going on inside. If you feel clear and complete inside, psychological needs will be minimal. If, on the other hand, there is disorder and confusion inside, the outside world will reflect those disturbances. If we fail to create harmony internally, we create disharmony all around us. This can be seen in the wider world; we can’t expect other countries to stop firing missiles at each other or citizens to refrain from indefensible behavior until our own house is in order.
Embarking on the search for self-knowledge takes courage, but the rewards are invaluable. Self-confidence, self-acceptance, enhanced communication skills, and a life of peace and harmony become possible. Other byproducts include humility, generosity, and a forgiving heart. We must fully explore all thoughts and behavior. Why do we think or act the way we do? What is our motivation, our intent? To measure how far we are on the journey to self-knowledge, we must look at our lives. Are we happy? If not, what seems to be missing? True self-knowledge results in feelings of peace and contentment. Those who know themselves fully have an inner sense of satisfaction and self-assurance. These are essential traits for a successful, fulfilling life. Profound self-knowledge is the secret to fixing the world one person at a time.
“Self- knowledge is a lifelong pursuit and one that surpasses all other endeavors. Be diligent with this work and you shall reap rewards beyond your wildest imagination.”
Hermes Trismegistus
