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All the injustice that you see in the world is voluntary. By this we mean that for every person who is poor, for every child who dies before the age of five, for every case of aids, malaria or chicken pox that lead to a death, the price of saving the life of that person is being thrown in a dump in the west. In other words, wealth is paid for by poverty. It is the tragedy of your civilization that service to self has been made the cultural priority.
There is a seeming paradox in the attention to self that is required by the spiritual journey and the service to self which we are naming a tragedy. The attention to self that is encouraged in spiritual work leads to self knowledge and acceptance, to connection with the transcendent, to wisdom and compassion. The service to self which is the fundamental building block of capitalist economy gives rise to fear and separation. In order for the whole world to flourish the rich must be less rich as well as the poor being less poor. Every individual must ask themselves what they are willing to give up for the sake of a starving child. Justice begins right here. And the planet earth is not paradise. It's resources are finite.
When you are touched by the suffering of another, this is normal. When you want to help in the face of disaster, this is normal. When you walk by a beggar on the street, when you see suffering and harden your heart, this is a violence to yourself and to the world. Understand this: the open heart knows no separation. The open heart is not afraid. The open heart does not worry that what it gives will lead to its starvation. It is filled in the act of generosity and deeply satisfied.
We do not say - give away everything you have.
We do not say - eschew comfort.
We do not say - live in guilt.
We say, only, if you wish to live a happy life open your heart and understand the cost to each individual of the suffering of the many. And ask yourself, "Would I drive a less expensive care to save the life of a child? Would I forgo a pint of ice cream a week to effect a cure for aids in Africa? Would I give up a dress, an item of makeup, a new perfume to help build a school?" These questions are the imperatives of the age. They must be asked. Otherwise all efforts to relieve suffering are doomed to failure.
It is time for the recognition to dawn that a simple life well lived can lead to happiness. This awareness has been driven out by the lust for material goods that is created by your market driven economy. You have forgotten as a race that which you once knew: that integrity, self respect, kindness and generosity are the fundamentals of happiness; that ownership is a myth - the only thing that can be truly owned is the heart, is love; all else is subject to change at a moment's notice. Only the human heart endures in this world of seemings in which you live. Only the heart touches into the immortal realm. In this age of communication as the world grows smaller you have a choice as to whether you will be touched by love or whether you will move in greed. All of your structures, all of your institutions, must be put into question. When billions of dollars are spent on the machinery of war while the many go hungry, are you satisfied? For those of you who dream of world peace, of a healthy planet, of a good life for all, the responsibility is yours. You can no longer let your governments fail to represent you. You must demand a voice. This is your work. This is your time. Make it what you want.
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