Universal Responsibility

Due to some rather pressing deadlines, this week’s I Am Fabulous is brought to you by the Dalai Lama, from whose book, Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection, these words are taken:

“As human beings, we are all the same. So there is no need to build some kind of artificial barrier between us. At least my own experience is that if you have this kind of attitude, there is no barrier. Whatever I feel, I can express; I can call you 'my old friend'. There is nothing to hide, and no need to say things in a way that is not straightforward. So this gives me a kind of space in my mind, with the result that I do not have to be suspicious of others all the time. And this really gives me inner satisfaction, and inner peace.

“So I call this feeling a 'genuine realisation of the oneness of the whole of humanity'. We are all members of one human family. I think that this understanding is very important, especially now that the world is becoming smaller and smaller. In ancient times, even in a small village, people were able to exist more or less independently. There was not so much need for others' co-operation. These days, the economic structure has completely changed, so that modern economies, relying on industry, are totally different. We are heavily dependent on one another, and also as a result of mass communication, the barriers of the past are greatly reduced.

“Today, because of the complexity of interdependence, every crisis on this planet is essentially related with every other, like a chain reaction. Consequently it is worthwhile taking every crisis as a global one. Here barriers such as 'this nation' or 'that nation', 'this continent', or 'that continent' are simply obstacles. Therefore today, for the future of the human race, it is more important than ever before that we develop a genuine sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. I usually call this a sense of 'universal responsibility'.”

There’s so much to explore in these three short paragraphs – and wish I had the time to do it – that I suggest you really savour them. They might make you wonder if our current crisis is actually leading us toward that greater understanding of how we are all one human family. With that in mind, how could you share your own burden with others or help them share theirs? With whom could you be more honest or more straightforward? How could you extend your trust? Have a week of greater vision, looking beyond the purely personal into how your actions contribute to the greater whole.

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