Monday, February 21, 2011

Universal Responsibility

In our interconnected universe everybody must cultivate universal responsibility. What is universal responsibility? How can a person develop and practice it in his or her daily life?

Universal responsibility begins with a person's wholesome and profound recognition that s/he is connected with all others in society and with all objects and events in the universe. That awareness will lead the person to constructive ways of thinking, which in turn will influence his/her actions. The person gradually becomes more and more observant of his/her own thoughts, words, and deeds, for s/he knows that their consequences affect not only him-/herself but also other humans and objects.

Anyone with a good will can practice universal responsibility, the old and the young, the rich and the poor, wherever they are living or working. It does not demand large scale plans, but it sometimes reveals itself through very simple and little things or events. Turning off the light or the faucet when you don't need it; not wasting napkins, foods and beverages at the restaurants or cafeteria; using reusable bags instead of plastic ones; picking up trash and not dumping antibiotics into the toilet bowl.....Those are simple deeds, yet many ignore or neglect them, because they have an "I don't care" attitude.
We also need more useful and constructive words: "Let's improve this;" "There must be a better solution;" "Why don't we work together to overcome this obstacle?" "Let's cooperate;" "What can we do to help?" "What would happen if ...?"

The mind is fundamental for such nice words and good deeds to develop. Our conscious mind with a sincere wish to make everybody happy, and to make the world a better place to live in is fundamental to cultivate universal responsibility. It is a special mind which fosters the realization that there is no distinction between "You" and "I." We all are just one. The parts are the whole. Interconnectedness. Hence, universal responsibility.

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