At the root of the greatest problems in the world today is an illusion of disconnection.
A baby is conceived and matures within the body of her mother, and even after the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, she does not soon see herself as separate from her mother or the rest of the world. Sometime in toddlerhood, she conceives an evolving separate self, and the idea of a small and separate ego is reinforced by society.
We come to recognize differences and separateness from others, and the rift between us grows deeper and wider with age. Though we long to belong, our identification with gender, race, class and social groups serve to separate us further from others outside our false boundaries.
Through this socialization of divisions, we lose our natural sense of connection to our world, all life and humankind. We lose our natural care and concern for our neighbours next door, across town and around the world.
If we keep to ourselves and look after only our own, with leaders only concerned with the welfare of their own countries and humankind taking what it wants without regard for the wellbeing of all life on this planet, we will never solve the greatest challenges of our world.
On a personal level, we suffer anxiety (seeing ourselves as small and ineffective against our situation), depression (seeing all around us as negative) and anger (seeing the need to strike out against the enemy outside ourselves). When we see our true selves as bigger than our small vulnerable selves and connected to a larger whole and a network that can support us, we can find peace.
On the interpersonal level, we conflict when our individual needs and desires are at odds with others; and we can abuse others physically, emotionally and financially when we fail to respect the inherent value and humanity in all for whom we share responsibility.
On the social level, we have poverty, hunger and crime, when we assume that the needs of others are less important than our own – when some think they are entitled or empowered to take what they can and fail to see that we must give as much back.
On the international level, there is slavery, terrorism, genocide and war, when we see ourselves as different, better than or less than – when we fail to see our shared humanity and equality and the desperate need for us to find a way to live together.
And on the global level, humankind abuses all forms of life, stripping the resources of our planet and allowing hunger to persist when there is enough to share. The problems of the world cannot be solved with countries, communities, corporations and individuals acting separately in pursuit of their own needs. They can only be solved with a global awakening, and this must begin in each of us.
Davidicus Wong is a family physician.
