Author: Sukh

After hearing Gaby’s message today, I think of all the things that could use a little improvement on our tiny little planet. Hearing of Chiapas, Kosovo and Africa… speaking of Water, India, and HIV all in the span of 1 hour makes me reflect on how fragile it all is. Here we are, these “master” human beings, with the power to alter the very landscape that brought us life, and we still cannot find ways to adequately care for our own kind… let alone other species.

I think about how many doors still need opening. What a beast of a world we live in. I recently read in a National Geographic issue that 27 million of the world’s population currently lives in slavery, most of them sex slaves in Asian countries. 1 billion of the world’s population lacks access to safe drinking water. 1 billion live on less than a $1 a day… and of course 1 in five people in South Africa are effected with HIV. I wish these were just numbers… but the unfortunate thing is that these are not numbers, these are real people. Real people like you and me, with their own hopes, desires, flaws, thoughts and families. They too have Thursday evenings. They too have 24 hours each day. They too wake up to the sun and fall asleep to the stars.

And I am thankful… to be living right here in Orange County, for the rest of the world cannot change if we cannot change. Alfred, Mike, Anshul and myself went to watch an Indian movie on Tuesday. A scene with a dance number performed on the front of the American flag caught my attention. I began to realize how deep of an infatuation the rest of the world has for this country. They wear our jeans, buy our hamburgers, and fall in love with our celebrities. American fans exist in all corners of the world… they are outside Mecca, outside the Taj Mahal, and in South Africa. Everybody wants to be an American. I think of how much “power” we have. We buy bombs, they buy bombs. We drive nice cars, they want nice cars. We send a man to the moon, they send a man to the moon. We are the older brothers of the entire planet. Sometimes I wonder how amazing it would be if America could actively begin to model Compassion. It is almost as if the “love” revolution would have to begin here for it to actually have a global impact. Only we have the power to change the world.

There are a few families in India that have heard about Be The Cause and what we are about. Some of them have visited the US and they continue to be shocked by what we do. Rightfully so, it is shocking… a community of compassionate minded folks actually exists here. I know that we all could be busy with different tasks, busy with different goals, busy with different lives. I believe that it is in our busiest of moments, when we are working towards the greater good of all life, that we will realize our greatest purpose of existence.

Thanks for making the difference you all make in this beautiful country: A lot of doors still to unlock. It is a beautiful planet we live on, and that is why we must work.

Big thanks to Shaheda’s family for being such amazing hosts!!! More meetings to come I hope. Next time I get first dibs on washing dishes.

In the deeper search for keys that unlock doors to hearts,
Yours,
Sukh

… Taken from an electronic interchange between three friends discussing the role of America and Islamic Terrorist Groups in shaping the violent world we live in.

I appreciate honesty and appreciate being informed of where we stand as a global society. Sometimes in my world, I do believe that human beings are becoming more compassionate with one another… and that change is not only happening around me, but within me. Since I have acknowledged this path, I have met the most incredible men and women dedicated to tackling the greatest challenge of our time. I revere these individuals as my heroes. Sometimes I get so deep in my work – that I forget how the rest of the world thinks. I appreciate the reminders.

I believe that if any mass change will occur – it will have to begin here, with me. The passion for change will have to come from individuals who do have the freedom and the liberty to demand progress. As you mentioned, the oppressed, the repressed, and the naive will have little opportunity to stand beyond their walls and ask for a new fortress. It is us, those who have the financial freedom, those who have tasted social freedom that will be able to “fix” things for the rest. It must begin in the United States – what other country is in a position to gather its technological, its financial, and its political influence to offer assistance to the rest of the world. Currently we surpass every other county in military expenditures by at least 6.5 times. Our sphere of influence is so strong that we have the power to persuade even the United Nations to take action on our behalf. Some say that every person on the planet should have the right to vote for the president of the United States!

When will we realize the awesome potential of our power? When will we use this power to eradicate poverty, and hunger? When will we utilize this power to create a long term path towards compassion and good will for all humankind?

The current process of waging war has not worked since the beginning of time. What makes us think that it will work now? How many more youngsters do we need to orphan? And when these youngsters grow up to be the new leaders for new terrorist organizations, will we realize the error of our ways or will we continue to wage endless battles while the IMF and the World Bank continue to dish out loans for military expenditures.

But change is not only needed abroad. It is also needed at home. An executive at a Global Firm makes over 400 times more than someone making minimum wage – in this country. This is not an America v.s. A Particular Religion issue – this is how we value money over equality. Enron, Qualcomm and numerous other company executives are just the best of breed in a society that values the greed of the individual over the happiness of all.

All these issues result for one illusion. The belief that we are somehow separate from our environments… but that is a deeper discussion on life itself. Study a piece of paper and see if you can see the clouds. A piece of paper can be traced to wood – to a tree – to the rain – to the cloud. As such, every being and every action is part of an intricate web of cause and effect. The Sun, the Moon, the Clouds, the Plants, the Ocean all represent this peaceful intricate co-existence. Every life form is dedicated to this peaceful co-existence. Human Kind, being the intelligent being that it is, could be in a position to protect and enjoy this co-existence… we are however, the only species set out to destroy.

It starts with each individual. Placing blame on other groups will not lead to change – it will only lead to the escalation of commitment. We must realize that the change is needed within. Why do we have this orgiastic need to watch violence and engage in violent behavior. Every thought, word and deed is somehow layered with this need. It controls our topics of debate, the televisions shows we watch, how we talk to our friends. It exists in the Islamic Terrorists, it exists in our Government, it exists in you, and in me. If we cannot control that urge in ourselves – how can we set the example for the rest of the world. The enemy is not any specific group, or any specific religion – the enemy is hate… and it exists within us all.

I apologize if my views or sentiments bother anyone – I am one man among millions that are working to make a difference. I know that for some of us this is entertainment or an academic Lose Weight Exercise where we experience much joy in the back and forth debates of why the world is the way it is – to me it is life’s purpose, it is ecstasy.

“It seems that we have an impressive understanding of the past yet very little vision for the future.”

Peace to you, both my brothers. I love you unconditionally, I love you equally.

— Chughzy