Yes, the conflict that rages within
is an integral part of all of us. It is the war between good and bad, right and wrong, hate or love, mercy or vengeance, want and need, lust and relationship and much more. It starts the very moment we open our eyes and enter this world and it continues until the day we finally close those eyes and leave this world. Those who remain are left to deal with our influences.
Of course when we are born conflict enters on a personal note through our body needs and wants. Food, I am hungry, feed me, I am dirty change me, or just plain put me down and leave me alone. Yes, we impact others by our demands. We cry, yell, annoy, interrupt or whatever else those of us who have raised babies understand. We care not about others we only care about us.
Yes, we recognize just what is required through our inner self. Of course as we get older we shape those needs and wants via our senses, opinions, desires, environment, influences, education and outside impacts. It is now that the true war begins not only with ourselves but also with every single being we come to interact with. Some of those interactions are good and some are bad.
The bottom line we are consistently at war within and it is a consistent and constant battle. Now this war relates to the choices one makes. It could be said it is the path you chose. Now if you want try this self-awareness example about what I am talking about do this. You see we are a creature of senses and when those senses are aroused we react, good or bad or in anyway we chose. Find a comfortable place to relax. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and allow yourself to get into a peaceful mood. Now very carefully touch your face all about while your eyes are closed. Think about what you are touching, listen for sounds all about. Allow your mind, your inner being to take control. You will see that the real YOU is inside. You are now experiencing the real you. The rest is your exterior being. That is what you care to present, show, reveal. But, that inner being is the real you is in effect your intellect, your spiritual being. That is who you are.
Now we are certainly quick to condemn those who watch porn, or when we see someone watching or looking at a scantily clad or revealing person on the beach, or two gays holding hands or kissing. We can chastise those scantily clad but through our own vanity, desire, inner need dress to lure the look, the glance and perhaps the meeting. The world is full or the vanity and things to enhance to "me". It speaks very exactly of our inner needs.
Yes, our outer being most likely demonstrates that which we have installed as part of our shield, that book cover we show to all and which demonstrates that which we accept as right and perceive as acceptable by those whom we want to accept us. That which we have been taught, instructed and accepted as being right.
I did not say it is right, I just said we accepted as right. To that end many just might disagree and provide an alternative argument. It all gets back to who is right and who is wrong?
So, that we project outwardly might be acceptance, it can also be anger or disgust, it could be nothing at all and non- interest. Yet, all the while we may maintain an entirely different inner view. That outward reaction is there as we have natured it through what I mentioned above. It can be the facade we have established for protection. It does not say that you do not harbor the same desires or do the very things or think of the very same fantasy you outwardly profess disgust for. How may times the priest, minister, rabbi or other religious, the teacher, the scoutmaster, etc, etc, etc. No all it says is you demonstrated you are a part of the majority that accepts one way or the other. As I stated above it is part of our inner need for acceptance, to be part of something, to be important, accepted member of the majority or a group or even a movement or ideology or to filol a void.
As I mentioned above, who is to say what is right or wrong? We all dream, fantasize, want, need, seek, and covet. It is however, the disciplines and controls, the safety mechanisms that we have set, accepted and installed that keep us on the path and which we perceive as good, verses that of bad. Well that is where society as a whole emerges. Society is the collective thoughts of many which are translated into laws, norms, traditions, etc. They are the outer forces or controls that we as a majority put into place to stop, warn, and allow for what is perceived as good for all of us. That is why conflict when you have the breaking or abuse of those norms which have been established for the good of the whole. It matters not what your inner being thinks, desires or wants, it is what society, the group, the majority has established as norms and acceptable. Break them and there is a price to pay, no one greater then the whole. This is what creates tranquility, peace, security, safety, and society and reduce separation and conflict. Once we cross the line and break the law for one, a group and ideology and want to impose that and our will and philosophy on all without the acceptance of all we can expect anger, conflict or worse.
Our inner self should be open to the truth, the facts, the very roots of the entire issue and not selectively impose our thoughts while eliminating all others as bad, wrong, non important.
So like the scowl or warning we put on our face that says very explicitly don't get near me stay away and makes a precise statement, or when you role your eyes, make a facial or body gesture you are making a statement. You see our inner being controls that which we show on our outer being, it is called non verbal communication or body language, we tend to not see this war raging in each on the outside of that person and it is a major stumbling block for unity. Many in their interactions key these repsonses, rightly or wrongly they draw a conclusion. We want to be right so we impose out views on everyone else. In my opinion I believe most people and I are guilty of this.
It goes to the heart of religion, church, business, government, nations and it goes out to all everywhere. What is acceptable for one society may not be for others. Therefore tolerance must always be part of the war within and understanding and listening the tool for peace, acceptance, friendship. Yet, when we challenge that society by breaking its law, challenging its established and accepted norms or imposingf what we deam appropriate then just who are the real problem makers? It matters not in whose name you come, under what authority, quoting whatever religious text you want, you are imposing your will upon others.
In my opinion this sows the roots for discord, conflict and potentially war.
Yet, when we all come to understand that we are at all at war within and that this same battle rages in us all. That it is a war that is continual and it is a war of the body verses the soul, good verses bad, then we can begin to understand others. Perhaps then we can take command of the body and impose command from the soul. When we no longer want to use or abuse another, exploit or take, impose or hurt on any other, but we are satisfied with our existence, our being, our situation, our environment then all the exterior materialistic, negative influences of the "me" becomes meaningless, non important or no real value.
It is not that we all cannot dream or should not dream, but we can dream in a way that respects each of us, that considers each persons inner being, who we are as individuals and who we have defined as our society.
When we can sit down and say this is what I believe and we will find that many of us do not think the same. We may have similar thoughts, exacting thoughts or accepting thoughts but our perceptions are as varied as the grains of sand or drops of water in the sea.
No man is our true enemy just the battle that rages within. This is the battle that must be won by all. The attack, which may have been fostered upon a persons inner being by an external force or circumstance or ideology or demand is the cause, which will generate the effect. Therefore respect for uniqueness, establishment and maintenance of our societies laws, traditions, its tolerances and above all respect for diverse views will lead not to judgment or condemnation but acceptance as unique beings but much more. It will lead to perhaps an understanding that while all the same we are all at war within and it takes effort to maintain peace over that inner war and that which we all understand and seek as good. Perhaps from that we can finally have reconciliation and peace?
Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2007, Copyright 2007 Robert Melaccio
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