Question: If I perceive the world not within myself, but outside of me, should I try to physically influence it because there are a vast number of actions available?

Answer: No. I should only help the world, that is, correct my reflection outside of me. In doing so, I am correcting myself.

The thing is, when it exists outside of me, it becomes more apparent to me what needs to be corrected. But ultimately, I should only correct myself. That is the difference between Eastern and Western philosophies.

There are two worldviews: I correct the world, subordinate it to me, or I correct myself, and in doing so, the world around me is corrected in my perception. These two orientations are completely opposite.

Eastern philosophy (Chinese, Indian, etc.) is closer to the truth and aligns us with the idea that we need to change ourselves. That is why in ancient Chinese medicine doctors were paid for keeping their patients healthy, not when they were sick. And if a person committed a crime, he had to be executed or hanged in front of everyone.

The West is horrified by this. And the East says, “Why? We are thus correcting the world so that others will not do that. And you encourage the opposite.” There is deep discord between the two approaches. And it applies not only to medicine or an attitude to a person, but to the worldview in general, to everything.

Therefore, look at how America, Europe, and Russia behave: “We need to assert ourselves in such a way that others are warned off. We will prove it! We will win!” and so on. This perspective stems from an incorrect worldview. And as a result, all these countries eventually lose.

This incorrect approach is deeply ingrained in people. And until they change their worldview, until they understand that they need to change themselves and not the world, they will suffer tremendously.
[314012]
From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. There are Only Scoundrels Around Me” 5/14/11

Related Material:
Change Yourself and the World Will Change
Switching the Channels of Your Own Perception
Shifting From Illusion To True Perception

Filed under: Crisis, Globalization, Perception | Add Comment →