In his book *The Men Who Stare at Goats *(which inspired the film of the same name) Jon Ronson refers to the studies of American soldiers of the Second World War done by General S.L.A Marshall which found that only 15-20% soldiers actually shoot to kill. The rest either fire high or do not shoot at all.
Of those who did shoot to kill 98% were later found to be ‘deeply traumatized’ leading to the conclusion that “there is something about continuous, inescapable combat which will drive 98% of all men insane, and the other 2% were crazy when they got there” (Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman of the Killology Research Group).Much of our social and political culture, the norms, traditions and practices, has been the result of man’s ego. They reflect the egoistic desires, ambitions and appetites of people who seek external power and even domination over others. This is true of all our institutions - political, social, educational and religious.
We never feel so good as when we feel love. This is because love is our true essence, our true nature. We are created from love, and love is who we are as well as what we are meant to be doing.
When we love - ourselves and others - we feel a deep and abiding peace, security and connection with all life that gives rise to a feeling that anything is possible.
Love threatens ego because the ego exists in separation and lovelessness. Ego will do anything to keep love at bay. That’s why some older cultures shunned outward expression of love and affection. The very foundations of those cultures were in war, domination and unquestionable power.
Love is the key to the Universe. The trick in this world of all the seeming opposites of love is to stay true to our true nature. The trick question that lies at the root of all our human experience is to find love in seeming lovelessness.
When we think, speak or act in ways that are inconsistent with our true nature the resulting fear, attack, guilt, anger and resentment lead us to feel a frightening sense of separation from all life. Nothing seems easy, problems seem insolvable, our individual and collective prospects seem hopeless and, if we stay on this path, we either lose our ‘minds’ or we lose the will to live altogether.
Despite the increasing incidence of mental health issues, suicide and the enormous rising tide of depression that is overwhelming our societies there is a humanizing voice gradually infiltrating our institutions. Slowly we are beginning to see that what we thought was sane behavior and policy is seen, in fact, to be utter insanity.
In the words of the new song by the Plain White t’s, let’s “swing to the rhythm of love” where all our tears will dry and, ultimately, subside.
