Warfare is still caused by the ego. When we feel a sense of separation, there is a sense of lack, which creates an urge to accumulate wealth and power. On a group level, that translates into a desire to accumulate other people’s territory and possessions. A strong ego also reduces the ability to empathize with others, which makes it easier to ‘other’ them – to convince ourselves that they are different to us, members of a group which doesn’t deserve our morality. We can objectify groups of people, which makes it possible to mistreat and even kill them.

In order to transcend warfare, we have to transcend any notion of group identity. We need to identify simply as human beings – even better, as spiritual beings. We are citizens of the cosmos, not members of different countries, religions, or ethnic groups. We are one the same, both physically and spiritually.

BEYOND WAR

The human race has no future 
unless we transcend our tribal identities 
and uncover our deep essence
of empathy and love.

The human race has no future 
unless we’re willing to let go 
of the history that defines us
the bitterness that inflames us
the beliefs that compete for truth 
with the beliefs of millions of others
and the bonds that unite as a tribe
but separate us from everyone else.

The human race won’t survive
unless forgiveness heals our ancient wounds 
and empathy flows across otherness  
and we sense a shared space of spirit 
beyond our surface separateness. 

We’ll have to let go of our beliefs
and all the certainty they provide.
We’ll have to relinquish our pride 
and accept that we’re not superior to others.
We’ll have to give up our truth 
and accept that there are many truths.

We can preserve our traditions, value our culture
without letting them define us. 
We can cherish our personalities, nurture our independence 
without becoming separate entities.

Leave your tribe quietly, in the middle of the night
and slip over the border, to start a new life 
without nationality or religion
as a citizen of the cosmos.

Surrender your narrow tribal self 
for a deeper and wider identity 
like an animal who leaves a garden, with high thick walls
to wander through an endless open plain.

At first you might feel exposed, even overwhelmed 
and long for the safety of the garden.
But soon you’re feel the ground of spirit 
firm and deep beneath you. 
Soon you’ll sense your bond with the souls of others 
and with the soul of the world.

You’ll grow to love the mystery
of not knowing and not believing.
The whole world will become your home.
The whole human race will be your kin.  

Then the illusion of our distinctions will fade.
The discord of our divisions will heal
and from the harmony of our shared essence
new peace will arise and pervade the world.

Dr. Steve Taylor