How can I...

How can I be happy when I know people are suffering?  That is a question I ask myself all of the time.  Well, I used to, but then since I knew the only answer that I would except was "I can't", I stopped asking.  I'm not sure how people do it.

I remember as a kid, they used to have those long shows about people starving in Africa.  They would show the kids with flies flying around them.  The people had distended bellies, which made them seem like they wouldn't be starving, until someone explained to me what a distended belly actually implies.  I wasn't sure how people could watch that show or even have knowledge of what was going on and yet go about their daily lives.

But, I eventually realized that that is the only thing one can do.  Everyone can not do everything.  For example, in the human body, not all organs can be the brain or the heart.  So by going about ones life, one helps the common good.  By focusing on the job at hand, one can produce, which in the long run will raise up civilization, which will then help everyone.  A rising tide lifts all boats!  The cells in the feet, while being constantly stepped on, get the brain to where it is going!

That was that I learned.  That is how people deal with it.  Well, that and people have the ability to shut out stuff like that.  The human mind can only hold so much and it tends to forget things.  The more painful it is, the more it is forgotten.  If it weren't so, humans would collapse into a quivering pool of jello will all of the bad stuff that they would be aware of, stuff that would be haunting them all day and all night...

But, what if you couldn't forget?  What if everything was just as fresh as the day it happened?  What if those memories ran through your mind constantly?  How could you enjoy life with the constant knowledge that others are suffering?  Can you really enjoy a steak knowing that people have nothing to eat?  Talk about the finer points of this meal vs that meal, when people are starving?  Relax in the sun on a picnic knowing that people are freezing?  I guess people do, and that is what makes us human.  That is what allows us to survive as a species.  So, I guess all species must be able to do this.

I know for me, on a personal note in this new year, it haunts me.  All of the suffering that I become aware of stays with me.  I think Wayne Dyer talks about never letting negative thoughts into ones mind, because they will be there forever, and he is correct.  Still, once the cat is out of the bag, one can image that people are suffering, even if one doesn't personally know someone is.  But, I'll say this, oneself being unhappy will not easy the pain or suffering of those who are unhappy.  So, logically, there is no reason to be unhappy for someone else's suffering - either help if you can or ignore it.  And if logic was actually able to shut off feelings, this would be a much different world - Vulcan.

After all of that, there is one thing that is wrong with all of that.  It is just shifting the focus to solve the problem, which if one can do makes all of the difference.  The actual question I should be answering is:  How can I be suffering when I know people are happy?  But that one seems to be a tougher one to live by.

The Edward

PS  I also guess religion and philosophy help people, or better stated, the reason that religion and philosophy exist.  Karma:  So and so is suffering, therefore they must deserve it.  Religion:  they are not god's people, so he is smiting them.  Or, they lived a righteous life and god is taking them home so that their suffering ends.  New Age:  People are responsible for their own lives - they must have chosen to suffer for some reason.  Zen:  There is no...   Mine:  Others are suffering, so therefore I ought to be suffering too.

All of them are just beliefs with no logical basis.  And with a belief, one can easily dismiss things.  "Does this situation fall under my beliefs?  Check.  Time to move on to fun stuff!"

Summary (I know, a summary in the PS?!  Madness!):  I guess Einstein was correct, the most important question one can ask is, do I believe the Universe to be hostile or friendly?  Belief is the most important force in ones Universe!