“All our knowledge merely helps us to die a more painful death than animals that know nothing.” ~ Maurice Maeterlinck
Humans have great capacity for good, for love, for incredible acts of valor and courage; yet the friction remains. Our race also has the unyielding capacity for horror. Our consciousness makes us immortal; a consciousness that the Gods of the Greek culture were envious of. A man is immortal, and when he dies he becomes something else. When Gods die, they become Oblivion… Here, in this sphere of oblivion, we see what human beings have become.
The Bhagavad Gita; an ancient philosophical Sanscrit Hindu teaching is one of mention. This scripture chronicles a meeting, a conversation between a prince and Krishna. After an interview upon successfully creating and witnessing the first testing of the Atomic bomb in 1945, Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer–the hand in charge of creating the weapon–referred to the Bhagavad Gita… His words were soft and desperate, despite his assured tone. He had tears in his eyes and an audible lump in his throat:
“WE all knew the world would never be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remember the line from the Hindu scripture the Bhagavad Gita… Vishnu is trying to persuade the prince that he should do his duty and impress him. He then takes on his multi-armed form and says:”
“Now I am become Death, the Destroyer of worlds.”
I understand those who cried, I understand those who were silent, and I fully understand Dr. Oppenheimer’s tears and sorrow as he witnessed for the first time what could be the undoing of humanity, and the Earth. What I do not understand are the thoughts of those who laughed at such a profound display of destruction and inhumanity. What ice-cold grip on the heart is this? It is such a sadness to know that humans are capable of total madness, and laugh in the face of the devastation that they can create.
For the first time in recorded history, human beings were able to completely destroy the very cities that they built… and could do so within seconds. And this is done by separating something smaller than a human hair, by separating the very building blocks of life.
Perhaps Dr. Oppenheimer didn’t realize the magnitude of his experiment, or perhaps he did.. Regardless, I also know the feeling of causing death by accident.
I remember a jaunt through the woods as a pre-teen to catch squirrels, I was maybe 13 or so. The summer growth was abundant, greenery encroached the trail to the pond. I had my BB gun and my pocket knife as usual while walking. As I neared the shortest crossing point across the creek I accidentally hit the trigger… to my left a small tree frog jumped, and squealed out in agony. I’ll never forget the sound.. As the steel ball entered his body, the frog “Eeeped” at such a loud pitch. He landed right in front of me, convulsing, limbs frantically moving in a chaotic spasm. He died while his small chest and belly heaved, until it finally stopped. I remember the sound of that death, I hear it still today.. and I remember I was sorry for such a careless act. But why did I instinctively have this empathy?
Death is the same, no matter how it happens. We’ll all feel the sword, in one way or another… The worst is, the willingness to kill, the insane urge to hurt another living creature is alive within the human being. We have the power to destroy this entire planet… and it only takes one person to kindle the fire… The only thing that separates us from totally destroying ourselves is the love we all have within… To understand that we can change is only the beginning… Changing is the task.
I’ll not believe that humans live within a sphere of Oblivion, I’ll believe that they can see the frog, and feel sorry for what they do. I’ll believe that they realize that death is the destroyer of worlds, and that anybody can easily become this destroyer. I’ll believe that what is in the heart is greater than anything.. and that immortality is a soul looking to his father for help.
Please spread peace.. Love is the answer.
HeartSphere 
Thank you for your expression. Yes, love most certainly is the answer. It is the answer to all questions. And if I find myself struggling to love THAT, I know all I have to do is just love something. Yes, I can do that. Love is always present. Peace and love xox
Indeed! Very true!
I believe that we as a species have made many errors from our own collective immaturity and ignorance, and are continually evolving to the place where more balance is attained, and we’re able to slow down and heal cycles of violence that have been mounting over generations of conflict and strife.
I agree that we are more than the inheritors of such a legacy of pain, but we will likely have to be more and more aware of that part of our reality to heal ourselves and each other effectively…great post!
I agree with this more than you know.. very eloquently stated.. Thank you 🙂
“Death is the same, no matter how it happens. We’ll all feel the sword, in one way or another… The worst is, the willingness to kill, the insane urge to hurt another living creature is alive within the human being.” You are very correct!
in my piece called “the artist called war” I write:
“….The artist, unwavering and dissatisfied
Conjured by the darkness of human pride,
Peace and love, his art deprive.
While hatred, in each heart reside….”
Death truly is the same no matter the circumstance, but without peace and LOVE humanity leaves the gate wide open for the unwanted and yet certain visitor.
Very well stated, thank you!
Very nice blog, I can relate….In a very painful way….Peace Jaz
Thank you 🙂
A beautiful post, brother…. well said. 🙂
Thank you sir!
Reblogged this on Ebb & Flow.
Incredible post Jeremiah! Truth that vibrates at our very core and with extreme for those of us who have chosen to awaken and ascend vibrationally and put forth as much love as possible at such a curial time.
In correlation with the words of Oakritchie, we will need to heal ourselves and each other effectively, and are doing so at a more accelerated rate then ever. How? Because of souls like yourself bringing awareness, giving love and light to its max.
Shine on… And thank you 🙂
♥ Love and light ♥
~ Jennifer
Very true and thank you.. In recent days I do sense a quickening of sorts, as forces seem to be colliding all around. I hope more will awaken.
I too believe that we need to focus on love. I have faith that the majority of us live through love and we see the potential in all. Good and bad. I will never forget the feeling of killing something, the profound sense of regret, and sorrow. I was running barefoot…also in my teens, camping. Playing freeze tag, I ran from my impending capture and while running I stepped fully onto a small frog. Barefoot, I felt him squish between my toes…I felt his death throughout my whole body. This is a feeling I will never forget…ever.
Thank you for sharing…
I love your Enteries, and your insight.
knowthespehre,
You are an inspiration to many. I’m nominating you for the Inspiring Blogger Award. If you want to accept, link back to firsttimerecords.wordpress.com, post seven things about yourself and nominate fifteen other blogs for the award.
All the best,
Tom
Reblogged this on snee made me do it and commented:
I really dig this post, and of course…love his closing line.
Peace and Love back at you.
Reblogged.
Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Glad to have you back.
Wonderful message. Thank you,
Very intriguing and thoughtful message!
That’s mankind for you whose heart is ‘desperately wicked’. Those who destroy are always happy and laugh doing what they know best.