molly.com
Wednesday 12 July 2006
The Microcosm is the Macrocosm
The idea of how the micro affects the macro came to me during a conversation with some very bright young minds when I was 17 years old. I was attending my first year of college, and doing what so many college kids did way back then in the seventies. We would sit on the college commons during breaks, passing the peace pipe and pondering the meaning of life.
Today, that long ago conversation came back to me suddenly and with great clarity. I was watching the news which for the entirely of this current U.S. regime has become increasingly more disturbing to me. I began to cry when the Israeli situation was discussed, and a revelation that I think is both personally and globally important came to me that I want to share with you for discussion.
I am an American-born Jewish woman who was raised in a household that, despite its personal dysfunction, embraced the highest ideals found within the Jewish culture. I was taught that humankind is precious; that we owe it to the world to serve humanity; that education is the central theme of life and we must always learn and share our knowledge.
Note that my biological father, now passed, mother, and one brother held these ideals despite the fact that they were or are atheists. My other brother and I chose a more personal spiritual path that acknowledges our heritage but doesn’t limit our faith to Judaism. For those unfamiliar, this is actually very common amongst Jews, who might identify as being strongly Jewish culturally, but do not necessarily practice Judaism as a faith or even believe in a divine being.
One thing I noticed at a very young age was that, as with all religions, the ideals and the realities can be greatly divided. In my own family, the violence and emotional turmoil was extreme and often did not live up to those high ideals. That was a microcosm. A macrocosmic parallel to this is Zionism. Zionism is often associated with Jews despite the fact that not all Jews (me, for example) embrace this essentially a separatist ideology and prefer to live by other ideals, perhaps fundamentals found in the Ten Commandments. Thou shalt not murder. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against your neighbor. And critical to this post, from Leviticus in the Old Testament: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
In my daily work I exchange ideas with people worldwide. I speak to Muslims and Christians and atheists and Buddhists and Taoists and a range of other belief or non-belief systems. We are able to communicate, to come together through common ideals and solve problems related to technology and social issues surrounding the Web. If this can so easily and readily occur in smaller groups, why is exactly the opposite happening on borders, between religious groups, and of course, within and between governments?
The troubles of this entire world weigh heavily on my soul. I can’t help that; I’ve always been sensitive that way. Much of that comes from this disconnect I feel between what my core values are and how I see people, including myself, behave.
So, there I was watching the news, and those tears began to fall, and I questioned aloud to an empty room “Why, how, when will we heal?” Instantly, a voice (my own? God’s?) spoke clearly and succinctly in my head:
Fix yourself. The rest will follow.
If we as individuals are filled with rage, how can we as a world society not be enraged? I don’t think it’s possible. So we have to start with our own house, to borrow from a biblical metaphor.
In my own deep soul searching after reaching the lowest point in my life in 20 years, it is becoming clear that the reason I need to get better as a human every day has actually very little to do with me at the end of it all.
But, it has everything to do with contributing to the world’s healing. Before you think that’s profoundly egocentric, the point is that it’s not about me at all. It’s about fixing the microcosm in order to heal the macrocosm, which in turn could take care of individuals far more effectively. I believe now that we all bear this responsibility if we are to see human growth and societal advancement and not destroy ourselves, our planet and each other in the process.
Far fetched? I don’t think so. What do readers here think? What do you believe it will take to bring a better way of being about for humanity and our world?
Filed under: faith(less), society
Posted by: Molly | 8:24 am |
July 12th, 2006 at 8:59 am
This reminds me of one of Gandhi’s famous quotes:
“be the change you want to see in the world”
July 12th, 2006 at 9:00 am
“I believe now that we all bear this responsibility if we are to see human growth and societal advancement and not destroy ourselves, our planet and each other in the process.”
There are unfortunately a great many on this planet who do not accept the responsibility, who do not see human growth and societal advancement as a goal. Mankind’s single greatest task is to advance. Spiritually, scientifically, politically. There is no endpoint; we must continue to better ourselves. It’s like we were taught as kids camping, “Leave this place better than it was when you arrived.”
That’s what we must do as individuals, communities, states, nations, peoples. If we don’t advance, why are we here?
The painful situation is what to do when there are those who don’t and who may even see such growth as a threat. That’s when life becomes painful.
July 12th, 2006 at 9:01 am
Molly,
I so agree that it starts within our own hearts and minds; regardless of our beliefs, healing begins with each individual, and I do believe that “the rest will come”….
Thanks for making us think!
Send me a note when you get a chance and catch me up!
Suzanne (in Mississippi)
July 12th, 2006 at 9:21 am
Very thoughtful, Molly. Thank you.
You (and your readers) might take a look at a recent and, I think, relevant post I read today here: http://ming.tv/flemming2.php/__show_article/_a000010-001677.htm
July 12th, 2006 at 9:24 am
I’m not sure if you were aware (and if you were, maybe some of your readers weren’t), but the notion of the union of microcosm and macrocosm and changing one to affect the other goes all the way back to Socrates and Plato (see The Republic) and is a core component of Hermetic and Alchemical philosophy. They often even refer to it in the same terms.
I think one important point not to miss is that it goes both ways. Sometimes it’s easier to make changes at the level of the microcosm in order to affect the macrocosm, but other times you must work in the other direction.
July 12th, 2006 at 9:53 am
Somewhat coincidentally, Andy Rutledge has posted on a parallel line of thought which is worth a good read or two. Or three.
July 12th, 2006 at 10:48 am
You remind me the presentation that Majora Carter gave at TED (http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=majora_carter). Her presentations is very ispirational, dramatic and remind me that any sustainable change comes from the bottom up, comes from inside out and starts with one individual (micro cosmos).
July 12th, 2006 at 11:45 am
Thanks so much for writing this — I absolutely agree with you. I also believe that even when one does not think change is possible / there is not much good in the world / humans are not inherently good beings, one has to act as if such things were not true. I guess that’s just another way of “be[ing] the change you want to see in the world”. Only way it will happen: individuals living change, a little a day, every day, everyone. Always. And yes, I know how pollyanna-ish that sounds. I’m a huge cynic myself, and have a large library of books on genocide and state-sponsored terrorism at home, which I’ve read in effort to understand why people do the things they do to each other, and why and how it is that some people just say *no*; don’t go along with things that are evil or unjust or wrong. Can’t say that I’ve found any answers, but in the meantime I believe what you say above is the only sane way to live.
July 12th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
Molly,
You certainly aren’t the only one who thinks this way, thought it is a hard point to remember sometimes. Reminds me of the old Michael Jackson song Man in the Mirror”.
July 12th, 2006 at 2:21 pm
I once stated my purpose in life as follows:
“Since it is highly unlikely that I will discover the meaning of life, I will help mankind wherever I can to do so.”
That’s why I became an Information Architect; to organize stuff (online) for others, so they can be more efficient at what they do.
July 12th, 2006 at 4:00 pm
i used to have a very old small limited print edition of one of the buddha’s texts… the edition was dated 1927 if i recall… talking to the Kalamas if I remember…
basically if you live your life selfishly being bad, doing bad deeds, thinking bad thoughts and inspiring others to do the same then you have a greater likelihood of having a bad life and having bad things happen to you…
to the contrary by thinking good thoughts, doing good deeds and inspiring others to do good means you create a world in which you are less likely to come to harm…
it also said…
if there’s a heaven and you’re good great but if there’s no heaven and you’re good and you inspire others to do good then you have gained anyway…
well that’s one of the valuable little trinkets that followed me over the dark years but i passed it on as a personal gift just as it was given to me by a fellow writer and practitioner.
how does one fix the world? well with a small gift… and you can see 15 - 20 years later that small gift has contributed to a better me = a better world. The bad boy evolved.
o no i’m not as shallow as i thought molly…
July 12th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
My Dear Molly” you know me . long ago i once repeated to you , from my own experiences in war and here where they snubbed me even though i was a medic- “example is the only way to ever expect change” listen to what they say and see what they Do. Lately i have been called a traitor by those in Canada, a murderer thouth i went forth as a healer. We can only do what we can in our space, and pray that as the person who mentioned Ghandi , my personal hero. yeah. June- :be the change you want to be in the world” I have nothing to lose, ha. blessings and peace are wishes, the reality sometimes takes sacrifce and pain. I KNOW from experience. Denial is Not a river in Egypt. You are strong and your ideas and feelings reach far. I love you deeply as always , You Know. ole me.
July 13th, 2006 at 7:35 am
I totally agree with you. It’s so eawsy to point fingers ‘out there’, but harder to see the commonalities with it that lie within. As always, we have to embody that which we wish to see in others, and in the world.
“Cease to do evil, do good, purify the heart”
Buddha
July 13th, 2006 at 9:25 am
:) This southern Baptist (Alabama) yuppie female totally agrees! Think of it in terms of the old saying “One bad apple spoils the whole barrel.” Take out the apple and all is fine; or cut out (fix) the bad spot and it fixes the whole barrel.
July 13th, 2006 at 2:59 pm
Molly,
I think I might have been there for that conversation! I remember advocating Jung at the time, whose “Undiscovered Self” (written in response to Fascism) made the point you’re making: Groups are no more functional than their most dysfunctional members. All our minds unite in the Collective Unconscious, so that personal turmoil is indeed reflected in the world.
“True it is, and no lie; certain, and to depend on: That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below, to effect the wondrous operations of the One Thing.”
Shout-out to Anders from another Hermetic student.
& hey Molly, give me a call sometime! I miss you!!
JG
July 13th, 2006 at 11:09 pm
Molly, your words really it home - reminding me of some tough times I went through and the words which put me on a better path.
“Let your light shine from within.”
What I took from this is much like your comments and many of the others made within this discussion. One must first address internal struggles (and demons), conquer them and only hope that our internal successes can create positive change in others. (As compared to simply telling people what to do or how to change, which pretty much has no effect.)
Glad to see the dark clouds parting for you. I hope you enjoy the amazing sunrise which (now) follows.
Regards,
Mike
July 14th, 2006 at 11:58 am
[…] Am admiring this post I stumbled across today. It is in some way linked to this question: Why do many Lebanese have to pay for the actions of an evil few? […]
July 14th, 2006 at 12:43 pm
Totally there with you on this. Can’t figure out why something so simple yet powerful doesn’t make it into the hearts and minds of the people that it needs to.
Have you ever read any of Scott Russell Sanders? He’s a favorite of my husband and I.
July 14th, 2006 at 1:26 pm
Have you ever heard of Zelig Pliskin? I know you are only culturally jewish - but his books are so insightful and apply to all…it is worth a look
and i quote: “A positive state of mind is any state that is resourceful – happy, courageous, kind, or any other state that allows us to be productive and reach our full potential, achieve our goals and bring out the best in others,” Rabbi Pliskin elucidates. “Because if someone is in a non-resourceful state, such as sadness or anger, he is held back from being successful by his own self.”
http://www.artscroll.com/MeetAuthor_OCT00.htm
July 14th, 2006 at 1:39 pm
Thanks for your thoughtful post. I think about these things a lot too. I completely agree with you that by being better human beings, the world becomes a better place, and the chance of healing it increases greatly. It is good people that give me hope that the world has a chance of surviving. It is the caring and healing acts of individuals that stop me from crawling into a hole to keep from being completely overwhelmed and despondent about the current state of the world and the horrors that people inflict on each other every single day.
The thing that I can’t wrap my head around, and that sometimes makes me hopeless no matter what kind of self or world healing is going on, is that the bad guys so often seem to win. The people with the most power are usually the people committing the most inhuman acts to the greatest number of people. I would love to think that the people who do not agree with these practices have the power to change things through personal and political actions, but it is hard to keep the faith when the powers that be seem so large and unstoppable.
I also come from a Jewish upbringing where from the earliest age, we were taught about the holocaust - about how it must never happen again, about respecting all of humanity, and about how we are each personally responsible for making the world a better place through our thoughts and actions.
I have lived my life based on those ideals, but the parallels of current events to past events make me wonder if that is enough to heal the world. It is very hard not to wonder about the “fight fire with fire” approach, even though it seems pretty obvious that the result of all that fire will be ashes.
Perhaps there is a middle ground somewhere, but I have no idea what it may be. The thought of sinking anywhere near the level of those who are doing so much harm, even in the name of healing, seems more like contributing to the problem rather than fixing it. Oy, it makes my head spin!
July 14th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
Orthodox Christians (another faith profoundly affected by the events in the Middle East) have this view, too. Don’t evangelize first, don’t export your values first. First get your own house in order. St. Seraphim of Sarov said, “Acquire the Spirit of Peace and thousands around you will be saved.”
The Orthodox Peace Fellowship has a little page up with a few of his teachings.
Also, this strikes me as tying into Jerry Weinberg’s Law of Raspberry Jam: “The more you spread it, the thinner it gets.” He says if I buy a megaphone or write a book or buy a Super Bowl ad, no matter what I do, I don’t change the amount of impact I can have. Working the other way with that, all the impact I can have…is really on myself.
Thanks for the wonderful post.
July 14th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
It’s these thoughts that bother me too. Sometimes it can give you that kick up the arse you need to break your routines (and it has) but in my case it never lasts. Does anyone else find that they soak up the world around them… and in return the world soaks you up. If you’re not ready for it it can drain you almost completely and you become a part of it. Even the bits you hate. Right now I’m spread pretty thin, but this post still made me smile. =]
July 15th, 2006 at 2:11 am
Dang, being overwhelmed by the rush to stupidity and violence by several ethnocentric factions everywhere, caused an error from my internal hard drive . sorry, that is- Gandhi. I keep forgetting that lots of those think = Central AMerica is somewhere in Kansas and Denial is a River in Egypt. They obviously never have learned to even respect themselves let alone love in any way or form, you are correct there Molly dear. take care. ole me.
July 15th, 2006 at 2:22 am
Does it come down to bad or good OR wrong or write? Fear is the force unkown driving all of the upheaval in the world. It starts as a micro then spreads to macro etc…
Molly you have some great insight. What you stated about beginning with yourself is true.
We who are on the internet are becoming transparent that is to say we do not judge by color, religion or identity. We simply continue adding, learning, finding an answer and then adding to it again.
Everybody in the world is connected to this organic inernet either directly or indirectly. Our souls are reaching out to understand and connect with everyone with no fear. Everyday I can feel my fear subsiding from before. Everyday I comment, I publish, I ask, I contribute, I read, listen, look etc… as everyone else.
We are all entering a beautiful new world, a collective conciousness is being born and when something is born it hurts sometimes.
Thank you for the wonderful post Molly.
July 15th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Well spoken.
July 21st, 2006 at 7:36 am
I think it would takes us halting progress, on an evolutionary scale, to fix anything. I mean really, everything balances out to 0 and the stellar success of some people speaks more about a person’s ability to let other aspects of their life go (as well as concealing it), than someone having more total output than another. Life is about prioritization, we all have roughly equivilent hardware… and what produces all the frustration in the world a peorson’s priorities disconnection to those around them.
The solution, though, is total ideological conformity, which I just could not cope with. I’m very empathetic to my surroundings, but I have grown to feel that the pace of our progress and success as a species, is directly proportional to the amount of suffering in the world, and this delta is exactly what allowed us to evolve to our current level of self-awareness. Is this a bad thing? I really can’t say… But what I’m even less sure about is that is a situation that can be “fixed” without intrinsicly changing what it means to be human.
I’m sure we can stabilize the suffering, but I don’t think it can be eliminated… and when it really comes down to it, it has unfortunately been stabilized right on top of people who are powerless in many areas of the world, so that ‘developed nations’ (or ‘first world’ or whatever the accepted lexicon is) can enjoy our relative stability. So we’re basically all selfish, greedy and self-loathing… sounds about right
August 21st, 2008 at 3:37 pm
[…] I don’t know. I can’t speak for Nancy, or anyone else but myself. But I feel the need to reiterate the point Belledame has made again and again: own your shit. You may have negative perceptions of all manner of things, based on negative experiences, abuse, or other assorted shittiness. But instead of trying to change the world to fit your complex, why not deal with what’s going on with you? Because, here’s a secret: no matter how much the world around you changes, you won’t be happy until you confront your issues and work through them. Molly had a good post about this today, actually. As she says, “It’s about fixing the microcosm in order to heal the macrocosm.” […]
December 25th, 2008 at 4:06 am
да,но это еще и не все…
December 25th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
“Спасибо за такой пост”