My point is, transcendence and inclusion seem to be the mode of the human race. Do you think that people are stuck in a spiritual quagmire of filth and decay or that people will one day, inevitably, be a peaceful and accepting community worldwide? Let me know; I'm interested. Thanks.

People behave according to what they've been taught. Until we teach everyone "Peace & Love", we will still have hatred and war. Some individuals can rise above the quagmire, but usually because they've learned to think for themselves.

Buddhists believe that we incarnate on earth to experience the full range of life's pleasures and treasures as well as it's selfishness, greed, hatreds etc., and to rise above these base desires. We continue to reincarnate over and over until we get it right.

If that is the case, then we shall probably never find that paradise on this planet, for there is another place for us to go to experience that. This is also the Judeo/Christian/Islamic belief. That is why no one bothers to try to make this place a paradise, since it lies elsewhere.

I suppose it would require all these "dead" saints (Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, etc.) to reappear in person and perform amazing miracles before people will start changing their belief system to allow for us all to be "saved" while still alive on this planet.

I do believe that we have it within our power to bring about paradise, wherever we are. We just need to "realize" it. But since there will always be those who are jealous and don't understand, people will be crucified one way or another for believing in the power of the human spirit.

Raising consciousness is an ongoing process for everyone on the planet. Fortunately we now have the power to do great deeds, unlike ever before. Thanks to our constantly improving communications system, we can learn about and aid others in their time of need. Instead of just helping our "neighbor" next door, we can now help our "neighbors" wherever they may be on this ever shrinking planet. We all live on the same block now, and what one does affects everyone else.

So there is definitely a growing potential for humanity to evolve beyond our limited self-imposed boundaries, and embrace our divine potential and save our race and planet from the destruction that is looming. That should be our first great task in the New Enlightenment. Then we can focus on obliterating hunger, disease, and war from our daily lives. Then we can remove intolerance, racism, fascism, pollution, poverty and inequality from our midst. And then, and only then can we aspire to be something greater than the caretakers of this fragile ball in space, and look to the stars to find our truly awesome potential....

May we one day have peace,
The Old Hippy