Page 39 - Age of Peace Goodword.indd

The Age of Peace

everyone. In this way, people planted a garden of civilization,
the fruit of which we are now reaping. We thus owe a debt to
the whole of humanity.

This is the true basis of universal fraternity. ‘Love your
neighbour’ is a good formula. But, there has to be a rational
basis upon which this principle is followed in actual life. Man is
a justification-seeking animal. He requires a rationale for every
action, even including that of having love and compassion for
others. It is the above concept of the evolution of civilization
that provides a strong basis for such a way of thinking.

A person would always try to avoid fighting against his
parents, because he knows the contribution his parents have
made to his life. People are aware of the contribution made by
their parents, but they are unaware of the contribution of the
greater humanity.
If they were to become aware of the contribution of
humanity, they would love humanity more than they loved
their parents, and would never take humanity as their rival.
It is the sense of rivalry with others that leads to violence.
If this rivalry ceased to exist, then violence would never be
resorted to.

If people were to become aware of the contribution of
humanity, they would love humanity more than they loved
their parents, and would never take humanity as their rival.

Since man is a justification-seeking animal, without
justification he does not do anything. If people were aware
of the historical contribution of humanity to their lives, it
would serve as a justification and they would never engage in
rivalry with others. Instead, they would follow the principle

38