“For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love.” ~ Pythagoras, Pre-Socratic Greek Philosopher
There is a lot of new research coming out about how we, as humans, are wired for empathy. We are literally wired to feel others as if it was us. Once you understand this, you will want to demand it being taught in schools. It is lack of empathy that makes us humans act cruel. And lack of presence that has us act out. It is unwillingness to feel that makes us numb. When we are numb – it does not hurt to hurt others. Images can certainly work to awaken empathy.
and here a SUPER cool program that can be implemented in ANY school
It will lead to more empathy in our children and soon to be adults.
the dark and the light
both must be addressed
enlightenment and shadow
the attic and the basement
Dr. Wahne Carr
Addendum November 27: On the danger of staying numb:
How do we live with the fact that we are destroying our world? Because of social taboos, despair at the state of our world and fear for our future are rarely acknowledged or expressed directly. The suppression of despair, like that of any deep recurring response, contributes to the numbing of the psyche. Expressions of anguish or outrage are muted, deadened as if a nerve had been cut. This refusal to feel impoverishes our emotional and sensory life. We create diversions for ourselves as individuals and as nations in the fights we pick, the aims we pursue, and the stuff we buy.
From http://www.tricycle.com/earth-touching/greatest-danger
Dare to Feel
Loving This:
Daring to feel this (some graphic images):
At some point, living in denial becomes a non-option
Here is one link to studies on empathy another link on empathy