by Shahjahan Siraj

Created on: August 13, 2008   Last Updated: August 15, 2008

"When I remember the faces of those starving street children, I cannot eat anymore. I cannot stop my tears when I walk along the street of slum near the Sheraton Hotel. They eat only 2 times a day. With necked feet they play, run and sell flowers during traffic jams in Kazi Nazrul Avenue, but they always smile" This testimony of Tunoda, a Japanese volunteer working in Bangladesh touched my consciousness. I asked her, "What is your opinion about the cause of these situations?" She said, "I don't know, but I am sure it is the result of conflict and social imbalance in Bangladesh."

After hearing this simple statement, I faced the struggles and conflict I see around me. I found myself in an invisible war. What a catastrophic this war is! We can't see, but are suffering every moment. Conflicts in our family, school, work place and in politics are happening in various ways. Because of conflicts we are harassed with dwell desires, live with fears, anxieties, resentments, guilt, anger and understanding.

In ancient times, human beings were just like animals because of unconsciousness, lack of education, information, self-control and understanding. But what is going on now? We are civilized; have most powerful communication tools Internet, tremendous success in science and technology and global peace building organizations the UN. Why can we not be establishing our ultimate goal peace and happiness? To express my opinion on the cause and solution of suffering, I would like to concentrate on a core point.

Present modern era is directly or indirectly influenced by 19th century's Social Darwinism, led by Herbert Spencer who claimed, conflict in human society is natural.' According to Social Darwinists "The survival of the fittest" that is process of natural selection' is also relevant in human society as like as another life kingdom. But I don't agree with this hypothesis. If I support and follow them, as I believe the conflict will never end and peace will never established.

I would like to ask another basic question: Are human beings naturally good or evil? Personally, I believe human being is naturally good. We are all children of God, not Satan. We have spiritual universal values truth, beauty and goodness. After all we have the enormous potentiality and capacity to fulfill the universal purposes; and to be happy eternally through loving and being loved truly. (We have also evil desires. Here I will not discuss about the cause of evil desires.)

Conflict comes from ignoring

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