In the most primitive self, we humans were predominantly hunters and lived in small bands and tribes just as animals do now. Life and death was of not much significance back then and was not mourned in the dramatic way that rituals are conducted in the 21st century. The earliest trace of religious belief was known to have originated to bring together unrelated beings together for the sake of harmony and societal development. These beliefs were also held steadfast as the explanation behind the many unknown mysteries of our universe and planet in particular. Thus, marked an important milestone in the journey and advent of multiple belief systems and religions. A divided clan of human race helped to bring an altogether new concept to the evolution of mankind; order and togetherness.
The advent of civilizations was shaping all over the world with almost no communication with the other civilizations. The Sumers, Mayans, Mesopotamians, Indus Valley were some of the many advanced and well-known civilizations spanning the entire planet. However, owing to the lack of communication and travel; civilizations bred within themselves and instilled a strong belief system and soon the large civilizations started showing traits associated with small warring tribes and bands. The larger objective behind the formation of a civilized society was lost among the wars, killings that resulted out of fear and mistrust. The identity of a society and its preservation was at threat.
The belief systems within civilizations spanned from worshipping the sun, earth, trees and other objects that added value to their sustenance and were considered larger than life. Over time civilizations became so embedded in their respective beliefs that the larger perspective of communal harmony was lost in transition. There were conquests and wars and the victor imposed and forced their belief system on the vanquished. It had suddenly become a war of ‘ my belief is better than yours’.
Societies advanced, innovated, discovered and we moved from hieroglyphics, symbols to scripts such as Indus script, Chinese script and many others created indigenously. This historically significant event changed the dynamics of our evolution manifold. Belief systems found another mode of expression that would further divide one from another. There was now even more pronounced demarcation of Us vs Them. History repeated itself once again and the advanced civilizations now had territories and borders. The harmony and peace of coming together as envisioned by the early ancestors lost its place.
This was followed by numerous writings such as Pyramid texts by Egyptian Kings, Epic of Gilgamesh by Sumerians, Vedas by the Hindus, books of Torah composed at the time of Hebrew exodus from Egypt and many other significant wall inscriptions. An enlightened individual such as Abraham is considered to be the patriarch of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Buddha founded Buddhism, Mahavira founded Jainism, Confucius founded Confucianism and many other faiths began to emerge. Three basic belief systems were Polytheism, a belief in multiple gods, Pantheism, a belief that everything is God and God is everything and Monotheism, a belief in one God.
Although all religions professed peace, love, unity and respect for other religions, society was bursting at its seams with ‘Us vs Them’ and ‘ Right vs Wrong’. The different belief systems were yet again at loggerheads. History repeated itself and the modern religious world perennially fought for the Numero Uno position by massive conversions and conquests. Obviously, the events were too inconsequential in time and space and the Universe thought nothing of it.
Interestingly enough, there is a common thread that runs through the evolution as outlined above. The power of rationale and critical reasoning embedded in the brain’s microprocessor led mankind to believe ‘ I am’. I am the redeemer of the Misery and I will bring order in this chaotic world. The Ego thus made us look for external changes as opposed to internal changes within ourselves. Throughout the history of mankind, we have strived to change everything and everyone around us but rarely have we looked inward. The Universe seems to resonate ‘ So you wanted to change the world? ‘. I, however ponder, Have we changed the world in 200,000 years for better or for worse?
Imagine for a moment, that every living being, animate and inanimate, had the brain of a human being. The thought itself smears the beauty of the natural order. Why then, should we not focus on self-improvement? Why then, should we beset ourselves with tasks not destined for us? Why then, should we emotionally attach ourselves with every micro outcomes of daily life? Karma.
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