How to get out of emotional suffering — YouTube from the CEC Library

When we turn on the television, we notice the prevalence of violence. TV teaches us two things: constant violence and immaturity. The programming is so childish that the next generation will face serious problems as it ages. We must continue to nourish ourselves with resources that will be valuable in the future. When we are young, everything seems great: we can drink and try everything without responsibility, ignoring the common sense that should guide our lives. The consequences of these choices emerge over time.

Even when we are careful, that still happens; imagine what happens when we give ourselves over to an endless stream of "enjoying life" without accumulating experiences that sustain our future. We often do not notice that, over time, the physical body begins to experience difficulties. If we do not build something solid within ourselves and do not cultivate good company, we pay the price in depression, loneliness, and unnecessary suffering. We should seek good company and nourish ourselves with content that supports us. Watching a violent film is different from reading a book that offers useful content for everyday life and our relationships. This gives us a better associative structure and the ability to reflect on life.

Our resources are not only what is around us, but also what is within us. We are nourishing ourselves poorly, and that does not contribute to healthy growth. The idea of "gaining an advantage" is not a sound principle for life. We should seek benevolence, positive affection, and respect in relationships, improving our path. If we do not reflect, in a little over 20 years we will face a disorganized and unhappy society fighting over what we have destroyed. We need to care for water, air, and food, but we continue to destroy them. Our ignorance will lead us to conflicts over scarce resources.

I will never forget when, on Clodovil's show, he asked me why human beings suffer. I answered that it is because of ignorance. All of us are included in that. We need to emerge from this shadow that will affect us in the future. We should relate attentively to everything around us and to ourselves, setting aside time to observe ourselves and act with attention. We cannot lose our vital contact with life, which is us and everything around us. It is time to stop thinking that evolution is merely technology accompanied by suffering.