I think that unless I can accept the world entirely as it is, I also cannot accept myself entirely as I am. To accept oneself as one is does not mean passivity or an unwillingness to change - it means being at peace with the state of the world, however messy it may be.

Only then can I accept my own messiness.

Jiddu Krishnamurti often said, "You are the world," and I agree. Accepting war, violence, inequality, and conflict out there is the same as accepting that which lives in here. Aham Brahmasmi, Tat Tvam Asi. And in accepting it, one has already transcended it - or perhaps, gained control over its effect on me.

The power is in the perception, the seeing. It's like gaining a bird’s-eye view of the battlefield, rather than being caught in the war. Sakshi Bhava. And when I am not caught in the war, I regain all the energy I once spent objecting to the world and fighting it - just as I objected to myself and fought myself.

That energy can then be channeled.

Non-judgmentally.

Wisely.

Consciously.

Karma Yoga.

Wu Wei.

Flowing with the world, rather than fighting it.

Flowing with myself, rather than fighting myself.

All kinds of problems arises from people - us - not being able to accept the world as it is, and also ourselves as we are. We then attempt to control it and dominate it. Politics, war, racism, sexual repression. This is Dukkha, the root of suffering. It all arises from unconsciousness. But these problems.. this unconsciousness.. even that is as it must be.

I was never so miserable, as I was when I saw the world as flawed. What I did not realize then was that in seeing the world as broken, I was also seeing myself that way.