Humanity

Humanity can be defined as quality of being human; the peculiar nature of man, by which he is distinguished from other beings. Being human does not mean that an individual possesses humanity.

If you want to understand the quality of humanity in an individual take note of what people do for others who give nothing back in return for the favour they have offered.

What is humanity? What does it mean?

Humanity means caring for and helping others whenever and wherever possible. Humanity means helping others at times when they need that help the most. Humanity means forgetting your selfish interests at times when others need your help. Humanity means extending unconditional love to each and every living being on Earth.

As soon as we understand the importance of humanity in day-to-day life, the purpose for which we are on Earth is automatically fulfilled.

Humanity today is falling back. Whatever steps we take forward, they take us back as human beings. We live in a world that, although it has borders, it is limitless. We live in a world that, at last, recognizes all religions and beliefs and in which any person can choose his/her religion. People can worship any god, can praise the energy of nature that inspires them without feeling threatened or scared. It is the first time in history when people are not blamed for their beliefs. And we fought for this. But we now try to take this away from the people. We engage in holy wars or public mockery campaigns against the religions that we don't understand. We shut our minds from knowing more about the people around us, their thoughts and beliefs. And we blame them for being different.

We live in a world that is capable of printing out tridimensional copies of almost any object. But, in the same world, 870 million people go to bed each night hungry. We live in a world torn between technological progress and human regress where we move forward just through our inventions, but not through our understanding of each other. We prefer today to invest in research for new smartphones or the cure for baldness than in finding the cure for HIV/AIDS and feeding the world.

We live in a world that has never been so at peace as it is today. But still nations invest in arming themselves and preparing for the inevitable “next war.” Individuals get bombarded each day through the media by images and sounds of guns going off, of mothers crying after their children.

We live in a world that has invented the telephone, internet, and social media so that people can communicate easier. But we have never felt so alone and out-of-touch as we do today. Hidden behind the screens of our computers, tablets, and smartphones, we feel alienated from what the world has to offer. We have stopped looking at nature a long time ago and we have started destroying it without thinking about the consequences.

We live in a world that gives birth to great leaders. But we let ourselves be ruled by a small group of politicians that take the vote of many and make it insignificant. They have the power to change our lives, but they don't. And we continue to support them considering that we have no alternative.

We should stop fighting about democracy in other countries and start asking if we really have a say in our own country. We should exercise the right to vote and strengthen the mechanisms of government as power corrupts even the most strong-minded. We should stop taking pictures of plants and animals to show to your friends and family. Look at the plants, animals, beauty of what nature created to your own eyes, not a camera. Share this beauty with your friends and family by bringing them to witness the majestic wonders near us.

While technology and democracy has given us the power to fast forward the world in which we live in, it has also corrupted us. It has given us the sense of absolute power and knowledge that makes a person feel like God. No, we are not gods and we cannot decide on the fate of others. They only have that right. But we can and we must change ourselves by taking knowledgeable decisions, making the right choices in life, and not letting others decide for us.

Why is “loving humanity” a way to wisdom?

In order to realize your own potential, you have to love humanity. Their success is your success, too.

The more you have love in your life, the more happy and efficient you’ll be.

If you don’t appreciate the phenomenon of human beings, you’re missing out on one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Loving others connects you to the world, to all facets of creation.

Love helps you get out of the confines of “me” and into the expansive “we.”

Prioritize your love. Appreciate the relative value of each virtue.