The Human Stain

The Human Stain

 

 

By:  G. Ohsawa “Zen Macrobiotics” 1928

     

“Why are there so many hospitals, sanitariums, and rehab centers, so many medicines and drugs, and so many mental and physical illnesses?  Why are there so many prisons, such great numbers of policeman, and such vast air, Sea, and land forces as well?  Why are their so many wars or war at all?

 

The answer is very simple.  We are sick physiologically and mentally.  But why is this so in such brilliant civilized countries?  Because we are quite ignorant of the real cause of this: its philosophical, biological, moral and psychological roots.  Why?  Because we are thus educated!  Modern education does not develop the capacity in human beings for liberty, happiness, and resolve.  On the contrary it makes us “professional”, that is to say, irrational, a slave, or cruel master, simple minded and attached to money.

 

Happiness or misery, sickness or health, freedom or slavery all depends upon our behavior in our daily life and activities..  These activities are dictated by our judgment which, in its turn, is produced by our comprehension of the constitution of the world and the infinite universe.  But there is no school or university where we can learn to judge, think and understand, correctly and freely.

 

Life is infinitely interesting and marvelous.  All beings with only one exception,

Man… Birds, insects, fish, microbes, even parasites are living happily in nature, free, never employed, never obliged by others or by each of them.  I have spent two years in the Indian jungle and one year in the African Jungle.  While there I never met a single monkey, crocodile, serpent or elephant that was unhappy or diseased or working for others or for money.  I found among these creatures no rheumatic fever, no diabetic, none with high blood pressures, No asthmatic and none cancerous in nature.  All primitive people among them also happy, before the invasion of their “colonizers” armed with guns, alcohol, chocolate, money and Christianity.

 

Their only principle of life was, ‘He who cannot enjoy everyday life, must not be eating”.  I am the only one, perhaps the very last, “angry man” of the colored race who wants to live as happy a life as his ancestors did. 

 

I want to reestablish the kingdom of: those who are not happy, must not be choosing to eat.  Everyone is happy otherwise it is their own fault.  In this kingdom there is no employer, no employee, no teacher, no school, no hospital, no medical factory, no police, no prison, no war, no enemy, but all are intimate friends, brothers and sisters, parents and children, wives and husbands.  No forced or obliged labor, no punishment or crime.  All are independent and autonomous.”   One Choice makes Peace Possible......