Since we’re all inherently connected, we constantly influence each other by the spiritual choices we make. Consequently, our spiritual practice isn’t merely an individual issue. Our personal spirituality has a collective impact.
When I (Steve Pavlina) was about 12 years old, I met another boy who was an atheist. I assumed that meant he must be misguided or evil in some way, since that’s how I was taught to view non-Catholics. He didn’t believe in God, so I concluded there must be something terribly wrong with him. Why else would he be doomed to spend eternity in hell? However, as I got to know him, I discovered to my surprise that he was actually a very nice person, and he and I remained friends for years. As hard as I tried, I could find no evidence that he was evil. This was confusing to me because it conflicted with what I’d been taught all my life. My beliefs encouraged me to disconnect from this boy, but I chose to align with love and connect with him anyway, thereby experiencing an important step on my path of spiritual growth.
Many serious conflicts in the world result from the decision to pass on beliefs that label other human beings as unworthy, damaged, or evil. If we are to live consciously, such beliefs must eventually be abandoned because they’re out of alignment with truth, love, and power. The health of the body cannot be maintained when the cells choose to fight amongst themselves.
Your individual spiritual duty is to ensure that you harbor beliefs that are aligned with the principle of oneness. To the extent that you neglect this duty, you cause harm to others by teaching separateness instead of unity. Only when we all learn to align ourselves with truth, love, and power at the individual level will we be able to achieve peace at the global level.
* Source: Personal Development for Smart People by Steve Pavlina