What the individual is, society is

"... it is vain merely to alter the outward conditions without deep, inward change. For what the individual is, society is; what his relationship is with another is the social structure of society. We cannot create a peaceful, intelligent society if the individual is intolerant, brutal, and competitive. If the individual lacks kindliness, affection, thoughtfulness, in his relationship with another he must inevitably produce conflict, antagonism, and confusion. Society is the extension of the individual; society is the projection of ourselves. Until we grasp this and understand ourselves profoundly and alter ourselves radically, the mere change of the outer will not create peace in the world, nor bring to it that tranquility that is necessary for happy social relationship.

So let us not think of only altering the environment; this will and must take place if our whole attention is directed to the transformation of the individual, of ourselves, and our relationship with another....

... I personally feel that the world is myself, that what I do creates either peace or sorrow in the world that is myself, and as long as I do not understand myself, I cannot bring peace to the world; so my immediate concern is myself, not selfishly, not merely to alter myself in order to gain greater happiness, greater sensations, greater successes, for, as long as I do not understand myself, I must live in pain and sorrow and cannot discover an enduring peace and happiness."

~ J. Krishnamurti, 26 May 1940

All things are impermanent -- The story of Kisa Gotami

Kisa Gotami was an indigent woman who lived during the Buddha's lifetime. Though ridiculed and abused by her family for her helpless condition, Gotami finally gave birth to a son who brought her great joy, purpose, and respect from her husband's family. However, her joy suddenly came to an end when her child died. Deranged with grief, Gotami carried her dead son from house to house, begging all she met for a cure to restore his life.

A wise onlooker, moved by Gotami's suffering, interceded. "Gotami," he said, "only the Tathagata has the antidote to death. Go to him!" In desperation Gotami presented herself before the Buddha.

Buddha saw that she was on the verge of a spiritual awakening. "To restore your son's life," he counselled her, "find a house where no one has ever died. And from that house procure tiny grains of mustard seeds." Heartened by Buddha's words, Gotami ventured into the city, travelling from door to door in the hopes of finding one house bereft of death. But by the day's end, her search proved futile. There was not one household that had escaped the hands of death. This fact struck her deeply: "All things are impermanent." So saying, Gotami consigned her dead son to the cremation ground and humbly begged Lord Buddha to accept her as a disciple.

~ The story of Kisa Gotami as read from an article published in the April 2008 issue of The Vedanta Kesari

Overcoming suffering

There is no one who does not suffer. He who suffers makes an effort to escape from actuality, and that escape only increases sorrow. But if through silent observation and patience, he discerns the true cause of suffering, that perception itself dissolves the very cause of suffering.

~ J. Krishnamurti, 16 June 1936.