Wendell Berry discusses the inherent flaw of giving money in place of action as a method of doing good in the world. I have come to understand the importance of beginning within the self as opposed to working to smooth over the damage in the external. One method deals with the results, while the other deals with the causes. To create real change, we must work to solve the systemic problems. This involves a much deeper, more complex and extreme change. The act of giving money is an example of attempting to contribute positively to the consequences of a system within the context of the very system that is causing the damage.
"The giving of money has thus become our characteristic virtue. But to give is not to do. The money is given in lieu of action, thought, care, time. And it is no remedy for the fragmentation of character and consciousness that is the consequence of specialization. At the simplest, most practical level, it would be difficult for most of us to give enough in donations to good causes to compensate for, much less remedy, the damage done by the money that is taken from us and used destructively by various agencies of the government and by the corporations that hold us in captive dependence on their products. More important, even if we could give enough to overbalance the official and corporate misuse of our money, we would still not solve the problem: the willingness to be represented by money involves a submission to the modern divisions of character and community. The remedy safeguards the disease.
"This has become, to some extent at least, an argument against institutional solutions. Such solutions necessarily fail to solve the problems to which they are addressed because, by definition, they cannot consider the real causes. The only real, practical, hope-giving way to remedy the fragmentation that is the disease of the modern spirit is a small and humble way- a way that a government or agency or organization or institution will never think of, though a person may think of it: one must begin in one's own life the private solutions that can only in turn become public solutions...
"If a consumer begins to think and act in consideration of his responsibilities, then he vastly increases his capacities as a person. And he begins to be effective in a different way- a way that is smaller perhaps, and certainly less dramatic, but sounder, and able sooner or later to assume the force of example." (Berry, 23, 24)
The perspective presented here is aligned with the Buddhist philosophy. When we are unaware, or disconnected from ourselves, we can only bring harm to the world around us. An untamed mind is like an elephant tromping through a forest and causing destruction without thought (only a metaphor, not an actual criticism of elephants obviously). There are many examples of people in this condition. People with a specific hatred for another way of living are a good and unfortunately common example. Whether they choose to direct their hate based on race, gender, class, sexual orientation, political affiliation, religious beliefs, etc., these people lack a base understanding of themselves and in turn, cause pain in the surrounding world. Turning inwards and leading by example is the only true form of creating change. This path is not limited to the saints and monks. Every individual can achieve this heightened awareness with time, understanding, patience, practice and dedication. The first step is looking beyond the assumptions and restraints placed upon us by society. The assumption of money as necessity is one such externally placed value of this time and place. I am not trying to advocate for a money-less society, but merely considering the possibility will open our minds to other ways of living.
Although it can be intimidating to choose a path diverging from the security of the main road, I hope to not let myself be overrun by this taming to normalcy that occurs on the large scale. I also believe that Americans and global citizens alike, will soon be forced to challenge their old systems of security, when they begin to crumble and expose their hollow, unsustainable, exploitive nature. Unfortunately, we tend to accept what appears to work, without the much needed reflections, until what used to appear to work, eventually fails us.
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