Watching the evening news can often feel like opening a window to a chaotic world. Images of wars, political unrest, social strife, and human suffering flood the screen, stirring strong emotions within us—anger, sadness, frustration, or even helplessness. This emotional turmoil was exactly what I experienced one evening as I sat watching a broadcast filled with stories of conflict from around the globe. My mind was unsettled, weighed down by questions: Why is there so much conflict in the world? Why can’t people live peacefully?
In the midst of these reflections, an analogy came to me that helped me view the situation differently. It shifted my perspective, calmed my emotions, and deepened my understanding. I’d like to share this analogy with you, not as a solution to the world’s problems but as a way to approach them with greater clarity and compassion.
The Analogy of the Mother
Imagine a mother with many children. Each child grew up in a completely different environment—different values, beliefs, attitudes, ideologies, and even religions. As a result, their personalities and worldviews are vastly different. When they come together, disagreements and arguments inevitably arise, sometimes escalating into fights. In their conflicts, they forget one essential truth: they all share the same mother. Despite their differences, they are siblings, connected by a common origin.
The mother, however, sees them differently. She knows each child as her own, with no preference or bias. She understands that their conflicts arise from the differences in their mindset that have been conditioned in different ways. She can see beyond their differences to the oneness that connects them all. Her love remains steadfast, untouched by the discord among her children. Due to this broader perspective, she refrains from identifying with any of her children or taking sides. She is able to observe the turmoil impartially and without judgment, maintaining compassion toward each of them even when they hurt one another.
Understanding Conditioning
This analogy helped me see the world’s conflicts in a new light. Like the mother’s children, people across the globe have been conditioned in countless ways by their environments—through culture, religion, education, and personal experiences. These influences shape their beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors. The disagreements and conflicts we see in the world today are not born out of people being inherently “bad.” Rather, they are the result of differing conditioning.
This understanding led me to an important realization: if I judge others based on their conditioned reactions, I am only adding to the cycle of division and conflict. To approach the world’s turmoil with compassion, I must first step back and recognize the root causes of these conflicts.
The Importance of Non-Attachment
As I reflected on this analogy, I noticed another key insight. A mother may understand the conditioning that drives her children’s behavior, but because of her biological attachment to them, she may still suffer deeply when she sees them fighting. Similarly, if we allow ourselves to become overly attached to the suffering caused by global conflicts, we may feel overwhelmed, paralyzed, or reactive. This emotional entanglement can cloud our ability to think clearly or act wisely.
This is where the concept of non-attachment becomes essential. Non-attachment does not mean indifference or lack of care. On the contrary, it allows us to care deeply while maintaining the inner clarity needed to respond effectively. When we observe the world’s conflicts without identifying with them emotionally, we create space to act with wisdom and compassion.
From Emotional Turmoil to Clarity
The shift in perspective that this analogy offered me was transformative. Instead of being consumed by the emotional turmoil triggered by the news, I began to observe the conflicts non-judgmentally. I reminded myself that the individuals involved—like the mother’s children—are shaped by their unique conditioning. They are not intrinsically “bad” people; they are reacting to the influences and circumstances they have encountered in life.
This understanding didn’t make the conflicts disappear, nor did it absolve anyone of responsibility. But it allowed me to let go of the emotional burden I was carrying and approach these issues with a sense of clarity and compassion.
Living Compassionately
The lesson I took from this experience is one I hope to share: while we cannot single-handedly resolve all the conflicts in the world, we can change the way we respond to them. Instead of reacting with judgment, frustration, or despair, we can cultivate an attitude of compassionate non-attachment.
This shift in perspective begins within each of us. By observing our own thoughts and emotions, we can become aware of the conditioning that shapes our reactions. As we develop this self-awareness, we can extend it outward, seeing others not as opponents or adversaries but as individuals shaped by their unique circumstances.
A Call to Reflect
In a world filled with division, what if more of us could adopt the perspective of the mother in the analogy? What if we could see beyond the surface differences to the shared humanity that connects us all?
This does not mean ignoring injustice or avoiding action. Compassionate non-attachment allows us to address conflicts more effectively because we are not driven by reactive emotions. Instead, we are guided by a deeper understanding of the causes of suffering and a commitment to finding solutions that benefit all.
A Hopeful Perspective
The news may highlight the worst of humanity, but it also offers an opportunity to reflect, grow, and act with greater wisdom. When we see the world’s conflicts through the lens of the deep understanding of conditioning, we begin to understand that people are not inherently divided—they are simply shaped by different influences.
By cultivating compassion and non-attachment in our own lives, we can become a source of peace in a troubled world. We can inspire others to look beyond their differences and reconnect with the oneness that binds us all.
And perhaps, like the mother in the analogy, we can contribute to a world where understanding, rather than judgment, becomes the foundation for resolving conflict.
By Dr. Rohana Ulluwishewa – Palmerston North
