We think of ourselves as a single individual out of the billions of other individuals occupying this great, vast world. If you approach the single individual with the topic: “Improving Ourselves Improves the World,” he or she would respond with, “How can I, one person, do anything that could actually benefit the great big world?” We forget that even though we’re so small, this doesn’t mean that we’re not part of the world. Therefore, it is our duty to do everything we can to care for and improve the world in which we live.

Every individual is different, and yet we are all linked by the general humane characteristics buried deep within us. These include our conscience (the sense of right and wrong), sensitivities (compassion, kindness, and consideration for others), virtues, our pride, and our strong wills. But since these characteristics can be used both for good and for evil, it’s hard for us to reach ultimate perfection.

A perfected person benefits the world by being a true leader, a flawless model for others to follow, and a supreme, distant goal that others can reach by walking in his footsteps. However, it is very rare for most people to reach this stage readily. Luckily there is a way to benefit the world without being totally accomplished.

The modern individual has lost his rightful track to the “Way the World Should Be.” We have grown too confused to know our own mind, and how much it effects the world. In the beginning, all man thought about was how to survive and get enough to eat. When agriculture was developed, man trained himself to work continually to obtain a continual supply of food. He had to work with others to support the great agriculture; after all, everyone was in the same boat. As time went by, work led to various positions, and society was divided into different classes. The higher classes looked down on the people of the lower classes, and since then they have been squabbling and quarreling. Fame, money, and power were at stake in this conflict between the two parties, and so people did not share anymore. And eventually, did not care anymore. Today, the solitary individual, still working hard, is too busy to stop and realize how the separate paths people have taken are ruining the world. Take one individual. Take another one. That’s one plus one plus one plus one... And so you get all the individuals in this world, working separately to destroy the world, even though they are totally unaware of it.

It all boils down to the single individual. “There’s something wrong with what we’re doing here—the way we act, and respond, and do things,” says the individual who has just opened his eyes. Many people have this initial realization. But the next step is easy to miss: “So, what am I doing wrong? What’s wrong with me?” Instead of saying that, we tend to jump into a series of rationalizations: “Well, people are always starting wars, and killing each other. They’re constantly breaking the rules, and not listening to each other. They always cheat, and steal, and litter, and threaten other people. They never...” They, they, they. But aren’t you one of ‘them’, too? Who are ‘they’? The people. Aren’t you one of the people? Why is it that whenever we refer to a mistake or an unjust situation, we say, “They did it”? Why don’t we admit, “We did it”?

So far we understand that the problems lie within ourselves. So what’s wrong with me? If we trace this back to our early years, we can already see these problems taking root in us. For example, when I received a new Christmas present, my cousin asked to see it (meaning, play with it). Immediately, I said, “NO!!”—for no reason, or simply because it was my possession and no one else was allowed to ‘see it’ but me. I was being stubborn, unfair, and unreasonable. Stubbornness is closely related to pride. Because we want to defend our pride, we hold countless grudges, however silly and unreasonable they may be. Compare this childhood case to a serious affair in international politics, and you’ll find they are similar. Two countries hold a fierce grudge, because neither is willing to negotiate or compromise, and give in a little. Neither can stand the idea of having to swallow their pride.

It’s a basic part of human nature to have pride, but pride is really the key source of many of our problems. True, our pride can also help to solve problems (for instance, being proud of your home country and helping your fellow citizens), but then if those problems resulted from pride in the first place, the pros beat the cons in this case.

We come to the conclusion that we need to tear down all our pride until only pure modesty and unpretentious humbleness are left. We are not possessive about anything (power, fame, money, or misused position), and we seek nothing. We are willing to give up what we have, because there are no stubborn grudges to make us hold things back. We see no reason not to put ourselves at stake to help others. Neither do we find it necessary to steal, cheat, or take advantage of people. Generally we get along and cooperate easily, because there is nothing to force us to do otherwise. You are the same as me, and I am the same as you. No one is better than another. Thus, prejudice and discrimination are seen to be completely senseless. We feel happy, because our possessions aren’t in constant danger of being taken away or lost—because we have no possessions, and no pride.

Do you see a better world already? Of course, it’s easier said than done. But just because it’s hard, it doesn’t mean we should give up right away. Starting with ourselves we can eventually inspire others to follow lead. In history, there are many sages and holy ones who first found blame in themselves and sought to improve themselves. These are the people we have admired and followed. Gradually, step by step, all of us can become like the holy ones. We can improve our characters to become better people, then help others to improve themselves, and finally all work together to make the world a better place.