Musing over the millennium

The millennium closes upon us on December 31, 2000. How do we measure the passage of an era? One way would be by asking, "What has been the most important event in your life to date?" When I asked a few of our staff here at Hale Na`au Pono, I received an interesting assortment of responses. "I got divorced!" "I got married!" "The birth of my daughter." "Moving to Hawai`i!" "The birth of my nephew!" "Coming to the U.S.!" "Graduating from college!" And a number of shrugged shoulders.

And to the question, "Are those events the same as what has made you the happiest?" The answers were on both sides, Yes and No.

A millennium, a thousand years, covers a lot of ticking of clocks, cycles of life and death, and revolutions of the earth and the sun. How do we measure the passage of an era to the human society? Has it been the changed technology from the pen and paper to the printing press to the current production and distribution of information through the medium of digitized impulses? Or has it been the widespread colonization and decolonization of territories throughout the world? Or could it be the change in the perception of human rights, from it being non-existent to the elevation of women to actually vote and be considered equals with men?

In comparison with prior millenniums, how has this one fared? From 1001 to 2000 A.D., we have witnessed tremendous development and expansion of nation/states. We have seen great strides in science and technology. We have been impacted by the ability to communicate around the world, truly making it a "small world." We are now able to select the genes, changing hair and eye color, body build, and resistance to illness in our children. We have produced weapons of mass destruction which could destroy all human existence in the world 100 times over. We are able to prolong human life but not necessarily improve the quality of life. What major moral development has occurred to keep up with these world changes?

The Axial period produced people with tremendous contributions to the world's moral code. We have been guided by such as Jesus of Nazareth, whose birth begins the renumbering of time according to the Roman/Christian Calender, S kyamuni, Prince of the Shakya clan of India (563- 483) and the Upanishad texts written ca. 550 B.C., in China, Confucius (551-479 B.C.) and Lao Tsu (605-530 B.C.), in Greece, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle (469 - 322 B.C.). In Iran we find Zoroaster (ca. 600 B.C.), in Israel, Isaiah (770-700 B.C.) followed by the "Age of Prophets" (650-500 B.C.). Mohammed, the Prophet of Islam, dated a new Muslim calendar on the day of his flight, known as the Hirjra, from Mecca to Medina in 622 A.D. An earlier millennium had produced tremendous instigators of human moral development.

But where are the moral leaders of the last 1000 years? Unfortunately, humanities' moral development has failed to keep up with science and technology. We have seen the likes of Gandi Ji, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, and a few others in the last century. But their teachings have not carried the long lasting inspiration to elevate the human moral condition.

Will we see again a period of time in the world such as the earlier Axial period? Can we afford to wait? Or must we simply take a more carefully responsible approach to each moment of our own lives, learning to enjoy the simply and priceless treasurers of the spontaneous child's laughter, the precious moments of two lovers sharing time together, watching a tree reach to a healthy sky, or the miracle of a child being born?

We are truly in a sea of major changes in our age. Yet there are still things which remain constant and can serve as strong guiding stars for each one of us. Cherish and cultivate your positive relationships. Honor the god-spirit in all things. Do unto others as they would want you to do unto them. And remember, that hatred never ceases by hatred. Hatred only ceases by love. Be kind, yet truthful, to yourself and gentle with the world.

Aloha a hui hou. Happy new millennium!

Poka Laenui