Are we becoming smarter... but less human?

We’re constantly trying to improve our analytical, logical selves and become ‘smarter’. We think we need better brains so we’re even trying to develop a better brain with AI. It is helpful in many cases, no doubt. 

But in doing so, are we missing something critical perhaps? 

See, even through achieving something prestigious or becoming wealthy, isn't what we're seeking ultimately is an experience of peace, joy, love and freedom? 

Where in your body do you experience those feelings? The Heart. Yet, we constantly ignore or disregard our feelings. We constantly ignore our hearts. 

This matters because when we only think through the analytical brain, hard facts, science and what’s measurable, we lose our capacity and ability to sense and feel. I’ve experienced this first hand. 

We can be highly logical and become numb to the life around us. 

We no longer see or feel the suffering of the homeless or the poor. 

We no longer feel or see the suffering of the natural world - the plants, animals and ecosystems around us. 

Rather in the realm of logic, we justify the suffering as related to x,y,z phenomenon or ignore it all together. 

We lose all heart. 

We lose our capacity for mercy and forgiveness. 

We lose our ability to love. 

Precious abilities that make us fully human. 

If we only stay in the realm of logic, we become machines amongst a sea of other machines. 

This is why sometimes we can go on a vacation, visit wonderful places and still feel empty. Because deep within, our hearts are still struggling to blossom. They're not open.

We've tried to reduce everything down to a measurement.

But consider this...

Can the value of clean air, water and optimal sunlight that nourishes our very life be measured? But, their love for us can be felt on a daily basis. Without this love, we cannot even exist. 

Can the value of our natural world such as our national parks, forests, rivers and oceans and all the life within be measured? Yet, every person who has ever come into contact has felt their peace and love.  

Can the love from a genuine friend or family member ever be measured? But, without it we would be a broken society. And in many cases, that is exactly what is happening today.

Can a parent ever be compensated for missing a special moment in their children’s lives? Yet, the workplace continues to demand evermore of our lives! 

Can the loyalty and sacrifice workers offer to their employers with their precious time and effort ever be measured and justly compensated? Because there is barely anymore a sense of love and care in the workplace, workers have also stopped offering their loyalty but rather are only motivated through fear and consequences. 

Let's look further at just a few of many heartless societal dynamics - 

Can the suffering of the immigrants who leave their homelands just to create a better life for their families ever be measured? Instead, closed hearts have learned to punish them for this very act and then brutally deport them.

Can the pain and loss inflicted by the colonizers on the nations they ruled and bent to their wishes ever be measured and healed?

Can the pain of any people who were kept as slaves by force ever be measured and healed? 

Can the pain of the people suffering at this very moment in Gaza or Ukraine or Haiti ever be measured and healed? 

This is already a long list but even this is just a fraction of the pain caused by closed hearts. 

Can any of this pain ever be truly measured and compensated for? The simple answer is that it can’t. Even if we tried, all the money in the world wouldn’t be enough. 

But, what can heal is LOVE. 

And that requires a different sacrifice. It requires us to soften our egos and open our hearts. 

If you truly want to experience this life in all its aliveness, you will need to learn to love fully. First yourself despite your flaws and then everyone else despite their flaws. Your heart is the doorway to the full spectrum experience of life in all its aliveness.

So instead of creating smarter brains that make us more efficient in extracting from our own lives and the lives of others, and our natural ecosystems - 

What if what we’re actually missing in the world today are open hearts? 

Open hearts that are capable of feeling fully. 

Hearts that are unafraid of the spectrum of emotions that life offers. 

Willing to experience life in its full splendor. 

Hearts that feels the joy of the sunrise, 

the delight of the new moon, 

the warmth of the sun, 

the grief and remorse of the needy, 

the joy in children's innocence, 

the pain in the warring lands,

the beauty of the budding flower, 

the ruckus of the animals in the jungle, 

the life in the very breath you take in right here, right now as you read this line.

From birth to death and everything in-between. 

With a heart like that, would we create love in our family?

With a heart like that, would we ignore a hungry soul?

With a heart like that, would we justify and ignore the suffering of immigrants?

With a heart like that, would we bomb other nations?

With a heart like that, would we care for life beyond our own?

Remember, the brain helps us sustain life but the heart is what gives us life to begin with. 

Once the heart quits, it's game over. 

What if we involved our hearts in all matters of life? After all, our hearts are the very source of life right within us!

What if we asked if our actions, both personal and professional, are helping create a more kind, joyful and loving World? Not just by what can be measured but truly in our hearts. 

What kind of a life might we create then for ourselves and others?  

- Nitin

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What does this bring up for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

P.S. If you’d like to travel this journey between the mind and the heart and become free from within, I’m hosting a brand new community workshop around elevating our awareness on Monday, July 27th. Check it out below and I hope to see you there!  https://www.sunkulp.com/event-details/workshop-awareness-the-subtle-distinctions