Preface

The crises, chaos, and wars we are currently experiencing globally, along with the challenges in our country, indicate that everything related to material and systemic aspects of the world is disintegrating and falling apart. This disintegration, which began years ago, has become more apparent with the severe economic crises during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the difficulties faced in the health, education, and justice systems.

The onset of the hot war in 2022, which we believed would never occur again, along with the devastating earthquake on February 6, 2023, and the subsequent flood disaster, have resulted in the loss of thousands of LIVES and the disintegration of families and societal structures. These events have starkly demonstrated that the disintegration of our systems is accelerating, making us feel as though we are experiencing an APOCALYPSE.

Swiss Psychiatrist C. Gustav Jung, the founder of Analytical Psychology, once said that epidemics and diseases are not random events; they act as signals for us to explore new paths and ways of living. This insight is particularly relevant in our current times. Beyond the pain, sadness, helplessness, and destruction caused by epidemics, wars, earthquakes, floods, and other natural events, what else might these experiences teach us? What messages are they trying to convey to humanity, and how can we navigate these challenges with maturity and vitality?

Throughout history, wars, crises, chaos, and problems have been constant. If we view the world as a place where individuals evolve to achieve spiritual maturity and become truly HUMAN, then chaos takes on a deeper significance. PAIN and CHAOS are powerful catalysts for awakening and growth, serving as the fuel for evolution. Suffering and chaos will persist until humanity reaches a higher level of consciousness. Even if we are not directly affected, being in a region experiencing chaos, enduring social trauma, or simply being present in such an environment contributes to our process of evolution and spiritual growth.

According to C. Gustav Jung, the primary aim of an individual is to grow through their experiences, evolving into a Whole Person. This Whole Person considers the well-being of the entire human family, all living beings, nature, and the environment—essentially, the WHOLE along with themselves. They live in harmony with nature and construct their own universe guided by reason and science.

We will continue to hope for an end to chaos, crises, and wars until humanity awakens to its own TRUTH and consciousness of integrity, leading to the creation of a system worthy of mankind. As we navigate through this chaos and witness the destruction of the old system, maintaining awareness, hope, and vitality during the birth of a new order and a new understanding of humanity will significantly contribute to the formation of this new order and understanding.

BEING FULLY ALIVE AND STAYING ALIVE

As the world navigates through chaos and the old, decaying order is being disrupted, a fresh perspective, new values, and a renewed understanding of humanity appear to be the only solutions to the problems we face. The two articles in the CORE of the Humanity Manifesto (HM), an invitation from the Sun of Humanity Foundation, serve as a lighthouse, illuminating our path amidst the ongoing storm.

“Humanity is approaching an unprecedented transformation, one that will be experienced for the first time in recorded history.” Humanity Manifesto

“This isn’t merely a change of era; it’s the dawn of a ‘new understanding of humanity’ that requires profound shifts in our understanding, behavior, intentions, and mindset, along with necessary sacrifices. Like any birth, it will be painful, yet miraculous.” Humanity Manifesto

Being alive is precisely the state of existence and growth we need during this process. To be alive means maintaining our balance, staying aware, keeping our focus on the journey and the bigger picture, and working to create new values that will benefit humanity during challenging experiences such as diseases, financial issues, relationship difficulties, and natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and fires.

Being alive means liberating oneself from conventional meanings, memorized patterns, beliefs, and addictions, and instead, demonstrating virtuous, holistic, and inclusive thoughts and behaviors that are worthy of a true HUMAN.

Staying alive means consistently maintaining a state of vitality and awareness, not just during challenging times, but throughout the entire journey towards discovering one’s true self.

Everything outdated and no longer beneficial to humanity continues to crumble. Old thought systems, beliefs, and insecurities are all transforming, creating an opportunity for us to be reborn into a new society and a new self, embracing change and transformation. Although this process is painful, much like childbirth, the longing, love, and hope for the new life to emerge are profound.

WHY IS FULLY BEING ALIVE and STAYING ALIVE IMPORTANT?

Remaining alive and maintaining vitality during challenging life events, both individually and socially, is crucial for transformation and the creation of something new. If we become too absorbed in the system’s mentality, the suffering, and the events we experience, we risk losing our sense of purpose and true aliveness.

We can move forward difficult times by remaining sensitive and acknowledging the suffering experienced, without becoming fixated on it. For instance, whether we directly experience a disaster like an earthquake or not, it is natural to feel emotions such as pain, sadness, and helplessness. It is important to strive to understand, support, and heal each other from a shared space, feeling the helplessness of those affected, even if we are not in the same region. This effort, though it may not be as intense as for those directly affected, helps to alleviate pain and sadness and fosters transformation. By supporting and sharing with each other, we create a foundation for social cohesion.

We can harness the healing and transformative power of compassion only by maintaining our balance and staying truly alive. Compassion embodies a sense of equality and unity, acknowledging, “I see and respect your pain.” Mercy then takes action, expressing, “I will do my best to alleviate your suffering.”

When we are truly alive, we can take the most effective actions for the greater good by balancing our mind and heart during times of chaos and crisis. Chaos and crises serve as a CALL to embark on a journey to discover our own truth and true self. Being alive helps us hear this call, embark on the journey, and staying alive supports and strengthens our ability to stay on the road.

THE PROCESS OF BEING ALIVE AND STAYING ALIVE

1.HEARING THE CALL

All the events that happen to us outside of our conscious control create new areas for us to grow. These events are actually a CALL for change and transformation.

• Calls are messengers of transformation, enlightenment, and our own truth on an endless journey.
• Calls can be individual and social or directed at the world and humanity.

For instance, a natural disaster like an earthquake serves as a mass CALL for action on an individual, social, and global level. Unlike other life events, an earthquake abruptly forces survivors out of their comfort zones and essentially resets their lives by erasing everything from the past.

When a natural disaster strikes and leaves us feeling helpless, it can take time to recognize the CALL to action and understand what changes are needed. For survivors, the initial period is marked by shock and numbness, followed by a range of emotions such as anger, guilt, and sadness. During this time, meeting basic needs like shelter, food, and safety becomes the top priority.

As we move through these stages and the process advances, we may come to see this event as a CALL for change and transformation. This realization prompts both social and individual questions: “Why did this happen? Where did we go wrong? How can we better prepare for natural events to minimize damage? How can we nurture virtuous individuals? What should I change in my life after this difficult experience? What should I prioritize? As I start a new chapter, how should I shape it? What is the meaning of my life? Many things that once defined me no longer exist or have lost their significance, so who am I now? What is my true purpose and existence?”

The gift of this challenging experience lies in the answers we provide to these questions and the different actions we take. This signifies that the call has been acknowledged, and a new journey of transformation has commenced.

The call is an invitation to a new consciousness, a new self, a new world, and a new journey.

Let’s explore the significance of heeding these calls to us/wholeness and having the courage to step out of our comfort zones through the story of the Buddha.

The future Buddha, young prince Siddhartha, was shielded from any knowledge of aging, illness, death, or the priesthood by his father to prevent him from contemplating a life beyond worldly pleasures. At his birth, it was foretold that he would either become a world emperor or the Buddha. His father, aiming for him to be a king, provided him with three palaces and 40,000 dancing girls to keep him attached to worldly delights. However, this only hastened the inevitable. Eventually, Siddhartha grew weary of sensual pleasures and became ready for a different experience. When the time was right, the appropriate messengers appeared. One day, the future Buddha decided to visit the park and instructed his coachman to prepare the carriage…

The man promptly brought a splendid carriage, and four horses, as white as lotus petals, ran past, signaling that they were ready for the future Buddha. The future Buddha got into the carriage and headed to the park. As Prince Siddhartha’s enlightenment neared, the gods decided to send him a sign. They transformed one of them into a decrepit old man with lost teeth, heavy hair, a bent waist, trembling, and leaning on a staff, visible only to the future Buddha and his coachman. The future Buddha asked the coachman, “Who is this man whose hair is unlike others?” Upon hearing the answer, he exclaimed, “Cursed be birth if everyone who is born must grow old,” and, filled with anger, he returned to his palace. The king, puzzled, asked, “Why did my son return so quickly?”

“Sir, he has seen an old man and is now contemplating withdrawing from the world,” they reported. The king, alarmed, exclaimed, “Do you intend to kill me with such news? Quickly, prepare entertainment for him. If we can captivate him with worldly pleasures, he will abandon thoughts of withdrawal.” The king then increased the guards by an additional battalion. One day, the future Buddha encountered a sick man sent by the gods on his way to the park. After investigating, he returned to the palace, his heart filled with anger, and shut himself in. The king, once again, asked what had happened and issued the same orders, further increasing the guards. On another occasion, the future Buddha saw a dead man sent by the gods on his way to the park. After investigating, he returned to the palace, his heart again filled with anger, and shut himself in. The king, growing more frustrated, increased the guards to the size of an army. Yet again, one day, the future Buddha was on his way to the park when he saw a well-dressed priest. He asked his charioteer, “Who is this man?” The charioteer replied, “Sir, he is a person who has withdrawn from this world.”

And the coachman went on, uttering prayers for withdrawal from the world. The thought of withdrawing from the world pleased the Buddha of the future. (Hero’s Journey, Joseph Camphell. Alfa Publications)

But what if we can’t hear the call or if we don’t understand that the call is a call?

Once upon a time, there was a king whose people’s wishes were instantly granted. He had several beautiful daughters, but the youngest was so stunning that it seemed she told the sun, “Don’t rise, I’ll shine instead.” Near the palace, the king discovered a dark forest with a well under an old lime tree. On hot days, the youngest princess would leave the palace to sit by the cool well and rest. She had a golden ball, her favorite toy, which she would toss into the air and catch. One day, however, the ball slipped from her grasp, rolled towards the well, and fell into the water. The princess watched helplessly as her beloved ball disappeared into the well, and she began to cry bitterly, her tears flowing uncontrollably. As she was crying and whimpering so bitterly, she suddenly heard a thin voice: “What’s wrong with you, my beautiful princess?” it said, “You are wailing so bitterly that a person’s heart would melt if it were a stone.”

The princess, startled by a sound, looked around and saw a grumpy frog with its large head sticking out of the water. “So it was you who spoke,” she said. “Oh, I’m not crying, but I had a golden ball that fell into the well.” The frog replied, “Don’t cry, princess, I’ll retrieve it for you.” He then asked, “What will you give me if I get your golden ball out of the well?” The princess responded, “Whatever you want, dear frog. Do you want my clothes, my pearls, my jewelry, or even the golden crown on my head? All of it can be yours.”

But the frog replied, “Keep your clothes, pearls, jewels, and golden crown. All I ask is that you love me, never leave me, lift me up when you eat, let me sit beside you, eat from your golden plate, drink from your glass, and sleep in your bed. Promise me these things, and I’ll dive into the well to retrieve your golden ball.” The princess, hearing this, agreed, saying, “I will do everything you ask, as long as you bring my golden ball out of the well.” However, she thought to herself, “What a foolish frog! Frogs like him live in the water; how could he ever be friends with a person?”

Despite the princess’s thoughts, the frog secured her promise and dove to the bottom of the well. Using his arms and legs as paddles, he soon resurfaced with the golden ball in his mouth and tossed it onto the grass. Overjoyed, the princess picked up her beloved toy and immediately hopped away with it. The frog called after her, “Where are you going, leaving me behind? I can’t run as fast as you.” But his pleas were in vain. The princess ran back to the palace, forgetting about the poor frog, who then sadly returned to the well. (Hero’s Journey, Joseph Camphell. Alfa Publications)

The disappearance of the golden ball is merely a mistake and a coincidence in the course of life, marking the beginning of a new experience for the princess. The frog represents the voice of the call and the harbinger of this experience. The princess’s unkept promise signifies a rejection of the call, which is a separate area of experience. Calls create opportunities for growth and enlightenment, potentially aiding in the awakening of the self. Whether the events that happen to us are small or large, calls often signify the start of transformation, the crossing of a threshold, and progress along this path, including the stages of a leap.

“The confusion and chaos in the world stem from individuals’ inability to understand themselves, their essence, and the perfect potential within them.” The Purified being: HUMAN, Section 10

Hearing the CALL and stepping out of the comfort zone is essential for transformation and purification, allowing us to uncover and develop our inner potential.

Rejecting the CALL signifies a reluctance to leave the comfort zone, leading to vicious cycles in life that result in depression, illnesses, and severe setbacks. As C. Gustav Jung said, “A person’s depression, restlessness, and anxiety are his friends trying to wake him up.” The call continues to invite us to embark on a journey, even through challenges like depression, to awaken us. If we remain in the comfort zone despite hearing the call and fail to internalize the lessons from our experiences, the call will persist and intensify until it is acknowledged, in accordance with the covenant and duty of those who need to hear it.

2.STEPPING OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE

Our comfort zones are our personal sanctuaries. Those who recognize they are in this paradise and are prepared to leave it at any moment can hear the CALL of the WHOLE more easily.

If we define the comfort zone where we might choose to stay even when we hear the CALL that makes it difficult to hear:

• It is the favorite area of our ego and mind. It consists of our habits, which are our mental and physical prisons. For example, doing the same things at the same time every day, routines, lives woven with habits, habitual relationship patterns even if you have complaints, a regular workplace, weekend activities, etc..
• This area is like a mother’s embrace, providing a safe, comfortable, ‘nothing will happen to me here’ mindset. Leaving this area is like leaving one’s mother. However, breaking free from this comfort is the biggest step towards becoming an individual. This step is the first towards discovering one’s own existence, becoming oneself, and integrating into the deeper meaning of one’s existence.
• Existence allows us to find our true self and CONTINUE THE JOURNEY by adapting. There are many calls throughout our life that encourage us to CONTINUE THIS JOURNEY.
• SHOWING THE COURAGE TO HEAR THESE CALLS AND STEP OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE is essential for the growth experience.

All kinds of experiences and life events we encounter on our journey can signal the threshold of a new level of consciousness. Stimuli that disrupt our comfort zone, whether internal or external—such as illnesses, financial difficulties, relationship and communication challenges, repeated cycles of depression, and various crises—can serve as calls to continue our journey or indicate the beginning of a new dimension of consciousness. Whether we are just starting this journey, have been on it for a while, or are resting after completing a cycle, these experiences can prompt us to move forward and grow.

If we view the problems we encounter as COMPASSIONATE OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY THE WHOLE, and accept them as expressions of the WHOLE/SELF’S love for us, how does this shift our perspective on events, crises, chaos, and the world?

3.TO BE LIBERATED BY OUR VICTIM MENTALITY

Our victim mentality:

• Avoids taking responsibility and waits for a savior.
• Feeds on victimization and refuses to take responsibility for life.
• Blames destiny or others for problems, saying things like “This is my fate” or “It’s always their fault.”
• Evades or ignores pain and problems, or prefers to remain in pain.
• Lacks willpower.
• Constantly complains, looks for external sources of problems, focuses on the problem rather than the solution, and prefers to stay in the comfort zone.
• Acts as a powerful defense mechanism.

Gustav Jung said, “You call everything that happens to you fate until you bring your unconscious into consciousness,” and “The life of anyone who does not dare to look into himself is cloudy. Moreover, this blurring also clouds the world.” These words hint at our victim side.

Our victim side emerges in most of us from time to time, acting as a strong defense mechanism until we find the courage to face the events we’ve experienced. However, if we cling to this part of ourselves, we hinder our journey of transformation and growth, and the experiences will keep recurring until we learn from them.

To liberate ourselves from our victim mentality:

• Look inward without blaming others, using crises as fuel for growth.
• Take control of our lives by reflecting on what we could have done differently, rather than attributing everything to fate or others.
• Face our suffering head-on, without running away.
• Embrace what we have learned with compassion and acceptance, continuing the purification process and transitioning from a victim to a hero mindset.

Questions that can help us move beyond the victim role include:

• What does this crisis reveal about the changes and transformations I need to make within myself?
• What aspects are within my control, and what are beyond my control?
• What are the unmet needs of my ego? What are my weaknesses? Is it beauty, money, friendship, knowledge, family, or spiritual pursuits?

4. PURIFICATION

“There is no limit to a person’s purification. While the concept of PURIFICATION evolves, the process itself never ends. Purification, which is more significant than mere thought, is a means that leads a person to their true self.” The Purified Being: HUMAN, Section 4

If we consider the purpose of human existence to be discovering one’s own truth or true self, purification is the key to change and Anlayış on this journey.

• The reactions and approaches we take towards life experiences, both big and small, are the fundamental building blocks of the PURIFICATION process.
• During this process, it is crucial to recognize that events are not the ultimate truth, to maintain a balance between mind and heart, and to continue the journey by staying alive and aware. When we hear the call, ask questions, and seek answers within ourselves, the awakening and search begin, and the journey continues; it cannot be halted.
• By asking questions and creating space for new ones, we become more alive and attuned to the patterns of the mind.

As stated in Article 59 of the IGV Declaration of Exemplary Human, an Exemplary Person maintains awareness in every experience by asking, “What does this teach me?”

• What should I learn from this experience?
• Which new area will this experience lead me to?
• What is my purpose in life?
• Which shadow side of me does this experience illuminate? What aspects should I refine or improve?
• What do I need to transform within myself?
• What beliefs or attachments must I let go of?
• Who am I after this experience?
• How has this experience transformed, revitalized, and expanded me?
• How does this experience contribute to my purification process?

Gustav Jung said, “The meaning of life lies in the questions life poses to me, or conversely, I am a question posed to the world, and if I don’t provide my answer, I will have to rely on the world’s answer.”

“Our main goal in life is to discover the power within us, to follow our own reality, and to achieve unity with everything.”

“We cannot destroy our shadows, but we can transform them.” These words illuminate the PURIFICATION process, the PATH, and the JOURNEY.

As we ask ourselves questions and explore the depths of our existence, our awareness expands, and we become free. By having the courage to confront our own darkness and shadows, we transform and purify ourselves by discovering our own power. As we continue to ask questions, we continue to purify and progress on our journey.

PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH DURING THE VITALTY PROCESS

• PREGNANCY represents the effort to bring new ideas to the level of consciousness, contemplation, and internalization.
• BIRTH signifies the moment when these new ideas become visible in behavior.
• Humanity, in its journey towards higher consciousness, has envisioned and designed its new consciousness, becoming conceived into this higher state.
• The process of pregnancy varies according to humanity’s readiness and awakening.
• As a mother’s pregnancy progresses, her anxiety and tensions, such as “What if I lose the baby? What if something happens?” increase alongside her positive hopes and wishes for her child.

Thoughts, fears, and expectations from the previous consciousness complicate the pregnancy process.

• The new signifies the death of the old, but the old does not die immediately.
• The gradual withdrawal of the old allows the NEW TO SLOWLY strengthen and grow.
• Dreaming about the new, wondering, and discussing it for hours is like family members commenting on who the baby resembles when they see an ultrasound image. The baby will only look like itself, tell its own story, and break the memories.

FINAL REMARK:

IN ORDER TO BE/STAY ALIVE WHILE THE PASSENGER IS HAVING A NEW BIRTH;

• PAIN AND CHAOS as fuel for evolution and growth.
• Maintains SENSITIVITY without clinging to suffering.
• Focuses on SOLUTIONS rather than problems during the inner journey.
• Strives to be free from all kinds of ADDICTI
• Seeks liberation from the victim mentality cherished by the ego and mind.
• HEARS the CALLS and shows the courage to step out of the COMFORT ZONE and continue the journey.
• Asks questions, releases, and opens up SPACE FOR NEW EXPERIENCES, staying alive and awake against mind patterns.
• When starting to leave the comfort zone, hears the call of the WHOLE and remains alive and aware.
• Understands that separation and liberation from the mother is the first step towards becoming an individual, finding one’s own existence, being oneself, and integrating into the deep meaning of existence, and takes this step.
• Recognizes that the old draws its energy for a long time and patiently continues the process so that the new gradually strengthens and grows.
• A living mind and a purified heart are always engaged in ACTIONS THAT I
• EMBRACES individual and social awareness and recognizes the responsibility against the WHOLE

Dolunay KADIOĞLU POLAT,
March 2023

REFERENCES:

1. Arınmış Varlık İNSAN, İnsanlık Güneşi Vakfı, İnsanlık Üniversitesi Yayınları, 2023.
2. Kahramanın Sonsuz Yolculuğu, Joseph Campbell, İthaki yayınları, 2017.
3. İGV İnsanlık Manifestosu, İnsanlık Güneşi Vakfı, https://www.insanlikuniversitesi.org.tr/insanlikmanifestosu/
4. İGV Örnek İnsan Bildirgesi, İnsanlık Güneşi Vakfı, https://www.insanlikuniversitesi.org.tr/ornek-insan-bildirgesi/
5. Carl Gustav Jung kitapları.