A Poetic Response to the Flickering Flame

A POETIC RESPONSE TO THE FLICKERING FLAME

Dear Friederike,

There is something profound and timeless in the words I read in your letter. They echo the shared unease that stirs within us when we witness the flaws and declines humanity is capable of reaching. Yes, there is brutality, dishonesty, rage, and hatred—echoes that reverberate in certain souls. Yet, I cannot see humanity as an alarming threat, except perhaps to itself. I see creatures who often fall short of their own potential, acting on impulse, driven by instinct, as if still tethered to the animal within. 

When I wander through the thoughts of ancient sages, I am reminded that to be truly Human—to embody the essence of Humanity—was always an ideal, a distant star that has eluded us, not only today but throughout all ages. We face the same struggles as those who came before us, though dressed in different shades. Yet, this latent potential pulses within each of us, waiting, always waiting, for the moment to awaken. 

Humanity, to me, is not the problem. The problem lies in the humans who have yet to awaken to their true essence—those who have not yet embraced justice, wisdom, fraternity, love, and virtue. Some live only to satisfy their desires, procreate, and survive—as if they remain bound to the animal kingdom. And I wonder: Are they truly Human? 

This leads me to reflect deeply. I see people who harbor a certain disgust for what they are, for what they see outside themselves, unaware that it is all part of the illusory game of existence. Yes, society molds us into hollow shapes, offering us empty promises that never truly fulfill. It is sad, yet there is merit in this: the awakening to what truly matters, to what completes us in the deepest sense. 

Still, I believe absolute malice is rare. Few stand out for their wickedness when compared to the vast multitude of lives that inhabit this planet. We possess the potential for both greatness and catastrophe, and we will be held accountable—individually and collectively—for every action and inaction. This is the Law that governs all. 

Within me resonates a certainty: there is no injustice in the Universe. Everything happens for a reason, even if that reason is difficult to perceive or accept. The light in the darkness reveals itself only to those who dare to nurture a attentive gaze, one capable of seeing the invisible. 

And so, I say: I have faith in the humanity that is yet to become truly Human. I believe in its awakening. I urge you to look at every situation that troubles us through a different lens, from a new angle. Everything beautiful or terrible in the world exists within us as well—violence, hatred, selfishness, greed. Every external shadow reflects something internal. And we will only eliminate these shadows when we confront and transform what lies within us. 

Selfishness may indeed be the root of all evils. It sustains the chaos we live in; the thread that weaves the pains of society lies within our own egos, within each of us, not outside. Yet, I believe there is a light that will guide all living beings to the same place. I hope my words can offer you some solace. May we find what truly nourishes the soul and connects us to something greater, sublime, and whole. 

May the light shine within us, and peace walk beside us,

and may our flame burn ever bright. 

Iagovinda 

January 28, 2025