Mindanao Advice

There are universal truths, experiences that humanity has passed down from generation to generation. Yet we struggle to follow them. Every child born must be re-educated. Here lies a challenge we have not yet been able to solve collectively, and which now threatens us with destruction of biblical dimensions.

A simple way to illustrate this is with a small metaphor: an egg that is opened from the outside marks the end of life, while an egg that opens from within marks the beginning.

The egg has long symbolized creation, rebirth, and the mystery of life itself. In ancient Egypt, it represented the cosmic egg from which the sun god was born. In Hinduism, the universe is said to have emerged from the golden egg, Hiranyagarbha. Christian tradition sees the egg as a symbol of resurrection—life emerging from the sealed tomb. In Chinese mythology, the primordial egg contains the chaos from which yin and yang separate. Even in modern Easter traditions, the egg reminds us of life’s triumph over death.

Across time and geography, the message is the same: life begins when something stirs from within.

Imagine the world as an egg. Ecological collapse, war, economic unrest, and a disturbing lack of trust in leaders and systems are causing the shell to crack. Forces of power knock from the outside with violence, lies, and control, as if they believe that by breaking the exterior, they can create something new.

They are not following the obvious ancient wisdom, which may be our downfall. These are truths not invented by empires, but discovered in silence, suffering, and contemplation. They are insights passed down through generations, tested through time, and affirmed repeatedly in the hearts of those who listened. They teach that true change begins in the soul, not in systems; that healing starts in the heart, not in conquest. Remember that what grows makes no noise, and empty barrels make the most noise. When truth is lost, what remains is power, fear, and destruction.

In Christianity, Jesus says, “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). He reminds us that God does not dwell in buildings made of stone and wood, but in the human heart—in the inner space where conscience speaks and love can take root. “The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:21-24). It is not outward forms, but inner truth that counts.

In Islam, we find the same message: “Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (Qur’an 13:11). In the face of tyranny and oppression, the integrity of the inner person becomes the first and final stronghold.

The Buddha left a life of luxury not to overthrow a kingdom, but to find a path out of suffering within the human mind. The great battle was not fought with weapons, but in silence, beneath a tree.

In Hinduism and Judaism, the message also points toward the heart and spirit, where truth cannot be bought or manipulated, only discovered. The prophet Ezekiel says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.”

It’s as if all these voices are calling out to us now: Stop. Look. Listen. We are in danger of repeating the same mistake—seeking change through force, technological might, and ideological war. We are trying to open the egg from the outside. But that is how life is crushed.

If the world is to have a future, something new must break forth from within: a new consciousness, humility, and understanding of our place in the whole. It begins with each person’s willingness to know themselves, to listen to their conscience, and to nurture the small light still flickering in the darkness.

Real change never comes through force. It comes when people, one by one, dare to awaken and break the shell from within, not with violence, but with truth.

This work has already begun quietly all over the world. You may also feel that honoring the ancient truths is a good way to change direction, toward understanding and peace.

Featured image © Eldar Einarson