Revolutions Don’t Work Because They Are Driven By The Same Oppressive Minds

There are materialistic ideologies and others that are not. The schools of thought that have caused the most damage are those that promoted earthly power. The 20th century is a clear illustration of this. Whether through the dictatorship of the proletariat or through capitalism, humanity has torn itself apart—revealing in the process the true nature of the ideologies that guided it. In this regard, Marxism is just as materialistic as capitalism. Did Marx not say, “Religion is the opium of the people”? In saying this, he revealed his inability to imagine that the people could hold sincere, transcendent aspirations—noble ones, in a word. For him, religion was merely a refuge for those who had no access to power, status, or, of course, money. Marx, born into the bourgeoisie, though driven by the will to emancipate the people, was shaped by a worldview that failed to grasp some of the most fundamental dimensions of the human being—most notably, the natural, often spontaneous, impulse toward the sacred.

An ideology is judged by its fruits

Materialist philosophies are, in themselves, oxymoronic. The word philosophy comes from the Greek and means love of wisdom, which necessarily implies a quest that is more ethereal than purely physical. Philosophy is a path meant to elevate the spirit, though it can also lead to practical applications. The philosopher changes the world by first changing himself. The brute, unable to transform himself inwardly, will try to change his surroundings—often through devastation. History is filled with figures who could not restrain their cruelty or greed, having failed to cultivate any genuine inner realization.

Some peoples suffer in silence yet contribute to their own involution

It is often said that misery is the mother of crime. Yet the level of human development does not directly correlate with levels of criminality. People may be materially poor while remaining spiritually and morally rich. Some countries have been colonized, yet not to the point of losing their deep-rooted philosophies: these are often the ones that fare best despite their poverty. In contrast, certain regions have been completely annihilated by conquest, and their societies are now dominated by greed and desire. It is not surprising, then, that these same countries are among the most violent. The enduring inequalities and thirst for profit have long since destroyed the harmony that likely once reigned there. On the other hand, what can be said of wealthy nations that are spiritually impoverished? They continue, again and again, to go to war to seize resources or unjustly dominate others. Without the constant flow of social assistance to their most modest classes, these societies would collapse instantly—into a chaos that many Third World nations would struggle to match.

Revolution is a chimera

Believing one can change the world through violence is a mistake. If force is met with force, its nature does not fundamentally change. When oppression is overthrown through terror and bloodshed, it often gives way to something even more terrible. A growing forest makes less noise than a falling tree. True change happens in silence—in the quiet perseverance of millions of souls working in peace, harmony, and sacrifice. If you want to change the world, begin by transforming yourself, then act from that newly acquired state of consciousness. To overturn a system or resolve a problem sustainably, one must be guided by a level of consciousness higher than the one that created them.

Are you helping the kind or the cruel?

One of the essential questions to ask yourself is: where do you stand on the chessboard of change? Are you working for good, supporting just causes through your labor, your time, or how you spend your money? Or are you, on the contrary, serving oppressive powers through the use of those same resources? Certainly, the intention behind each action is crucial in evaluating its moral weight (e.g., working for a company to feed one’s children, even if that company exploits children on the other side of the world). Nevertheless, it is essential to maintain a global perspective, to understand the interconnectedness of our choices, and not to close our eyes to the real-world consequences of our daily commitments.

Your habits of compassion will bear fruit in ten years

As previously mentioned, profound change begins with an awakening of consciousness. Yet the temptation of violence remains ever-present because it appears fast and effective. Resisting it will spare you greater suffering. If you struggle to see the results of your good resolutions, it is likely your perception of time that must evolve. To awaken your consciousness, you must cultivate compassion. When the barrier between self and others begins to dissolve, then progress has truly been made. To reasonably attain this goal of inner revolution, one must trust the process and adopt a different relationship to time. It requires patience and the habit of gradually confronting—first in small doses, then increasingly—people and situations that will test your compassion. It is through trials that qualities grow and their authenticity is revealed.