What is the single misconception responsible for all possible problems, dissatisfaction, conflict, and wars

The belief that all objects and living beings, including ourselves, exist as individual selves is the most overlooked root cause of all problems, adversity, and suffering in the world. To clarify, who can claim to possess an individual self? Only a being or object that is truly one and a self-generated entity. It cannot be a composite, a product of everything else and its essence. In addition, it must exist independently, without relying on our mind's labels, such as "me," "you," "they," "different," etc. So, only what can exist as a partless, singular entity, not produced by everything else, can claim an individual self. Otherwise, everything is selfless—full of everything else and their essence, and not its own independent self. The facts of how everything exists tell us that nothing in nature exists as an individual self, yet all of us cling to the notion of ourselves, other beings, and objects as if we were separate individuals. We assume everyone possesses a self because our senses tell us so, and equally ignorant societies reinforce this belief. We rarely question our perceptions; that is why our lives are filled with disappointments, problems, and suffering, and we seem unable to find lasting solutions.

How can we change our understanding of how everything exists?

Anyone can change their understanding because it is so straightforward, and no effort is required—just honest observation. The truth is already functioning everywhere we look. All we need to do is recognize, through careful observation, that nothing in the universe is a singular, self-generated entity. If we carefully examine everything, we will see that everything—from entire galaxies to the smallest atoms and quarks—is composed of an infinite number of ever-smaller particles, which are also made up of smaller parts, without a chance for anything to be truly one entity. This means that an atom, a quark, or any part of them is not a singular entity, and thus they are all products of everything else and their essence. Consequently, they lack their own unique, independent essence (self). We begin to recognize that everything, from the universe to us to atoms and quarks, exists like this without exception. Everything exists because of everything else and their essence. Everything is a continuum of the whole of nature, thus not separate from nature or any part of it. Therefore, there is no true difference between anyone or anything except in the labels and names our minds create. Our minds invent labels for everything they perceive. Labels like "me," "they," "short," or "tall" come from our minds, yet our minds believe otherwise. They believe that the perceived bodies and forms already have those labels and names. Our minds assume that by labeling things, they are merely acknowledging what exists. However, our minds fail to recognize that they invented, projected, and believed in these labels and that none of them come from the bodies or forms themselves. By not understanding how everything exists and believing in these labels, our minds create division and separation where there is none, consequently generating all forms of suffering and being unaware of how to transcend them. 

This is what we must recognize: the role our unaware minds play in creating duality and all the suffering that follows. Another belief worth mentioning is the notion of an unchanging soul. If there is no permanent owner separate from the ever-changing body and mind, then who could own the soul? If there was an unchanging soul or "me," the body and the mind's experiences would belong to someone else and would be experienced by someone else, not me. Of course, this is not how we experience ourselves, proving that many beliefs we've accepted as truth are nonfactual, unscientific, and illogical. These beliefs are based on unreality and wishful thinking—hoping we are somehow always the same person forever.

We must clearly understand that we can correct this misunderstanding through a proper understanding of how everything exists. By acknowledging that our perceptions and experiences contradict the way things truly exist, we take the first step toward peace and happiness. We need to realize that our current mode of perception is utterly opposite to how we and others truly exist. Everyone is identical and without an individual essence that has always been theirs, and the only differences are superficial, relative, and exist solely in our mind's labels.

Summary.

When we start to recognize the unbiased facts of existence, we begin to experience real compassion and peace because we realize with certainty that everything exists selflessly, just like us. We begin to taste true freedom and see that world peace, justice, and prosperity are so easily achievable today. To further this profound understanding of how everything exists, try our articles, educational videos, interactive platforms, and Android and iOS apps designed to help. We hope everyone will recognize the wonderful truth about everything and themselves so that world peace, happiness, and prosperity become the only conditions on Earth.