World AIDS Day

1st December is World AIDS Day, the day when people all around the world come together to raise awareness for AIDS and to remember those who have died from this disease. While we can be thankful that we have made great medical advances in fighting this disease, there is a still a battle to be won, not only against the AIDS virus, but against all other forms of sickness, destruction, and chaos that are plaguing the world at this time. That it is why it is important to come together not only on this day, but every day, to garner ourselves with a new consciousness, one that doesn’t only think of our own pain and problems, but about the pain and problems of others as well. It does not matter what path we follow, be it Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, or Islam. Our spiritual teachers embodied the same message which was a signal for life’s greatest purpose. Buddha said, “Consider others as yourself.” Jesus said, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Mohammed said, "That which you want for yourself, seek for mankind...wish for your brother what you wish for yourself." Hillel said, “That which is odious to you, do not do to others.” One way to practice this Golden Rule is to take it upon ourselves to help others with their problems as if they were our own. It’s so easy to think, “This issue doesn’t affect me,” but in the eyes of God we are one. We are all connected and we all affect each other. By helping others with their problems, we truly help ourselves. To create a revolution and bring an end to this and other diseases, we need more than just a day of awareness. We need to make awareness our lifestyle.