Empathizing with Life

Text and images by Chen Chi-Hsiang. Life is illusory, like a dream; the human world resembles a play, rising and falling between reality and illusion. Remember your role. Everyone plays their part, wandering in and out of acting and observing. The script is everywhere; careful observation reveals lessons more dramatic than any fiction. From birth to death, we seek our path, swaying between spirit and matter, sensing life’s meaning. To exist is to live well; a rich life means consciously witnessing each moment, cherishing this existence, and deeply entering the state of being.

As a human, I have not lost curiosity despite comfort. I personally verify my existence and the current world daily. In a felt life, empathizing with events around me, I face the crazy world calmly, observing changes with conscious presence. Amidst chaos, I do not dance to media tunes but listen inwardly, piercing through appearances to understand the present situation. My sensitivity to surroundings, whether in my hometown Taiwan or Paris, allows me to observe comprehensively—from personal behavior to global trends. I see a world growing crazier, humanity partying on the brink of a volcano, unaware of danger, living in drunken stupor while Earth fills with pollution.

In the digital age, information spreads instantly without time or space limits. Whoever controls this machine controls the world. Digitalization brings convenience but also addiction to small screens, becoming tools for capitalism and officialdom to manipulate emotions and thoughts. Since human history, imperial nature has not changed; survival of the fittest is biological reality. Empires mask this with beautiful lies like "freedom and democracy," which are forceful deceptions. World instability stems not just from autocracy or democracy but from endless human greed and resource distribution.

Current tensions include the US-China trade war evolving into currency wars, potentially reshaping global geopolitics. Wildfires rage worldwide; Hong Kong’s "Anti-Extradition" protests escalate, shaking faith in "One Country, Two Systems." Trade wars ignite between Japan and South Korea; North Korea threatens Northeast Asia. Border conflicts persist in India-Pakistan; Middle East wars continue (Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya saw dictatorships fall but only puppet governments emerged). Syria’s civil war rages; Palestine suffocates under neighbors; Yemen fights; Iran and Saudi Arabia stand ready to clash. Venezuela faces economic collapse due to US sanctions; South America shifts rightward. Africa suffers internal wars and ethnic division, while powers plunder resources. What is wrong with Earth? It is obvious.

Europe faces threats from radical Islamic terrorism and refugee waves, fueling populist governments and EU fragmentation. Wealth disparity drives French Yellow Vest protests; Brexit remains unresolved; Ukraine-Russia disputes persist; Southern Europe struggles with debt. The world burns. Amazon rainforests blaze; Siberian fires last two months; Congo and Indonesia’s forests are cut. This unprecedented disaster destroys life sources. Capitalism’s profit motive and consumer society threaten humanity’s future.

My hometown Taiwan, after the recent local elections where the DPP suffered heavy losses and KMT returned, feels suffocating and panicked. The slogan "Get Rich Quick" seemed like a spell, making Taiwanese appear foolish. Seeing my homeland in such collective coma is chilling. Upcoming presidential elections may deepen splits. With Hong Kong’s crisis, have Taiwanese seen the true faces of the KMT and CCP? Taiwan should be Asia’s beacon of freedom and democracy. Wake up! Freedom is worth more than money.

Climate and ecological survival are major issues. Despite rising environmental awareness, natural disasters and human errors make Earth sick. Droughts and floods occur abnormally; extreme temperatures affect crops and geography. Polar ice melts, sea levels rise, threatening nations. Chernobyl’s nuclear disaster remains unresolved; Fukushima’s contamination affects air and oceans globally. Hidden nuclear risks persist. Energy, climate, and human crises loom. Pollution of air, ocean, land, water, and hearts challenges future living conditions. Personal energy saving and carbon reduction must start now to sustainably manage our beautiful Earth home.