The Law of Equivalent Exchange

Alchemy's most basic law states that: in order to gain something, something of equal value must be lost.



The world's outpouring of support for Haiti can only be described as phenomenal. From the suburbs of Middle America to the busy streets of Manila, everyone just seem to be wanting to take part and provide whatever support they can, whether it be moral or financial. And to think that for the world to come to a common understanding despite differences in faiths, political views, and skin color; it has to happen in Haiti, a country which was born out of misunderstanding and racism, being founded by black slaves no less.

Pondering about this, it made me wonder how mankind has to go through so much pain and tragedy just to be able to come to a common understanding and achieve things that has been deemed impossible to achieve in this cynical and pessimistic world. Which then brings me back to the concept of alchemy's basic law. Does it really mean that in order for humanity to achieve peace and tolerance, the price has to come in the form of so much lives lost?

Perhaps it is humanity's 'curse' that as we progress in our many mundane pursuits, the ideals of goodness and spirituality slowly get submerged in cynicism and doubts. But in order for our inherent good qualities to resurface, an upheaval of cataclysmic proportions needs to occur. Even though the price involves the loss of so many lives, in exchange the world comes to a better understanding of the meaning of being good and unselfish.

And it isn't just the Haiti tragedy. Such outpouring of positivity are recorded in history as a direct result of negatives: last year's typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in the Philippines; The Asian tsunami a few years back; The two world wars of the last century. World peace and tolerance - these things indeed come at such heavy prices. But even so, the resurfacing of what's good in humanity and being actually able to restore one's faith in humanity - all these lessons the universe has to put us through in the end teaches us one simple truth: that no matter how self-centered and selfish man becomes in the pursuit of his own happiness, there will always be within him that spark of kindness that he can not and will never escape.

And yet there is still within me this gnawing thought: given that the world still has so much problems like global warming, the ongoing political tensions in Korea and China, terrorism, AIDS, the trafficking of women and children, racism - would it really take another cataclysm just in order for us to get over ourselves, open our eyes, and see what's wrong?

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