What Does It Mean to Be Human? A Conscious Reflection by D Conterno (2025)

To contemplate the essence of humanity is to engage in one of the most profound inquiries of existence. What does it mean to be human? Are we merely biological organisms striving for survival, or are we beings imbued with the capacity to transcend the limitations of instinct and ego? This question resonates through the ages, inviting reflection on our unique qualities and the responsibilities they entail.

 

The Unique Qualities of Humanity

Chief among our human qualities is our capacity for self-awareness. We can observe ourselves, our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours and question their origins and purpose. This self-awareness is not merely a cognitive ability but a profound existential gift that enables us to transcend the mechanical repetitions of life.

Humanity's greatest strength lies in its potential to be free from the conditioning of society, culture, and tradition. What is freedom? Is freedom the opposite of bondage? Is Freedom a reaction? If these two last questions lead to a negative answer, we can conclude that freedom is not a choice. It is the perception of what some people call the Truth. This new perception of reality, unclouded by prejudice and fear, allows us to live authentically and responsibly.

Yet, this freedom comes with a burden. To be human is to bear the responsibility for our choices, not only for ourselves but also for humanity. It demands that we transcend narrow self-interest and consider our actions and inactions' impact on the interconnected web of life. This interconnectedness is another defining feature of humanity that modern science and ancient wisdom affirm.

 

Our Failure to Fulfil Our Duty

Despite these extraordinary capacities, humanity fails to honour its duty to itself and the world. This mind state means we fail to honour our duty to ourselves and the world. Our self-awareness has been overshadowed by self-obsession. Our freedom has been corrupted by attachment to materialism, pleasure, and constant ignorance of our fears that lie deeply within us. Our interconnectedness has been ignored in favour of divisiveness and exploitation. How did we arrive here?

When will we understand that fear is our greatest enemy and the root cause of human suffering and failure? Fear manifests as the desire for security, both physical and psychological. This desire drives us to create systems that promise stability but ultimately trap us in cycles of dependency and conflict. Governments, religions, and economic structures, while initially serving practical purposes, have become instruments of control and division and are, as such, very dependent on using fear against those they pretend to protect. In clinging to avoiding becoming aware of our fears and these systems, we betray our humanity by surrendering our freedom and responsibility.

Our failure is also evident in our relationship with nature. Instead of recognising the Earth as a living entity to which we are intrinsically connected, we have treated it as a resource to be exploited. This exploitation stems from a mindset of separation, the illusion that we are distinct from the environment and immune to its suffering. This illusion has led to environmental degradation and the potential collapse of ecosystems upon which all life depends.

 

The Seduction of the Easy Path

Why do we choose this path of destruction, knowing it jeopardises the very essence of our humanity? The answer lies in our preference for comfort over challenge and pleasure overgrowth, which are our main means of avoiding fear. The "easy life" offers immediate gratification, while pursuing authenticity and responsibility demands effort, sacrifice, courage, understanding and love. Love for ourselves, others and nature.

What will it take to fully and deeply understand that the constant assertion of belief indicates fear? In our rush to assert dominance over nature, secure our future, and cling to societal norms, we reveal our deep-seated fear of the unknown. We prefer the illusion of control to the vulnerability of living in harmony with life's unpredictability.

This choice reflects a profound misunderstanding of what it means to be human. We have mistaken consumption for fulfilment, control for freedom, and conformity for peace. In doing so, we have abdicated our birthright to stand as the best we can be. Freedom is not the life society has conditioned us to pursue; it is the life of integrity, wisdom, and compassion that lies within our grasp if we dare to awaken.

 

The Ultimate Question

As we stand at the crossroads of survival and extinction, we must ask ourselves Why we persist on this destructive path, knowing its consequences. What does this choice say about us as a species? Are we truly content to ignore the call to rise to our full potential and live as custodians of life rather than exploiters?

To deny our humanity is to deny our greatest gift. We have the power to think, feel, create, and love in ways that transcend the limitations of mere survival. This is our birthright: not the pursuit of comfort at the expense of life but the pursuit of Truth, beauty, and justice.

Will we rise to this challenge or continue to turn away, preferring the hollow promises of a blind but easy life? The answer lies not in what society dictates but in the quiet spaces of our hearts. We may yet rediscover what it truly means to be human in those spaces.

Given all the destruction we have perpetuated over the ages and that we are still creating on an even greater scale, can we live as we do, even if it is by our acceptance of becoming withdrawn from caring and understanding? Is it not important to remember that each of us was born with the duty to be a conscious advocate who works for humanity.  Will you take the challenge and change your life and work toward creating a new paradigm where we live in inner and outer prosperity as well as in full harmony with nature?