Who is the Greatest Person on Earth?

Who is the greatest person on earth?

Jesus? Buddha? Mohammed? These were all inspiring to some people (not just by ‘some’ people but almost ‘majority’ of the people in the world). Millions have died and billions have undergone persecutions because of religion and these persecutions and sufferings continue at present.

Could it be Galileo Galilee, the ambassador of science, who invented the telescope and was the first to see the universe for what it really is? In the Time 100 List of 2006 for the world’s most influential people, it includes George Clooney, George W. Bush, Oprah Winfrey, Bill and Melinda Gates, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II, Hillary Clinton, Mahatma Gandhi and a lot more.

But why did the magazine consider these human beings as the greatest persons in this world? Because they were the people who greatly influenced the world─ changes and molds it into another identity. But why do we really have to recognize them? In fact, it is our will to be influenced. It is our choice.

They do not really have the control to the world. So, who is that person we can really consider as ‘the greatest person on earth’?

Well, who is it? The answer is only a three-letter word— YOU.

Why you? It is because the most important in your world is you. Pause…Think for a while…Who else could it be? Who brushes you teeth? Who changes your clothes? Can those people listed in the Time 100 do these things for you? Of course not!

Is there someone else? Perhaps, there is, but it was when you’re still a kid. But you are not kids no more. You have the control of your world!

What you’ve been doing for many years is to put yourself after everyone else. Has this been effective for you? How has this been working for you?

Here is a story. There was once a high school student. He had many friends. He became the first honor from his first year up to his third year. He became prominent in his school. His attitude changed. He shouts on his classmates whom he considered as ‘dull’ individuals. He just found out that he was losing his friends. One night, he realized that he was becoming a monster. He just slept. And when he woke up, everything had changed. He felt better.

When you feel better, you will be friendlier. When you are friendlier, your world will seem a lot better.

This applies the "Golden Rule". "Do unto others what you want others do unto you." The point is how you are, is reflected to others. Once you give value to yourself, the people you acquainted with will feel you value them. They then will value you. This is what we called mutualism. The thought of putting others before you seems worthless. You should not teach others how to treat you.

Here is another example. Who of you here have been flown in a plane? What is the safety speech when the plane loses pressure and the air masks drop? If you have a companion/s, whose mask do you put on first, yours or his or hers? Why is that?

You put on yours first for you to be able to assist others easily, right? If you look at yourself first, you are in a better situation to help others.

Here is my final example. Do you know the song of Whitney Houston "The Greatest Love of All"? What is the greatest love all? The answer is in the song itself. It goes: "Because the greatest love all is happening to me. Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all."

So, I will ask you again.

Who is the greatest person on earth?

The answer: YOU.