Thousands of years of enlightened ones (Jesus, Buddha, Krishna etc. and all their followers) spreading peace, joy and love (etc.) didn't stop all the PTB from wars, terrorism, destruction (etc.). How important is our not focusing on the problems, but staying in peace, joy and love? 

And how important is our "fighting" (which is focusing on) the PTB, even if it's exposing them through peaceful means?

I have heard:

“A single seed can make the whole earth green, and a single man in revolt can create a totally new world, a totally new humanity.” -Osho

 If a single man can effect an entire world, just think if there were 100... or 1000 walking on the earth at the same time?

No one can really say when or what the right moment for such a thing as "enlightenment" (whatever that is) to occur for another. With regard to each of these enlightened individuals, do you think that anyone of them would have become enlightened if they conitnually focused on the problems of the world? Yet each one of these individuals, standing alone on their own, have affected the entire world to some degree or other, not before their enlightenment, but only afterwards. And are still affecting others today, long after their deaths...

Perhaps the worlds they lived in, which consisted of elitists, priests, with the wars that were waged at that time, and the power structures of governments of kingdoms and family fuedal systems etc...) provided the perfect backdrop in order for their awakening to occur when it did. The turmoil of time just may have been the added impetus for them to turn their attention away from the outer world and focus on the inner dimensions of themselves.    

No one can really say for certain...

In the story of the Bagavad Gita, as I understand it, Krishna gave advise to Arjuna to go to war. To play the role that he found himself in (as a warrior) and to play it in the best way he could. 

Then there was the whole thing that happened in Japan with the flowering of Zen tied to swordsmanship, archery and the martial arts and the samarai. Fighting goes on, on the surface, but at a deeper level there is the stillness of a silent observer. The contrast provides a framework for the dynamics to be a possibility. 

The thing is: With anything, in any situation, that you are finding yourself in, it can be used an opportunity for growth. I think whatever the situation it is, whatever you feel you have to do, go into it and be as total as you can in being there doing it. It is more a question of not being fragmented, of being being totally immersed in it as possible. Not to make the choice of what to do before the situation comes along. But to allow the situation to dictate what needs to be done. Whether its sitting on a mountain top with a raging storm going on below, or being active within the storm throwing sandbags about to hold back the rising tide. Just be totally into it, with the observer behind the scenes watching yourself go through the experience of doing the best you can.   

So I would say, forget about where one should be, what one should be doing. But focus on whatever it is you are doing, and to do it as totally as you are able. Or to muddle it further... When the situation arises whereby an action is needed, they you will know what to do, then do it as abolute as you can.

Cheers turiya -*-