Illusion
“Do
not be misled by what you see around you, or be influenced by what
you see. You live in a world which is a playground of illusion, full
of false paths, false values, and false ideals. But you are not part
of the world.”
Sai
Baba
Sometimes
the world we live in is inexplicably insane. Here in the U.S. we have
begun a campaign for president that is more like bad reality
television than anything else. I think the founding fathers must be
rolling in their graves at the depravity of our politics these days.
It's tempting to simply tune out and unplug until the whole thing
passes.
It
helps me to remember that there is nothing new in this world. We
happen to be living at a particular time; the pendulum has swung in
a peculiar direction, and we are along for the swing. All the
craziness is an illusion to distract us both from ourselves, and from
the very real problems of our day. Instead of concentrating on what
we can do about poverty and injustice, about our part of global
warming, instead of planning for the very real dangers we face if our
planet continues to heat up, we point fingers, and scoff, and blame
one another. We prefer to watch a malignant narcissist strut and play to a
crowd, and be entertained, than to think deeply. It's not new. At
least we don't go to public hangings for entertainment anymore—or
watch the guillotine drop.
We
begin to take life, and our part in it seriously only when we put our
foot on a spiritual path. It is then we realize the gravity of our
choices, and that this is holy ground on which we stand. Only when we
understand that what we do, and how we live, matters to the whole of
creation, do we begin to be conscious of our choices. This world will
continue to be an illusion, an arena of false paths and false ideals
until enough of us wake up to its beauty, its essential spirituality,
and our place in the great scheme of things.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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