The Truth Hidden in Plain Sight

It almost seems trivial that people would complain day in and day out about all the injustices in the world. It’s as if we had a skin disease and instead of trying to find the cause of it, we complain all day about the rash. 

We talk about its redness, itchiness, size and depth, its ability to make us irritable, cause depression, miss work and keep us away from what we love to do. We talk about the number of people who have it and in which regions of the world. We talk about its history, past, present and future. We write books about it and create museums and websites to educate others. We do everything but find a cure for it!

People have much invested in their beliefs, which is a source of comfort, I suppose. Unfortunately most people would rather be “right” than be happy. It’s the ego again, it always gets in the way. 

The world is insane, driven mad by the powers of maya. We go ‘round and ‘round on the maya-go-round of samsara never able to get off. We get stuck because we can never see past our conditioning and the likes and dislikes that keep us spinning in a centrifuge of suffering. 

Politics and the media is just the chattering of an unwitting society. It’s the masses floundering in the darkness. It’s just a lot of complaining about a rash that will never go away in spite of all protesting.

What is a yogi to do?  

The wise step lightly and carefully, as if walking on a geese-infested golf course. They see everyone as puppets, hypnotized by maya’s powers. They see them as children in adult body-suits with adult responsibilities. But mostly they see the Self, “me,” and the truth that is hidden from them.

From "The Broken Tusk - Seeing Through the Lens of Vedanta"