One of the most powerful sentences I have come across ever is as simple as it gets. My grandfather used to tell me that “it is just the way it is” or “it is like this”. We used to make fun of this type of saying when he was still alive – but now things have changed. It is only years later that I learned to fully appreciate the powerful simplicity of this mantra and it’s implications.
I am often catching myself walking through this world feeling that “I have a plan”, or that “this or that person should be doing such and such”. I am looking at this infinite universe seriously feeling that I have “some control” almost knowing that “if the world only was the way it should be all would be fine!” May I bend this world so it follows my will, may terrorists and prisons go away, may no one be hungry and may all animals not be abused! “I am sure we can make positive changes” I hear my mind tell me over and over again. After all, I am absolutely convinced that something is “wrong” with this little blue dot floating in the vastness of space – and my feeling must be based on truth because “whatever I feel is the truth and I defend it viciously!”
A Little Wannabe God
Now whenever I catch my little inner wannabe-god trying to fix this world I see nothing noble in his eyes anymore. I see fear, contraction and tension. The world is either his “friend”, his “enemy” or his “task”. He bases his tiny little ideas and imaginations of how it all “should be” on a sense of deeply rooted insecurity. He fears change and he hates not being in control. The air he breathes is the illusion of sobriety, nobility and heroic compassion. “I will free everyone from suffering” he says. He also says that he is very kind to others and that his kindness is genuine! Of course it is – after all he is a little god, right?! He also loves to argue and prove his point – that’s because he’s very insecure. Insecure little gods fear that they might not be “right”. I wonder how such a little god would feel if someone came along asking him: “Why are you so ugly?” (This actually happened to me!)
My Name is Delusion
In these moments I see this little “scaredy-cat-god”, and gently notice that he is just like this. It’s his nature to fear this massive universe, this infinite turning of good and bad, problems and solutions. I know that he is upset about all the “bad” stuff. He vows to fight for the “good stuff” with all his heart. It must be like this, for the little god doesn’t yet know that the world is nothing but an infinite chain of problems and solutions made by the mind. He is still trying to find solutions outside of himself, dreaming on through his fantasy-world of “good” and “bad” he remains unaware of truth, of process and flux.
Constantly at war with the way things are he will soon go to war with people around him, those who don’t agree. Just watch out, dare to turn your eyes around and you can see the little god talking within yourself. The gods name is delusion and he will run your life until you really see through the endless play of your mind and become truly independent, liberated from self.
“The world is like this,” says wisdom.
“The world should be like that”, says delusion.
“It is like this,” says wisdom.
“Yes, but…” says the one who is not at peace.
“It is like this,” says wisdom.
“It could also be like that,” says fantasy.
Thank you for this wonderful post Tobi. I have learned through your retreat teachings, my meditation practice and the books you’ve recommended that the things in this world that we find difficult to deal with or want to “fix” are really “our teachers . It is our perspective and perception that needs to be changed and for this we must go within and like Gandhi said we must “be the change that you want to see in the world “. What simple wisdom, but very hard to sometimes practice! I think your Grandfather was a very wise man!