Page 49 - NAMAH-Apr-2019
P. 49

Perspective








        You can run but you can’t hide



        Mira Prabhu


        Abstract
        When we take the unreal for the real we suffer.  We fail to see that beneath our suffering is pure gold. The only way
        to break the cycle of suffering is to step out of what is unreal (ego) into what is real (our Immortal Self).




        Consider for a moment the many ways you  awareness and radiant bliss. Millions of
        have tried to escape suffering — both the  false coverings hide this radiance from us,
        gigantic miseries of loss, grief and death,  especially since the ego is determined to live
        as well as the wee pains, frustrations and  on at all costs, and because we stupidly and
        irritations that are part of the menu of being  obstinately feed the wrong beast, rather than
        born as a human on this planet. Gautama  the shimmering angel who sits whispering
        Buddha nailed it when he gave us his First  sweetly on our shoulder. And so we continue
        Noble Truth: that mundane life is suffering.  to be in pain.
        Thank heavens he also went on to tell us that
        our own fears, desires and expectations lay  As Gautama Buddha said again, suffering is
        at the root of our wretchedness, and then  necessary (he meant the varied pains of old
        he went on to clearly and lovingly show us  age, suffering and death), but misery (our
        a way out.                               persisting in increasing our sadness and
                                                 confusion by wrong thought, speech and
        I was stunned some time ago to hear that the  action) is an option.
        anti-depressant industry is one of the biggest
        money-spinners in our world. And yet I was  Alcohol, drugs, sex, violence, workaholism,
        not really surprised, because I have seen from  greed — all these are destructive and bottomless
        my own experience, and that of others, that  addictions that temporarily delude us into
        most of us have no clue about reality and  thinking we are sitting on top of the dung heap
        are therefore befogged with gloom and  of samsara and having a right blast… yes,
        bewilderment. Our true nature, incredible as  that’s how many of us hide from the naked
        it may seem when we are depressed, lonely  truth that, as humans, we are fragile and
        and sad, is nothing less than pure life, infinite  limited, and that our mind, no matter how


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