The Mirage of More
In less than 60 seconds this short story will change how you see success forever.
What if the life you’re chasing already exists?
There was once a rich and shrewd businessman who took a holiday near a small fishing village.
One morning when the sun was high and the coconut trees rocked softly in the breeze, he went for a stroll along the almost empty beach.
Halfway up the beach, he came upon a small fishing boat. An old fisherman was sitting in its shade enjoying a smoke.
“Good morning, friend. How come you’re not out fishing? The water looks perfect for a good catch,” the businessman said.
“You are a man of the sea?” asked the simple fisherman.
“No,” answered the businessman, “but I noticed all the other boats are out except yours.”
“There are no other boats. I alone fish here. I fish at night. Now I take rest here in the breeze and shade,” explained the old man.
“But if you went out now, wouldn’t you catch more fish?”
“Probably. But what for?”
“Well, I’m sure you could sell them all at that tourist beach over there,” the businessman said, pointing towards the next village.
“And then what?” asked the fisherman.
“Well, then you could buy a motor for your boat and go further out to really deep waters and catch even bigger fish.”
“And then what?” the humble seaman asked again.
“Well, then you could buy another boat, employ some of these idle young men to fish for you and so make more money!”
“And what then?” said the old man.
“Well, with all that money, you could build your own house.
You could sit back, relax and enjoy life with a peaceful mind,” responded the businessman.
“Thank you for your advice,” smiled the fisherman...
“but that’s what I am doing now.”
The businessman, humbled, touched his palms together and nodded in agreement.
The peace you are looking for, you already are.
Be still, and know this.
-
It’s the truth no one wants to admit, the one we all know holds wisdom and peace, yet somehow we overlook it again and again.
We are so culturally programmed and ingrained with this ignorant worldview.
This is Māyā - the illusion that convinces us happiness and fulfillment exist somewhere out there, just beyond our reach.
"Just as a dream seems real until you wake up, so does the world appear real until Self-knowledge dawns."
— Ramana Maharshi
How often we strive for more, thinking eventually peace and happiness will be ours at some point in the future once we ‘get enough’ - a desire that never ends.
Yet, like a mirage, it keeps moving further away.
The truth is, the only moment peace and happiness can truly be found, is now. Life is now.
It’s easy to get on an intellectual level, but takes some serious de-conditioning and un-learning to embody this wisdom and live from this place.
Māyā is sticky—it pulls us back into old paradigms, ways of thinking and being.
When I catch myself ‘forgetting’ this truth - I come back to the present. I remember. Again and again, I go through this process.
Having an awareness practice is the key to shortening your gap of ‘forgetting.’
Meditation dissolves Māyā.
It clears the illusions, the mental noise, the conditioning. It leaves you feeling clearer, lighter, present. From this place, inner knowing flows.
So let this be a reminder: enjoy your life now. Be grateful for what you have now.
Practice this daily.
Be still. See through the illusion.
"When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."
— Lao Tzu
Make this your priority, not the relentless pursuit of wealth and fulfillment in exterior achievements.
At one point or another, you will recognize this to be true.
Much love
Peace be with You
Robbie
