Illusions of the world consistently capture more of our attention than the Truth itself. This is an inherent aspect of human nature. Truth is eternal, still, and unchanging, whereas illusion is characterized by movement, drama, and constant change. We are naturally drawn to focus on the mind, which is the source of these illusions. Even when we realize that we are the peaceful stillness that embodies Truth, it remains challenging not to be mesmerized by the ever-shifting content of the mind. It is akin to watching a movie rather than the screen, listening to the notes instead of the rests, or gazing at the stars and planets without considering the vastness of the space in between.
When a wealthy man asked Jesus how he could attain salvation, Jesus instructed him to give away his possessions. Essentially, he was to let go of the objects themselves but this did not mean he would lose the True essence of wealth. The man needed to detach from the illusions of wealth. Material possessions, like money, are transient; coins can melt, wealth can dissipate, and belongings can be lost or stolen. However, True wealth, rooted in the eternal and unchanging, cannot be taken away. Unfortunately, few of us truly recognize the immense value of this kind of wealth.
When we become consumed by the activity of the mind, we lose touch with our true essence, and in doing so, we operate under a form of hypnosis. It is as though we are immersed in a dreamlike state, believing the actors, props, and sets of our mental world are real. We come to identify with them, forgetting that we are not merely a part of this illusion—we are far more than that. Meditation can often assist in redirecting our attention toward Truth, away from the illusions of the mind. Nevertheless, it remains a daily practice to avoid becoming entangled in the captivating, yet ephemeral, contents of the mind.