Of truth and falsehood

Of truth and falsehood

November 2022

Of Truth and Falsehood 

Dear Reader, 

A few days ago, I saw a video of a former superstar wishing ill upon  a photographer who had stumbled while taking her pictures. The  internet went into a tizzy criticising her attitude and how celebrities  who are ‘role models’ should display civility while dealing with  ordinary people. 

Vis-à-vis this incident, through this page, I want to talk about human  psychology. We lose respect for those who become smitten by us  and chase us in the hope of getting our attention, whereas we are  magnetised by those who pay attention to themselves and focus on  their success and growth. The disdain that celebrities show towards  ‘lesser mortals’ who hero-worship them and spend money on them,  points towards a larger issue. That each one of us is meant to look for  the hero in our own self. We are supposed to chisel our character and  skills, plug our shortcomings, and build our strengths, rather than  idolise celluloid stars. 

I remember sitting face-to-face with three Bollywood celebrities in a  closed space some 10 years ago. I was wrapped in my own world and  did not have the strength to go starry-eyed looking at them. Within  a short time, all three struck up a conversation with me and wanted  to know more about me. Since I was reluctant to divulge much about  myself, they sought the help of others to know who I was. This was a  very telling experience.  

Celebrity tantrums also point towards our misplaced values. The  ones who are always by our side, supporting us and being there  for us in our hour of need, are the ones who actually deserve our  undivided time, attention, and adoration. But generally, we get to see  the opposite, reflecting the strong hold of maya on us. 

Lastly, since it’s the nature of human beings to look for leaders,  shouldn’t we use our discretion before choosing to follow someone?  A leader must be recognised by their high values, unassailable  character, contribution to society, and the lives they have touched  and transformed for the better, through their actions. But since they  motivate us to grow from within, they are not much sought after. 

The November issue of Life Positive carries a cornucopia  of articles for you to enjoy and savour. One which I  recommend particularly is Face-to-Face with God. Lovers  of God would die for an experience such as this.

 - Editor