Pretending

A great deal of this so-called "spirituality" consists of pretending, based on the desperate proposition that if we pretend to be happy, we will be. Look deeply into this. It is the basis of many rituals, spiritual practices, celebrations, satsangs, and even service projects.

We so often attempt to create happiness through sympathetic magic. Are we spontaneously born each moment from a spring of original happiness inside, or are we just trying to act like it, trying to smile like it, under the assumption that everybody else seems happy, so I'm damn well going to act like I am too?

Consider that no outward "spiritual" or "moral" behavior actually causes happiness or enlightenment to arise. Happiness arises un-caused, simply as the relaxed ease, the complete repose, of not pretending.