Many boys in their teens have had the pleasure of sailing. On one occasion when some boys were sailing their boat in the early evening, one of them suggested to another that he lie down on the deck of the boat, flat on his back, and hold on to the mast so that he would not fall off. Then he directed him to look up straight along the mast of the boat. It was a clear night, and the stars were shining brightly.
As the boy gazed steadily upward, he noticed that the mast was swaying to and fro, because a slight breeze had caused the waters of the lake to become somewhat choppy. As he continued to gaze upward, all of a sudden the mast of the boat became as still as a telephone pole. The stars began to move to and fro—they were actually moving, according to his sense of sight. When he got up, he realized that what he had seen was an optical illusion such as one often sees when the sun in the west at certain seasons seems to sink below the horizon in the form of a great red ball. When it begins to touch the horizon, one thinks he can actually see the sun moving as it continues to sink out of sight. This is another optical illusion, for everyone knows that it is the earth that is moving, not the sun.
There are many similar things in our human experience which bring to our attention the fact that they too are but so many illusions. These are oftentimes occasioned by ignorance or false thinking. Following what appears to be true, and not that which is actually true, has led to many failures and heartbreaks. What one greatly needs is an understanding of the truth of Life, which will protect him from following mistaken concepts.
