Stories-

(Even the Best, Are Not good For You)

I want to complain of the basic idea that stories are good for people. Stories do not imitate a life.

Always they distort. How many times have you heard the phrase It's only a story? We try to teach and to learn about life through them. Telling. Listening. Getting a message. Swearing, I shall apply its message to my own life. The story which reveals to you that you are not going to be able to tell a story that will save you is the only one that can help. For, you see, a story is drawn from a hole in the mind and is listened to by that part of a listener's mind which is the part that creates problems in the first place. A mind can be a troublesome thing. By telling stories, it appears to be solving the problems it caused. Actually, it is increasing their numbers rapidly like flies or rabbits. Even the Great Sherlock was acting so. You do not even learn from your own experience much less the experience of others! Stories have been used by Masters for ages as instruments telling only of how easily your are tricked...again and again the same trick. You see that and continue to be tricked by it. You pay your money then you bow before idols all in exchange for the trick.

You have a murder on your hands. What is to be done? Pin it on somebody and murder them. That will teach people not to murder. Shortcuts? Convenience? Surely, a path to foolish behavior is not to be praised as a shortcut just because it offers convenience.

It seems we love stories we tell and retell and nothing good is gained from them. Stories work like liars when they lead you to believe in them. Stories have a beginning, middle, and end. They work out. There's a point. There's a mile-marker. Life is nothing like a story. Life happens. Life never misses a beat. It runs away from you while you busy yourself trying to make sense of it. What are you trying to accomplish? Life is here and it is overwhelming you for the love of excited enthusiasm. You cannot overwhelm it. MAKE A FRIEND OF IT. A man says I will accept life when it makes sense to me. One should say, life makes sense to me when I accept it. (Not the story, life.)

Stories are distractions from life. As such, they are highly valued by those who are upset and depressed. Knowing this, stories are highly valued by those who would make a buck or two from the downhearted and gain a following of fools. There are so many so desperate for a fix. So, life contains stories because so many are afraid to live. It is the substitute of choice. A good story puts you to sleep. It would be better for you to be upset.

Imagine telling a story about the ocean to explain it to someone. Rather take them to the beach. And wait. In silence. Let the ocean speak in its language to the one who would know about it.

That brings us straight to the point to be made: the presence holds the key to my real life. It may feel like a shadow friend to an authentic self. Make its introduction. Present your self to it. Initiate a true bond of lasting friendship; something bold and unknown. Initiate obedience to life. Transcend the envelope of story. Leave all heroes behind.