"There are more things that scare us than there are that crush us. We suffer more in the imagination, than we suffer in reality." - Seneca

by Colette

Argentine author Leandro Taub defines himself as a multidisciplinary and futuristic artist, who works to unite and complete the world. At 28 he published his first book ‘Homemade Wisdom’ (2011), compiling the knowledge of one of his teachers, Jnana Yogi Lou Shankara. This book became a best seller in 13 countries. In the following years he published the books 'Santo Diablo' (2012), 'The Hidden Mind' (2013), 'The Anarchist' and 'Tales for the Hidden Mind' (2016). These books, translated into 4 languages, have been published in more than 26 countries.

On August 4, Leandro Taub presented a conference in San Miguel de Allende. It's title was 'How to Read the Signs that Life is Sending Us'. A student of Torah, to explain his theme Leandro used as a parable the biblical story of the 12 spies.

That story begins a year after the Jewish people left Egypt. They had received the Torah at Mount Sinai and had now reached the border of Canaan, the the future land of Israel. Everything, history, logic, divine intention, dictated that they should enter the Promised Land at that time, but they did not. Why?

It seems that the Jews decided to explore the land before entering upon their conquest. They sent 12 spies, one from each tribe, to scout out its weaknesses and strengths, to find the best strategy for its conquest. After 40 days of scouting the spies returned with the following report: "Yes, it really is a land flowing with milk and honey. Behold, we have brought with us samples of the gigantic fruit that grows there in abundance. But the people who inhabit it are also giants. We were as grasshoppers in their sight! We can't conquer it."

Leandor discussed this failure of the spies, noting that they were all wise men, all of a great spiritual level. How could they, he asked, who had witnessed the miraculous plagues of Egypt and the Parting of the Red Sea, doubt the ability of God? How could they not have faith in His help to conquer the giants of Canaan? And how is it that we are like them? Leandro draws the following parallels.

He contrasts our belief that we are in charge (or ought to be so) with our acceptance of our actual experience. We all think we know what's best for for us, don't we? We tend to lack faith in how life treats us. The spies believed that it was not convenient for them to take risks. Some even demanded that Moses lead them back to Egypt. In this they rebelled against the Universal Flow, questioning the good judgment of God. The consequences, in this case, were 39 years in the desert, time enough to learn from their mistakes.

I understood from this example that our ignorance is the main reason we suffer. We suffer because we cannot understand what is good or bad for us, because we are confusing desires with needs. We make bad decisions and, as a result, receive a lesson. But we do not accept our responsibility. We complain. We choose to be "victims of circumstances," when really we are free and responsible for what happens to us.

Now, I think about karma as most of us do, as payback, good or bad. Things happen to us now because of what we have done before, in this or other lives. Whether as punishment or reward, it is learning. Maybe in another life I was an abusive boss and now I am the employee who is mistreated. Not abstract or intellectual, it is learning in our flesh.

But I found in Leandro's ideas a more poetic way to explain karma: Sometimes we have before us the easy and safe path, but foolish as our idolatrous ego is, the 'rational' mind chooses wrongly and we must pay the consequences of doubting the infinite wisdom of God.

It is our ego who thinks he knows what would be good for us. Our ego is the tantrum-throwing child. He is the one who does not accept the will of the Universe.

God arranges our free will as a great labyrinth and places us in it so that by our own foot we solve the riddle of life.

Affirming this eternal wisdom Buddha noted, "All beings are already enlightened, just as they are." Everything is happening the way it should. You get what you need

Of course, we do not have to resign ourselves to the status quo. To change our present circumstances it is necessary to learn from our past mistakes. If we want us to do better, in health, relationships, with family and work, we must be more aware. The Universe will give us more pleasant outcomes, if we make less ignorant decisions. The most important step in making better decisions is to recognize the difference between need and desires.

In this material world, achieving your desires intensifies the craving for more: more possessions, more status, more power, more admiration, more pleasurable things for the ego and the body. Failure to obtain our desires generates a chronic dissatisfaction, heavy load to bear. Whatever our desires may be, the Universe always gives us what we need. The Universe does not fulfill whims.

We need to be honest and ask ourselves: Is this what I want the best for me? If the answer is no, by accepting this refusal, we have risen above our ego.

- Instead of seeing the bad of each situation, we should look for the positive;
- Instead of complaining about what we don't have, we should be grateful for what we already have, and so free ourselves from the heavy burden of dissatisfaction and be at peace;
- Instead of denying, we should accept the lessons, understanding that everything is for our good, having the humility to live grateful for what life gives us;
- Instead of blaming others, we should stop considering ourselves victims and assume responsibility.

I've come to understand that acceptance and thankfulness is the key to happiness. We have what we need. Sometimes to ask for more is excess.

Walking my short way home from the lecture I remembered the popular Mexican saying: "God does not give wings to scorpions."

The scorpion would be more poisonous, more dangerous with wings. That is why God does not give him wings. It is as if someone who has problems with his ego (scorpion) asks for power (wings) and is granted his wish. Then, with his additional power and not having control of himself, he would make even greater mistakes.

Then, I remembered that just recently a new species of scorpion, one with wings was discovered in Texas. God is a bit sarcastic, no?

Thank you Leandro.

Learn more about Leandro Taub and his philosophy at:
www.leandrotaub.com

**************

Colette Morya is a poet and traveler-writer now residing in San Miguel where she is learning about historical and anthropological culture through her "urban tourism."