The Mirage

The real pleasures are those of the next world, while the pleasures of this world are only a mirage. However, man is blissfully unaware of this reality.

Mr. R.N. Pandey, a second lieutenant in the Indian Army, mistakenly boarded the Jammu Tawi Express, thinking it was the Utkal Express. Only as the train steamed out of the station did he realize he was on the wrong train. When the train was nearing Okhla, in desperation, he opened the door and jumped out of the train, which by then was hurtling along at full speed. He never reached the platform. He fell onto the railway track under the train and was cut to pieces by the wheels. Thus, on the 12th of November 1985, at the promising age of 35, death came to claim him for its own.

The successful man who runs a lucrative industry owns a palatial mansion, drives where he wills in limousines and possesses all kinds of status symbols, including a circle of wealthy and elegant friends, has all the things that add to success in this world. However, he is no more immune to misfortune than Lieutenant Pandey. At any moment, his factory can close, his house can crumble around him, his cars can skid with him to destruction, and his friends can one by one desert him. Those self and the same things which were such glittering symbols of success can become like so much dross under his feet and under whose deadweight he may be buried forever.

As soon as the true nature of material things is laid bare, they appear no more attractive than tombstones. To all intents and purposes, material progress leads one to splendid mansions of success. However, if we were to face reality, we would see that it takes us only as far as the graveyard—and not one step beyond.

The real pleasures are those of the next world, while the pleasures of this world are only a mirage. Therefore, the greatest mistake man can make is to pursue what is superficially attractive in this world while neglecting what is to be achieved in the next; in this way, he will have success in neither.