Lessons in reality from the Ocean

If you happen to be near the ocean, lake or even a swimming pool, notice the surface. During the day, ripples and waves constantly keep appearing. No two waves are alike, they appear and disappear randomly.

Imagine, there is just the ocean, its mere presence causes waves to appear, the waves have no independent existence. If the ocean had consciousness, the waves would inherit the consciousness too. If the consciousness is attached to a wave, it'll think it is unique and notice millions of other ripples and waves. It'll watch itself grow and die, become affected by other ripples and lead a turbulent existence as long as it considers itself separate from the ocean.

However, the ocean itself would be unconcerned, blissful in the knowledge that it alone is. It also knows that the ripples and waves are mere illusion, that all of them are spontaneously created from it and will return to it. If the wave realizes that the ocean is all there is, and it itself is nothing but the ocean, it'll be in peace.

We are all like the ripples on the surface, wanting to travel further, grow bigger and more powerful, despite seeing other ripples being born and dying all around us. The Absolute, or Brahman is like the ocean, all there is. Maya is the force that causes the illusion of ripples to appear. As ripples, we think we have an independent, finite existence. But the ocean is all there is, we are one, the ocean.

We just need a change in perspective.