It's Only a Game

I just had a small observation I made on detachment recently. A couple of nights ago I was playing a board game with my parents. It was a very nice game, “Safe Cracker,” to be precise. As with any activity I could see a vast spectrum of inner states arising. We played a couple of rounds.

In our first round I was doing well, getting lots of points, and I could see many feelings of elation and pride come up. In our second round, things went very badly for me and I had very few points and seemed to have tons of “bad luck” – nothing seemed to work out for me during that round. In this case many states like self-pity and irritation or even anger arose within.

Thankfully, it was only a game. In moments of self-remembrance I could see that. And I could see that in the grand scheme of things, my points didn’t matter - this game was only a temporary activity and my overall life is not a board game. So I was able to be aware more and keep detached when I saw this, which gave me an overall sense of peace whether I was winning or losing.

But this seems to fit into a nice analogy. What if the success and failure in that game were transformed into days that go well (getting good marks, getting along with everyone, etc.) and bad days (missing my bus, being treated unfairly, etc.)? These are all temporary and material things – and there’s a whole lot to life beyond them.

So shouldn’t I be able to keep that same detachment and peace amidst difficulties in everyday life that I had at instances while playing the game?

Sure some things here in the physical do have importance – better marks can lead to scholarships; being on time tends to be important in keeping a job ;) - but when we consider all there is beyond this physical world (the astral plane and higher dimensions, spiritual temples and Beings, etc.), and that even with a humble job and a simple home we will still be alive and well, then perhaps the game and the events in life could be viewed with essentially the same detachment…

Just something I’m trying to see more clearly myself.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a strong and spiritually productive New Year!

Mike