To accept māyā as an illusion or just a dream can lead us to misplaced asceticism, an indifference to the world. On the other hand, we should understand how the five senses and their interplay limits our spiritual consciousness. We are like the children of today with myriad toys ; but then, it is our conscious choice whether we while away the precious moments or use our ‘play’ as metaphors to build our future careers.

I went back to the remote and switched to another channel – there was a bright spot on the screen with a cloudy trail. As the point broke first into two and then many, the full implication of the scene dawned on me – the shuttle had disordered ; many unfulfilled dreams evaporated before my eyes on the misty tube.

I, myself, switched the TV off at the mains and sat down in silent meditation…