Adjust your lenses

In life, there is liberation. Life itself is a liberating experience. If you live totally, it liberates.

However, the question of how life actually liberates has long puzzled me. Suddenly, a spark of understanding has ignited in my mind. Just as a photographer adjusts the lenses during photography to achieve the perfect focus on a subject, so too must we adjust our perceptions until our minds gain clarity. Many people remain trapped in their perceptions, even as their lives are filled with struggle, either out of fear of hell or the promise of heaven. It’s important to acknowledge that some leaders, particularly those hiding behind the cloak of religion, exploit these fears and promises. They manipulate people’s perceptions to maintain control.

Just as a cat cowers initially when a man threatens it in a closed room, there will come a moment when it must fight back because there is no other choice. Similarly, there will come a day when people can no longer bear the pain; they will shed their fears, much like a snake sheds its skin (even in discomfort) and open their hearts to the unknown, and this act will lead to genuine growth and true religious awakening.

You need not wait until you’re pushed to your limits to make this change. If your current perception of life isn’t bringing you joy, try adjusting it today. It’s unwise to keep releasing the shutter repeatedly, hoping for a great photo when the focus is unclear. Adjusting the lenses alone can lead to a great photo. Similarly, adjusting your perception alone can be tremendously helpful.

This situation reminds me of the movie “About Time,” where the protagonist uses a time machine to alter the past and save his mother’s life. Despite his attempts, his mother always dies, with only the circumstances changing. Similarly, in life, as long as you maintain the same perception, struggles will continue, but the circumstances change: financial difficulties at one point, conflicts with a spouse at another, issues with friends, political tensions, and religious conflicts.

You will know when the focus is just right as you adjust the lenses, and no one else needs to certify it. Likewise, you will know when your perception of life is ideal.