The Price of Unconscious Living

It has been a long time since I've posted a blog and, for those who have read my blogs in the past and perhaps have therefore looked for them, I apologize.

I'd like to tell you a story (not my own); one that says so much about our times and our sense of self and our worth; one that states an irrefutable truth about society today and thus impacts our morals, and our treatment of one another, especially some specific groups of people who are viewed as disposable, and one that will hopefully challenge the reader's awareness of the need to act out of consciousness.

There once was a tailor - a very well-known tailor, who made fabulous suits. His work was of a very high quality and therefore very expensive. A man in the village had finally become wealthy enough through honest business dealings that his position required he look fine as would be expected of a man of his standing. He went to Zumbach, the tailor, and had himself measured. When he went back to Zumbach the following week for the final fitting he put on his new suit and stood in front of the mirror. He saw that the right sleeve was two inches longer than the left. "Ummm, Zumbach, there seems to be something wrong here. This sleeve is at least two inches too long."
The tailor was so thoroughly used to being unquestioned by his customers that he puffed himself up and said, "There is nothing wrong with this suit, my good man. It's just the way you are standing." Zumbach proceeded to push the man's shoulder until the sleeves were even. When the customer looked in the mirror , he saw that the fabric at the back of the suit was bunched up behind his neck. "please, Zumbach" the now confused man said, "my wife hates a suit that bulges in the back. Would you mind just taking that out?"
Zumbach snorted indignantly, "I tell you there's nothing wrong with this suit! It must be the way you are standing." Zumbach shoved the man's head forward until the suit seemed to fit him perfectly. After paying the tailor's high price, the man left Zumbach's store feeling uneasy and silly without knowing why.
Later that day, he was waiting at the bus stop with his shoulders lopsided and his head straining forward, just as the tailor had arranged him that morning. Another fellow took hold of his lapel and said, "What a beautiful suit! I'll bet Zumbach the tailor made that for you."
"Why, yes, but how did you know?"
"Because only a tailor as brilliant as Zumbach could outfit a body as crippled as yours."

By and large, we have been taught much about the world, been discouraged from learning much about ourselves and are reluctant to trust the wisdom that comes from experience. The first step toward not being unconsciously influenced by something is to become conscious of it.

(Much of this story has been paraphrased and expanded from the writings of Ram Dass)