I was shocked to read this suggestion recently in an article. How can you suggest faking? Isn’t faking bad, even illegal? All throughout my life, I have stood for authenticity and admired those who did the same. But, as I reflected more on this sentence, I realized that it held different and deeper meanings.
In the sixties and seventies, ‘Made in Japan’ used to invoke the feeling of fakeness, while ‘Made in Great Britain or Germany or USA’ instilled confidence of authenticity in a product. Today, we pay premium price for electronic products made in Japan. A doctor at the start of his professional career must fake his confidence while treating his patients, unless he wishes to lose his clientele and put a full-stop on his career. Later in his career, confidence naturally oozes out of him. An actor’s performance depends on his ability to fake realism in his act. A successful manager must fake an aura of calmness around him, even though he may be in the middle of a storm, so that his subordinates can carry on with their tasks without any external disturbances. Despite all the trials and tribulations, parents must fake the sense of security at home for children to grow with fearless minds. Head of a nation must fake the picture of immense composure so that its populace can repose their trust in him. Who is happy and ready to jump out of his bed in the early morning to go to work? But, as we go through the ritual of getting ready and dressing-up, some internal transformation takes place and with the tying of shoe laces, we are eager to reach work place.
Surely, we are not talking of faking as in forging a document for cheating someone, or duping someone with fake currency notes, or passing on an imitation as real at the original price. This discussion on faking is all about the start of an internal journey. The focus is upon changing the self, not gaining undue advantage of the world. Mind works only on thoughts and hence can easily be fooled into believing anything. Practice makes one perfect. But, if you start practicing with a doubting mind, you are never going to make it. Hence, as you start your practice, you must visualise yourself to be an accomplished performer. By the by, this visualisation will start translating into your actions. It is worth faking even happiness when your circumstances suggest otherwise. A happy mind has power to bring about the desired changes in your circumstances. I am reminded of a story that captures the essence of this discussion.
Once, there was a king who wanted to meet a man of renunciation. All his ministers tried hard but failed to find a true man of renunciation. Everyone had some longing and attachment for the worldly objects. Out of frustration and fearing king’s reprimand, they approached a fine actor to play the role of a true renunciate for a hefty fee. All he had to do was reject anything, however expensive and tempting, offered to him for a whole day. He agreed. He was dressed up in rags and was seated under a tree outside the city. The word was spread about the arrival of a great man of renunciation. People queued-up to see him. They offered many things, which he politely rejected. At last, the king came with the most exquisite of gifts in the world and prostrated in front of him. The actor didn’t show any sign of interest. The king was convinced that he had met a true man of renunciation and rewarded his ministers for making this happen. Next day, the ministers returned to the actor with the agreed fee for the act. But, the actor refused to take his fee. He said, “If all worldly objects can be gained merely by faking the act of renunciation, then I wonder how much more can I get beyond this world by actually becoming a man of renunciation. I am no longer interested in anything that you can offer me. I am now in search of that precious wealth within myself.” Such is the power of pretension.
