Listen To No One

If a human is pursuing

A particular endeavor,

Why shall he listen to another?

 

Modern society

Consists of so-called ‘thought-leaders,’

Who the people of the world

Listen to.

 

Why listen

To anyone.

 

Why take Their word

For it.

 

Why do what They say

To do.

 

Why follow

Their recommendations?

 

What

Do they really know?

 

If they have achieved something

In their life,

They found a way

To achieve it.

 

What does this have to do

With another?

 

The world has become populated

By ‘thought-leaders.’

 

They have enormous followings.

Their books are listed on the best-seller lists.

They have podcasts that millions listen to.

They have book recommendations that millions refer to.

 

Who are these people?

 

What exactly is

A ‘thought-leader?’

 

Why does it matter

What a ‘thought-leader’ says?

 

If he has found a particular skill,

And a way to success,

That is wonderful for HIM.

 

What does this have to do

With another?

 

What is this unimaginably preposterous notion

That he can “show YOU how to do it also.”

 

Such notions

Are born in stagnant water

In the corner of sewage tunnels.

 

Why does the other not have enough self-dignity

Or creativity

To do it for himself?

 

Why does he listen

To the ‘thought-leader’s’ podcasts?

 

What does he get

From hearing two so-called ‘thought-leaders’ schmooze

And banter?

 

Is he That interested in intro music?

Is he That interested in “this episode of the fancy thought-leader podcast is brought to you by?’

Is he That interested in “today’s special guest is going to show you how to balance a knife on your nose while tapping your belly?’

 

Truly??

 

This ‘special guest’ is going to show the millions who are listening

“How to” become successful, stoic, wealthy, happy, self-actualized, or more intelligent?

 

Truly??

 

Why does the person not feel

That he is insulting himself

For tuning into such things?

 

What has he truly gotten

From all the ‘very special guests’

That he has listened to?

 

If the thought-leader host

And the ‘special guest’ were going to show him how to invest,

Is he now a great investor??

 

Is he?

 

If the thought-leader host

And the ‘special guest’ were going to show him how to be happy,

Is he now happy??

 

Is he?

 

If the thought-leader host

And the ‘special guest’ were going to show him how to become wealthy,

Is he now wealthy??

 

Is he?

 

What has he truly gotten

From the book recommendations?

 

What has he truly gained

From the thought-leader’s prescriptions and hacks?

 

It has been years and years and years.

What has he gained

Other than entertainment?

 

Is he listening to a Buddha?

Or a Jesus?

 

Is he listening

To the direct word of God?

 

Is he listening

To Straight Truth?

 

If so,

Then such things May provide him benefit.

 

Such things

May actually take him somewhere.

 

But what does he gain

From pseudo-scientific individuals

Talking pseudo-scientific nonsense?

 

What does he gain

From pseudo-spiritualists

Talking pseudo-spiritual lingo?

 

What does he gain

From intellectuals

And their intellectual jargon?

 

What does he gain

Other than a way to pass the time?

 

Why does he need all of these people?

Why does he need to be “coached” all over the place?

Why does he need to be “instructed” all over the lot?

 

Is he not a human being?

Does he not have any self-drive?

 

Why does he listen

To these people?

 

Why does he not

Attempt to find The Truth?

 

Why does he belittle his own possibility?

 

Why does he need a “book recommendation”

To become something?

 

Why does he believe that a “book”

Can make him into something?

 

Why does he subscribe

To all of these silly podcasts?

 

Why does he not say

To hell with thought-leaders

And experts

And podcast jockey’s with 2 million followers?

 

What have they truly done for him?

What have all the books on his shelf

Truly done for him?

 

What have all the prescriptions,

The advice,

The morning routines,

The hacks,

And the podcasts

Truly. Done. For. Him?

 

Why does he not either learn The Truth,

Or find The Truth,

And become what he wants to become

On his own?

 

Who are all of these people?

And why does any sincere and driven human being

Listen to them?

 

 

Namaste.