“What you are seeing in the world is not really there; it is your projection.”
Harvey Pincus, the passionate playboy of Prospect Park, oblivious of human limitations, speeded up when he should have slowed down. To his surprise and dismay, he awoke three days later in Bellevue Hospital where he was placed on a strict diet of raw eggs and oysters with wheat germ, garnished with ginseng and soybean sprouts.
A week later, his physical desires returned and, after having been rebuffed by Bellevue nurses of various shapes, sizes, ages and national origins, he demanded to be released forthwith so that he might resume his “al fresco” prowling in the Prospect Park perimeter.
Pincus was soon confronted by Dr. Siegel, the hospital’s staff psychiatrist. “Before we release you, you will have to take a Rohrschach test,” explained the medic.
“What is that?” asked Pincus suspiciously.
“A kind of personality gauge. I will just show you some inkblots and you tell me what each one suggests to you.”
“So go ahead and test.”
Dr. Siegel handed him the first blot. “What does this bring to mind?”
“That’s easy,” replied Pincus instantly, his eyes lighting with pleasure. “It is a girl’s hips.”
“And this?” asked the psychiatrist, handing him another inkblot.
“A woman’s breast. Very nice, too.”
“Hmm — how about this one?”
“Wow, Doctor, what a gorgeous pair of legs!”
Siegel had already reached an obvious conclusion about his patient’s proclivities, but he continued with a half-dozen more inkblots just to make sure. When Pincus continued to respond as though all the “pictures” were sexual symbols, right up to the last blot, the doctor leaned back in his chair and rendered his diagnosis.
“My dear fellow,” he began, somewhat severely, “in case nobody ever told you, you have an abnormal fixation on sex.”
“What does that mean, if I may be so bold to inquire?”
“It means, sir,” Siegel explained bluntly, “that you have a filthy mind.”
“Well, look who’s talking!” Pincus yelled, outraged. “You are showing me all those dirty pictures and I’ve got a filthy mind!”
What you are seeing in the world is not really there; it is your projection. What the world is like you will be able to see only when your mind has learned to be silent, to watch, to reflect. Then you will know that which is.
Osho, The Dhammapada, Vol 10, Ch 5
Series compiled by Shanti
All excerpts of this series can be found in: 1001 Tales
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