A story comes to mind. One day a neighbor asked Nasreddin Hodja whether he might borrow his horse for a few hours. The Hodja said, “I would gladly lend you my horse, but my wife has taken it and won’t be back all day.” Just then the horse was heard neighing in the stable, and the man looked at Nasreddin. The Hodja said: “All right — whom do you believe, me or the horse? That horse is a notorious liar. So, whom do you believe?”

Because of what we project, we create around ourselves a world that is not real. Even when reality reveals itself, even when the horse neighs in the stable, we ask, “Whom do you believe?” We always believe ourselves, never the reality that keeps showing itself. It reveals itself at every moment; but we keep imposing our illusions. This is why every human being ends in disappointment — and the cause is not reality. Every man and woman ends up disappointed, feeling as though life has been entirely wasted. But by then nothing can be done; you cannot go back. Time is no longer yours. Time has flown, death has drawn near, you are full of disappointment, and the chance is lost.

So look at everything directly, as it is. Do not project, do not interpret, do not impose your mind upon things. Whatever it may be, let reality reveal itself. That is always good. Leave a gap. Leave an interval between two illusions, so that reality can be seen. This is hard work — to look at reality as it is. It may not match your desires; it does not have to. But then you must live with reality, within reality — for you are already in it. It is better to accept reality than to keep deceiving yourself.

Always see what is there. Do not be in a hurry. It is better not to understand than to misunderstand; better to remain consciously unknowing than to imagine you know. Look at your relationships — to your spouse, your friend, your teacher, your servant — and you will see that everyone thinks from their own side, interprets the other, and there is no meeting, no real communication. Then they fight, in perpetual conflict. And the conflict is not between two people; it is between false images. Be awake, so that you carry no false images of others. However hard it may be, however laborious, even when it seems impossible — stay with the truth. For once you have seen the beauty of staying with the truth, you will never again be the victim of your dreams.

— Osho, “The Book of Secrets, Vol. 2”