Not Everything That Shines Is Meant to Be Chased

With all the chatter around AI, tech, innovation and disruption, it's easy to get carried away. Some days it feels like everything is urgent and everything needs our attention right now. But sometimes an old story explains things better.

In the Ramayana, there is a moment where a simple illusion quietly changes the direction of the entire journey. And it begins not with a fight, but with a golden deer.

Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were living a calm and peaceful life in the forest. One morning, Sita noticed a deer that looked unlike anything they had ever seen. Its body shone like gold. Sita wished to have it. Rama didn't see anything wrong, maybe it would make her smile. So he walked into the forest to bring it back. The deer kept moving ahead, always close enough to chase, but never close enough to catch.

Back at the hut, Lakshmana felt a strange stillness. Something didn't seem right, but he couldn't explain why. Eventually, the golden glow disappeared, and with it came a cry that changed everything. Only later did they learn the truth, it wasn't a deer at all. It was Maricha, a demon wearing beauty like a mask.

One small distraction. One moment of "this looks special." And the entire story shifted.

I think about that sometimes. Not everything that shines is meant to be chased. And not everything that feels urgent is truly important. Before running toward the next glittering thing, it helps to pause for a moment and ask: what am I chasing, and why?