Many times, I have found that a single line from a song can hold great significance in life.

One such song is Hotel California and the line that makes me ponder most is – ‘we are all prisoners of our own device’.

I reflect, on how are we ‘innocuously’ doing this because it is obvious that no one sane in this world would like to give up their freedom, their most valuable possessions for anything.

As we progress in our lives each day, achieving our goals and fulfilling our desires, what is this trap that we may be designing in the bargain?


On one hand, we are becoming dependent on external factors while on the other I begin identifying with things that are temporary.

The sign that I am a prisoner would be seen through my reaction to everything there is a threat of any of these things being taken away from me.

Firstly I begin living in a way that I want to protect and guard these things (which create intense anxiety within) and

Secondly, when they change (a natural law), I go berserk.

Real progress is to become aware of these ‘golden chains’ that we are prisoners of and to look them in the eye and say ‘ridiculous’!