Copycats

I understand the role of imitation in the modern world and not consider it a vice. I was working in a creative field where much is based on imitation, and where only a few are inventing something new and all the rest just use or extend it. At first I thought it was offensive but during my journey, I changed my mind. It was more difficult in the private sphere when some people were trying to imitate my personal identity (it's so strange!) but growing up, I also understand the reasons for this. In fact, in our modern world the imitation is endemic. Something new that we are witnessing today, by far the greatest flow of newness is not innovation at all. Rather, it is imitation. The Internet become not merely a space of representation, but replacement of direct experience, the real world is increasingly mediated by screens, and knowledge is replaced by Google-searching. This is not good or bad, it is.
Copying has some positive role - in training.  Perhaps this is even necessary as the lowest form of learning.  But there are areas where it is not for progress but degradation. People imitate feelings, and even love, not only in the theater, you know. Yes, it happens that someone not always able to love and perhaps, this imitation is done seems harmless. But as proverb say - the road to hell is paved with good intentions. It's getting close to some kind of subtle suicide. For me, the most dangerous imitation - in the spiritual realm. That's what I wanted to say here. Spiritual achievement become the newest fashionable form of copy. When a person, for whatever selfish reasons, often unconscious, imitates the great authority and deceives himself and others.  They have some mystical experience, it's OK - an experience is scattered everywhere. Then they go running around telling everyone else that they are "enlightened" and for some reason, they want to talk about it without restraint and to teach. And of course, they find the same like-minded people, it is not difficult today. It is a great danger that there will be no place for the truth. This white noise drowns out all other sound. They're no longer hear. Of course, it drowns out the fear. Because the real achievement is too risky. And therefore, it's much easier to be somebody else or nobody at all.
Yes, you can fool the fools but you can not fool yourself. What for? Why to misrepresent your identity when you are so beautiful? You have a unique gift to offer this world.

Sreyan svadharmo vigunah paradharmat svanusthitat;
Svadharme nidhanam sreyah paradharmo bhayavahah 
It is better to follow one's own dharma, though imperfect, than the dharma of someone else, even though well-performed. Better is death in one's own dharma; another person's dharma is fraught with fear. ( Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3,Verse 35).

Love.