How to Live in an Illusion.

 Well, accept it for what it is…an illusion! Simply put, everything is an illusion precisely because nothing lasts. If it were real, then it would always exist. But because we still believe in just this life, we fail to recognise that everything deteriorates and returns to subtle matter. And so, we jog along nicely, still pretending that ‘the show must go on’!

 If we don’t see the illusion, we will be subject to its ups and downs, living an emotionally distraught life and blaming circumstances.

 Of course, being Dharma enthusiasts, we know this, don’t we? Well, we sort of ‘know’ it, but we are still caught up in the illusion, even though we can say it’s a illusion. The more we recognise the illusion, the more we can let go. However, because we are letting go, we have to remember that others cannot, and in that understanding, compassion resides.

 So how do we live in an illusion? There are two aspects to this: one is the illusion of our own making, and the other is the illusion of those around us, maintaining a collective illusion. We need to be able to step outside both.

 One way to do this is to use the illusion (relative truth) as our symbolic teacher – every thing can remind us of its true nature, which is emptiness. Phenomena’s true nature is emptiness, lacking true existence. Also, we become aware that awareness is present, in order to be able to see this. So recognising the symbolic teacher is recognising pure perception!

 Our karma will still bring up some nasties, but that is just our work – non reaction/exhausting karma. We may see suffering being caused, and all we do is recognise. Of course, this does not ease others’ suffering: maybe our clarity can help, but the work is up to them!

 Another way to see this (and this took me some time to realise) is that all appearances are deities, all sounds are mantra and all thoughts are wisdom. This is Yidam/Tantric practice, and is a finely tuning understanding.. To a non-practitioner, this may not sound relevant, but is still worthwhile considering.

 Pure Light is white, but splits into rainbow colours. Deities are enlightened beings of Light, in the form of coloured lights (one can read about this in the Bardo practices). Without Light, nothing can be seen. All manifestations, at a very subtle level, are Light: we are Light but sentient, and so manifest ignorance, creating desire and aversion. Enlightened beings are Light, and manifest compassion to benefit all sentient beings: they are called Nirmanakaya Buddhas – Tulkus (the word Tulku may sometimes be used expediently.)

Mantras are sacred sounds, based on OM. OM is the natural sound of opening the throat and sounding AH, slowly closing the the mouth producing U, and Mmm resonating when the mouth is closed. All speech is within that, and may be used to benefit others, or to enhance an “I”.

 Thoughts are wisdom. When resting in emptiness all thought occurrence is an expression of our true nature. They arise in emptiness and dissolve back into emptiness. Their appearance in emptiness is clearly seen, reminding us of emptiness, reflecting emptiness – so the appearance and emptiness cannot be separated. On a relative level, thoughts fill empty space, making it feel solid and real – that is the illusory state. That is ignorance precisely!

Gradually we open.
Gradually we awaken.
Gradually we recognise the illusion.
Gradually there is only Light.

All appearances are seen by virtue of Light.
All phenomena arise in Light.
All illusory phenomena are created by Light.