The Importance of Seeing the Illusion.

Illusion…
Misinterpreted perception.
A deceptive appearance.
A false belief.

Once we understand that our true being – our Buddha nature, our awakened nature – is beyond this body and mind, then detachment from this illusion, and not grasping at it, becomes very important.

We know that everything is impermanent and only has a seeming reality, as phenomena does not last: everything in the universe is a temporary appearance, and therefore empty of any true reality whatsoever. Phenomena still hurts, but this hurts is experienced in a temporary body and mind – an illusory body and mind.

Seeing the illusion loosens our grip.

The illusion is our mistaken view that our perception, appearances and beliefs are real, when they are empty of true reality. But we still get caught up in the illusion; we just have to remember, smile and relax.

Case in point…
My wife and I have an argument once every three months or so, about the same subject: it gets heated and passionate, and we’re about to divorce after 36 years…there is just no hope! Do you know what we argue about? (and it’s embarrassing how seriousness this gets). The bloody Cuban missile crisis 50 years ago, and whether President Kennedy’s speech to the press was referring to secret societies within America, or to the threat of communism, or both. It’s totally ridiculous. We end up staring at one another, laughing and saying, “What on earth just happened…again?!” The answer is that we both still hold strong beliefs!

We all get fixated, believing our view to be so important, and we lose the wisdom of seeing that everything is merely a temporary event. If we truly see the illusion, then every thing we touch and experience is experienced in a totally different way. This is the outcome of regular meditation, and not merely conceptual theory, and has a huge effect on our wellbeing and life. Less stress, less angst, less everything…and more sanity. Everything is looser, lighter, relaxed…carefree.

However. If others do not see the illusion, then we have to let go, and back off – drop it. This is most difficult as, through kindness, we want to wake them up. They have to wake in their own good time.

Confidence comes with seeing the illusion.
Seeing is the reality,
not what is seen.