Liberation from delusion and illusion
As the Buddha said in the Vajracchedika Prajnaparamita Sutra (Diamond Sutra):
like a star, fraud, candle,
magic illusion, dew, bubble on the water,
to dream, lightning or cloud -
Know that such are all complex phenomena.
From a Buddhist perspective, every aspect and every moment of our lives is an illusion. According to the Buddha, this situation is similar to how we see some black spot in the sky and are unable to understand what it is until we can finally distinguish it as a flock of birds; Or we hear a distinct echo that sounds exactly the same as if someone actually called you. Life is nothing more than a continuous stream of sensory illusions, from the obvious ones like fame and power to the less obvious ones, like death, nosebleeds or headaches. Unfortunately, most people believe what they see, so it is quite difficult for them to accept the truth that the Buddha revealed about the illusory nature of life.
What happens if we know that everything we see and experience is an illusion? And what remains when you are freed from these illusions? To break free from illusion means to remove all the limitations that false perceptions impose on us and to completely change our attitude. So, to "release" means to get rid of the illusion that makes us imagine illusions as reality. But most importantly, we should want to be free, want to be enlightened. Only when we develop a true desire for enlightenment are we able to give up worldly ambitions almost naturally and effortlessly. Such a thirst is not easy to create, but treading the spiritual path without it is a completely pointless activity. Millions of people in this world are interested in some version of meditation, or yoga, or one of the many varieties of so-called spiritual activities that are now in such wide demand. If you look deeply into why people engage in these practices, you find a purpose that has nothing to do with liberation from illusion, but has everything to do with their desperate attempt to escape from a stressful and boring life, and with a sincere desire for a healthy, peaceful and happy life. These are all romantic illusions.
Where can we look for the roots of these illusions? Mainly in your usual tendencies and related actions. Of course, no one in their right mind would suggest that any of us would voluntarily and intentionally decide to live in an illusion. But we are contradictory creatures, and even if we are convinced that we will not build our lives on self-deception, we still continue to hold fast to the habits that cause countless delusions.
No wonder the great teachers of the past said: Although everyone longs to be freed from suffering, most of us simply cannot give it up; And while no one wants to suffer, it seems almost impossible for us not to be drawn to samsara.
🍀 Khyentse Norbu