..续本文上一页 shame at the thought that his lifetime of noble reputation was ruined in one day. He cried out, and was startled from the dream. At that moment, stars have only just appeared in the sky.
As we can see, it is hard to determine whether time in a dream and in reality is longer or shorter. One cannot use time span to validate what is real and what is false.
After realizing this, everything that appears to us now, whether is in a dream or is after waking, needs to be thoroughly pondered. Like Zhuang Zhou dreaming of butterfly, Zhuangzi in a dream became a butterfly, dancing freely. But suddenly he woke, and the butterfly became Zhuangzi lying on the bed. At that moment, Zhuangzi did not know if in his dream he became a butterfly, or the butterfly is now dreaming of becoming Zhuangzi.
This fable has very deep meaning, but many people feel that Zhuangzi is so silly. I met a Peking University student once, he adamantly said: “Ancients are so dumb! It is clear that in Zhuangzi”s dream he became a butterfly, yet he doubts that it is the butterfly dreaming of becoming Zhuangzi.” Actually, to belittle the ideas of ancients and believing oneself to be very clever can often lead to deadly mistakes. So, I hope that everyone can be more thoughtful, and see whether you are in a dream or in reality right now
If you believe that you are not dreaming, what is the evidence for reality
In truth, life is a dream, and dreams have good ones and bad ones. Take Gaddafi, he started with a good dream with a happy life and a glorious career; but in the end his family broke apart and he died a gory end at the hands of soldiers. This is now a nightmare. Of course, if he created much bad karma during his life, then in the long cycles of Samsara, there will continue to be many nightmares. When they end will depend on when the seeds of bad karma are exterminated.
The idea above has been described in detail in many Buddhist teachings. If you study these, especially the teachings on Bardo by the Tibetan Buddhist Master Padmasambhava, you will understand more about life as a dream. Once you have reached a certain level of this practice, whether you walk, stand, sit, lie down, everything you do you can visualize as a dream world.
Then, would this state of mind result in life becoming passive
Quite a few people nowadays worry: “Once I study Buddhism, I have to shave my head, wear a robe, go to a monastery and be a monk. According to this, everyone becomes a monastic, who will be a farmer, be a worker
”
Actually, this is like the man of Qi who was haunted by the fear that the sky might fall. Not everyone has the conditions to become a monastic. Just like this Institute of Education, if it were very well established, would everyone come to become a teacher
Impossible. To become a teacher there are qualifications and conditions. Becoming monastic is the same.
So, knowing that all phenomena are like a dream does not lead you to becoming passive. Only when you understands this can you know what to seek in life, and this is the key!
3. Comprehending life through The Matrix
If this point is only analyzed through Buddhist theories, some people may not be open to it. Then, I will now use an example that people in this world like, to see whether or not life is a dream.
I believe that you have all watched the American blockbuster The Matrix. This sci-fi movie describes the 22nd century when humans and machines battle. It deeply ponders reality and illusion. In this movie humans are controlled by machines and wallow in a fictitious world but are unaware. Neo takes on the role of a Messiah, responsible for waking humans from the illusion…
Although the human race has yet to enter the 22nd century, and machines do not look exactly like humans as described in the movie…
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