Hello everyone,
Today, I would like to share some thoughts about reality and illusion.
Imagine a moment in life when you see the moon in the night sky, thin clouds drifting overhead, and a calm lake before you. Looking into the water, you see the moon’s reflection resting quietly on the surface. Yet you know very well that what you see is only a reflection of the moon, not the moon itself.
Similarly, when you stand in front of a mirror, you see your own image. However, you understand that the image is merely a reflection and not your actual self. In both cases, although the images appear real, we recognize that they are only representations, not the true substance.
So how can we distinguish what is real from what is not?
In life, there are many things that we see and hear which appear very real but are actually deceptive. Conversely, there are also things that we cannot see or hear, yet they undeniably exist.
For example, our surroundings are constantly filled with cellular signals and Internet transmissions that we cannot directly perceive. Likewise, there are sounds too faint for human ears to detect, yet many animals can hear them.
This suggests that our understanding of the world depends heavily on our senses. However, our senses are often limited and may not be sensitive enough to accurately determine what is real and what is merely an appearance.
Is there, then, a way to tell the difference?
One approach is to examine the underlying nature of things.
For example, the image in a mirror is not the real person because it depends entirely on the person standing before it. When the person moves, the reflection moves accordingly. Likewise, the moon’s reflection in the water changes according to the moon’s position in the sky. Things that are dependent on, controlled by, or altered by something else are often not the true essence of what they represent.
From this observation, I would like to extend the idea to everyday life. There are many things beyond our control, and these things are often not our true nature. Among the most common examples are human emotions and sensations.
Emotions and sensations arise from our senses interacting with the external world. Our eyes see objects, our ears hear sounds, our tongue tastes flavors, and our skin perceives heat, cold, and pain. As a result, emotions are subjective responses rather than absolute truths.
The lesson I draw from this is that we should not allow emotions and sensations to drive us toward unwholesome actions.
Take eating, for example. Human beings naturally need food. We should eat enough to sustain ourselves. If we indulge excessively simply because food tastes good, we may suffer from obesity, illness, and declining health. This is one example of acting unwisely under the influence of desire.
Similarly, when we hear harsh words or experience physical pain caused by others, feelings of anger often arise. Yet such emotions are reactions triggered by external circumstances; they are not our true essence. If we allow them to control us, we may respond with harmful actions such as retaliation, insults, or words that wound others.
For this reason, I try to practice restraint and remind myself that emotions and sensations caused by external influences are not ultimate realities. By understanding this, we can avoid harmful actions and cultivate better outcomes for ourselves, both in this life and in the future.
Thank you for taking the time to read.