A. In Buddhism, being deluded by illusions is often compared to dreaming. The opposite of being deluded by illusions is to see things as they are, which is compared to awakening from a dream. This is why the word ‘awakening’ is used as a synonym for enlightenment in Buddhism.
According to the Diamond Sutra, Buddha said, “If you can see everything as if you were seeing it in a dream, you can see the true-Self.” However, the words ‘seeing everything as if you were seeing it in a dream’ don’t make much sense to you until you realise the fact, that is, until you are enlightened, just as you don’t realise that you were haunted by nightmares until you awaken from your dream.
The purpose of Buddhism is to help people to awaken from their dreams, and Zen meditation is a kind of practice for awakening from dreams.
©Boo Ahm
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