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Buddhists/Do you think that life is just a dream?

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Expert: - 8/25/2008


Question
QUESTION: -Do you think or believe that your life is only just a dream? Do you believe your present life is real?
Is the whole world are only vibrations. There is no time, no space, nothing; everything is an illusion?
Is the world still real??
http://www.ananda.it/en/kriyananda/articles/sk_dream.html

2.Does Buddhism believe that WE are living a dream of ABSOLUTE BEING??? God?
Whose dream is this? Is this our dream? or We are part of a great infinite dream?
-Do we still exist?
I don't really understand...please explain....
-Do you life is just a illusion?

ANSWER: Dear Rambo,
> Do you think or believe that your life is only just a dream?
No. It is like a dream, but not quite the same.

> Do you believe your present life is real?
Define "real".

> Is the whole world are only vibrations.
Nothing is static, if that is what you mean.

> There is no time, no space, nothing; everything is an illusion?
That depends on what you mean by "is" and by "illusion".

> Is the world still real??
Define "real".

2.Does Buddhism believe that WE are living a dream of ABSOLUTE BEING??? God?
Define "absolute being" and "god".

> I don't really understand...please explain....
Your questions could mean almost anything. It is not possible to give clear answers.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok, from this website
http://www.ananda.it/en/kriyananda/articles/sk_dream.html

It say
"We are part of a great infinite dream and He is dreaming us. But He has given us the power to awaken from this dream, to be not compelled to remain always in the delusive reality of this world."
Is it true? what does it mean?
-Does it mean our life is just part of infinite dream? and it is a dream of who? Does buddhism has a answer?

It is also say...
"Nothing in our lives really changes; nothing happens. There is nothing in this universe; Everything is based on the principle of vibrations. When an electric fan or the propeller of an airplane rotates fast enough, it looks solid. This is the explanation of this world: This earth, this body, this chair, the whole world are only vibrations. There is no time, no space, nothing; everything is an illusion. And our brain, too, vibrates when we think. It, too, is a vibration."

Again, it is true? Is whole just a vibration?
Do you believe our life is real? and changes does happn? and thing "does happen"?
-Does buddhism think life is only a illusion? Is life still real?

Answer
Buddhism teaches that while it is very definitely wrong to say that nothing exists at all, nevertheless most of the ways in which we take things for real are mistaken. Arising, ceasing and, most of all perhaps, "existing" are ideas we impose on reality.
If you want to go into that more deeply, you will have to study Buddhism thoroughly. If you want to know what the website you mention means, you will have to ask its authors.

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Alex Wilding

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I have practiced and studied Tibetan Buddhism in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions since the early 1970s, and have a good knowledge of theory, history and of the struggles of trying to practice the teachings, including meditation, while leading a normal, modern life. I am also available to provide background information for journalists.

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I have been a practitioner since the early 1970s; have run a small Buddhist centre in the English Midlands and was vice-president of Kagyu Benchen Ling e.V. in Germany, for whom I managed three large Buddhist summer-camps. More importantly, I maintain a habit of personal practice. I am the "owner" of the Kagyu list at Yahoo.

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My first degree was an M.A. from Oxford. I later obtained a Master of Philosophy degree for a research thesis in "Initiation in Tibetan Buddhism" from Leicester University. I also have engineering and educational qualifications.

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