Expert: Justin Choo - 12/7/2010

Question
I just need the truth. Is life real or a dream? I know it's real I just need a statement saying that it is. Also, why do people think it's a dream? Thank you for answering my questions.

Answer
Hi Bob,

Actually, I have already answered your question.  Please read it carefully.  For your convenience, below is the "copy & paste" version:

This is my interpretation.  Others may have different opinions.  Take your pick.

This life is real.  It exists.  But just like the phrase "Life is just a dream"; it is just a short passing phase of our endless cycle of birth and death.  In the end it is nothing, without any purpose.  

It is this whole futile process of living (existence) that is "emptiness" and just like a dream .  Now let us be an observer to a life cycle of a butterfly.  First the egg, then the caterpillar, followed by the pupa in the chrysalis, and finally emerged the butterfly.  All this process took only a few weeks, and the butterfly will die after another two weeks.  As an observer, we can SEE the futility of this cycle which is real; but don't we see the "emptiness" in this process?  As far as the butterfly is concerned, it is a real life.  As far as we observers are concerned, it is just a passing passage of one very short life, just like a dream.  This to me relates very well to the concept of "emptiness" or "life is just a dream".  Imagine the butterfly to be you, maybe you could see this "emptiness" for real!  In that sense, "nothing has inherent reality" just like a dream.

Another explanation concerns our "self".  In Buddhist context, this self is a combination of conditioned elements forming this physical body.  Apart from this physical self, there is this invisible "consciousness" that gives life to this physical body.  This consciousness is forever changing, in a flux, but there is this continuity-flow sustaining, such that we refer it as the "stream of consciousness".  No two moments are the same and yet not totally different; maintaining this continuity.  If we analyze further, we are nothing but a passing stream of consciousness sustained by our "kammic" actions to exist.  There is no permanent unchanging soul, as such "no inherent reality", just like a dream.

First we must understand that only the Buddha could fully understand the truth of existence.  We are mere ordinary mortals trying to understand what the Buddha had discovered.  If we could fully understand, then we would be saints (arahant) already.  Be that as it may, we shall just try our best to grasp whatever our level of intelligence is capable of understanding.  Let this be; and with patience and practice, we shall hope that one day we may be able to understand and realize the truth fully.  If we adopt this attitude, then we will not face problem in trying to want to fully understand everything that the Buddha taught.

Take it as a journey, not the destination that is important.  The destination may be unreachable but the journey itself is a lesson in life.

If you need further clarification, please come back.

Take care.

Justin Choo