Expert: Stuart Resnick - 1/1/2007

Question
Thank for your question about the last question. I still have some doubts to clear with you.

1.According to the Buddhism, are we living in a world like matrix? Is it true? How do we know that?

2.What is the difference between the concept of Buddhism and the movie matrix? Is there any difference?  

Answer
A great Buddhist sutra says, "If you want to understand all the Buddhas of the past, present, and future, then you should view the nature of the universe as being created by mind alone."

This teaching is like Matrix in that it suggests that there's no substantial thing here, but rather, mind or thinking makes everything.

As human beings, we don't know who we are. All you have is your direct experience of this moment. All ideas of "truth" and "knowing" are thoughts that appear and disappear. The one pure and clear thing has already appeared in what you're perceiving and doing just not. That's all.

The concepts of Buddhism may be similar to Matrix, but the important thing is what's before concepts. "Buddhism" doesn't matter; any type of concept doesn't matter. The most important thing is: what are you doing right now? The direct experience of truth, before concepts.