Why are things described as dream-like?

Why are things described as dream-like?

The very term dream offers a compelling analogy for relative phenomena. Such phenomena, often misaligned with the ultimate, are hence aptly described as dream-like. This potent simile rests on the premise that such phenomena, much like dreams, are without concrete solidity; indeed, dreams are not truly real.

A dream, after all, unfolds within the framework of the three times and never occurs without causes and conditions. Yet, discerning the precise nature of their correlation remains a profound challenge.

Fundamentally, "dream" is a label intimately associated with the mind or consciousness, representing an appearance of the mind. Our minds, in turn, operate on various levels, from coarse to subtle. In the vast tapestry of our bygone days, all our endeavors and deeds have receded like a dream, leaving behind only their lingering imprints, akin to deposits held in a cosmic bank. The mind, serving both as dreamer and depository, retains these imprints. When we engage in virtuous actions through body, speech, or mind, the virtues accumulated instill positive, dream-like imprints upon our consciousness. Conversely, non-virtuous mindsets and actions, such as covetousness, ill will, wrong view, and jealousy, lead to the accumulation of negative imprints. These will, in time, ripen into their own dream-like, illusory consequences.

Our very body, too, is dream-like. Just as a dream is a dream, so too do our physical forms and all phenomena share this dream-like quality. This stems from their indefinite, undefined, unestablished, and fleeting essence, rendering their true nature unknowable.

Driven by the power of these positive and negative imprints, we are bound to experience various feelings, be they moments of profound happiness or periods of suffering. While these feelings are undeniably dream-like, their vivid existence is nonetheless incontrovertible. This dream-likeness serves as an example for the relative truth, characterized by the absence of true existence while manifesting a myriad of appearances.

The mind, within its dream-likeness, encompasses both positive and negative aspects, spanning across present, past, and future. Even after the body's demise, this subtle mind journeys through realms beyond. Nevertheless, its freedom is limited, as it remains under the sway of imprints that are ceaselessly awakened, exhausted, and freshly formed. Dreams themselves are fundamentally characterized by their ephemeral and insubstantial nature; thus, they should not be dwelled upon excessively.

Freed from rigid grasping, one apprehends the waking state, the activities of coarse and subtle minds at the time of death, and even those of the subtlest minds, as dream-like. Despite this dream-like quality, actions operate undeceivingly in the relative realm. To infer from the dream-like nature of all phenomena that existence is utterly void or causality non-existent constitutes a blatant denial of palpable truth. We inherently seek happiness and shun suffering. When confronted with the causes of suffering, discontent inevitably follows. Feelings of happiness and suffering are direct, valid cognitions, experienced unequivocally regardless of our personal preference.

Karma, causality, and the continuum of past and future lives are directly shaped by our habitual tendencies to pursue happiness and avert suffering. The very manner of this creation is dream-like, akin to any phenomenon lacking solid, independent, true existence. Consequently, do not rigidly attach to anything; apprehending this is of paramount importance.

If we have to attach, let it be to Bodhicitta and the perfect view of emptiness! These truly represent the most excellent, limitless, and invaluable treasury. Loving-kindness and emptiness embody the mind's most unique qualities, culminating in unsurpassable capabilities, boundless love, and an omniscience that perceives reality in its glorious entirety. Their very infinitude renders them immeasurably precious. Conversely, all other seemingly precious things, no matter their perceived worth, are ultimately illusory and dream-like. Despite any transient benefits they may offer, they are ultimately mutable. This profound unreliability is precisely why 'dream' serves as their apt and enduring metaphor.