12/12/2010

Reality Check


"All there is, is Reality,
and any illusion, any appearance, any shadow,
cannot but be a reflection of that very Reality.
Illusion cannot have an independent existence."
 
 ~from Peace and Harmony in Daily Living by Ramesh Balsekar

10 comments:

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

Hello!
Very beautiful bird!

tom sullivan said...

Diane, that quote from buddhanet doesn't make much sense to me. I seem to have missed the part where Buddhism explains how pain, ageing, sickness, and death can be avoided...or even loneliness, frustration, etc.

I prefer the Ramesh/Wayne distinguishing of 'pain' from 'suffering,' wherein pain and pleasure are the 'experience' of the organism, suffering the sense that pain (of whatever sort) SHOULD not be.

Diane AZ said...

Hi Tom, I like the way you put it. Perhaps the verb "avoid" in the buddanet quote isn't the best word choice. Thank you for your comment. I've simplified this post by removing that quote. :)

Stephanie said...

Ok reality is real. Good reminder for me. Btw, nice photo :-D

Mystic Meandering said...

Hi Diane...

I am not a "practicing Buddhist", a "traditional or neo-Advaitist" for that matter, but from what I have read "Buddhism" in general teaches that the "end" of suffering is to see the True Nature of things, the True Nature of "suffering" (which is subjective). In that "seeing" we understand/realize that, as you quoted, everything is Reality - The Real - or as "non-dualists" would say - everything is awareness. "Suffering" occurs when we are ignorant of our True Nature (Awareness), or when we mis-perceive the True Nature of Reality...

With Love, Christine

Anonymous said...

Very profound, and great photo too. Thanks for sharing this.

All the best, Boonie

Magpie said...

I'm going out on a limb here, but I have to say sometimes my reality gets lost in the reflections and my time spent there is blessed.
Love the Black Phoebe photo!

EG CameraGirl said...

This is giving me lots to think about, Diane. Hmmm. Illusion can't have an independent reality? Yes, I need to digest that thought.

Laura said...

I sense that what is "real" is somewhat subjective...as it changes with us and our momentary fluctuations in perception...I don't think "real" is as fixed as we humans would like it to be.

Lots of contemplation to sit with here Diane...an excellent quote to wake us up to our thoughts/feelings/sensations it provokes in THIS moment.

Darla said...

Perfect. She *is* real...for how can we question Her reflection? She and we are One; there can be no separation except in the illusions of our minds.