...a catch

Having a resolution of this type raises a problem...

To recap using the original problem of the situation I found at work - the boss REALLY believed that he was "superior" simply because he had given himself the name "director". It was this counter-intuitive situation that started me on this path. This is like a child REALLY believing they are a doctor in a game of doctors and nurses (you know kids - anyone who doesn't play along gets them angry). Most people will gain the name "director" because of some quality they possess, especially the ability to direct affairs. This directing affairs becomes a function and a skill, not a status. Status is a good example of the illusions identified. Now people can have skills, like having height, but these are superficial to their humanity. Humanity is immeasurable and unquantifiable. This is the argument so far.

The temptation however when dealing with people is to judge them on whether they are deluded or enlightened on the above point. Thus I just found myself looking at my mother judgementally realising that she was viewing me in a deluded way!

This is the trap of dogma. This resolution is a superficial feature! It does not reflect my humanity, and a lack of this resolution down not effect my humanity. By that token, the same is true for others!

And, just watching the film "Can-Can" (1960) where Sinatra sings to the girl in the bar that things are not the "right" things highlights another issue of illusion.

What is the difference between meeting someone we know and someone we don't know? Actually nothing in reality. The difference occurs in the world of illusions. We have constructed a history between us, share the game of recalling memories, have some ability to predict the other person's habits. All these constitute the belief in personality. But personality is not REAL, it is narrative like a film. This is why actors exist, the manipulate the personality illusions.

So a good test of the difference between illusion and reality is to imagine if experiencing this for the first time would make any difference. If it would then the difference is illusion!

But, I go back to "my muse" if I was to meet her for the first time again I expect I would have the same response. If I met her now then it would be very different. So does this mean that the first response is the truth, and what I call "my muse" now is illusion? Ok this is complex, because my "first" response was actually someone meeting my expectations - so she walked into a narrative I had already written! OK its a bit more complex. When is the first time? She fitted a narrative that was sparked - I am beginning to think - by a girl in my hall of residence when I was 18, who I find now writes for the Times. But she fitted a narrative that I had before that - an image that maybe goes as far back as childhood with the description of Snow White. And, before that? It is endless. OK there is no first time...

Its not easy to judge illusion... but anyway regarding the resolution.. a quick check that the resolution does not become a dogma and illusion itself! It is a Buddha says a raft that hopefully will help me purify relationships and make a better society...

p.s. finally finished the webpage photo processing :-)...

http://ouroboros.exofire.net/diary.html?year=2005
http://ouroboros.exofire.net/diary.html?year=2006
http://ouroboros.exofire.net/diary.html?year=2007
http://ouroboros.exofire.net/diary.html?year=2008