I Love Robot

A friend's daughter has a cute habit of wanting a robot made from mega-blocks and then wants to hug it. However Mega-blocks don't stay together very well and soon she is back with the bits of "robot" anjd nothing to hug anymore.

Isn't this such a poignant illustration of the problem we will face again and again in life as we search for something solid to rely upon?

It is interesting that she says that "robot" has fallen apart and needs to be rebuilt. Looking at this through Buddha's eyes it is clear that there is no "robot" in reality. The multiple bricks could make anything, they are only "broken robot" when we have in our mind a desire for "robot", the context of "robot". Thus when equipped with this game of robot she returns with the pieces and says "robot" has fallen apart. "Robot" is not an existing entity but simply the context, or object of a game - robot is in the mind entirely.

Even when we rebuild "robot" and there he is in all his glory waiting to be hugged - of course there is no real "robot" there just a collection of mega-blocks. Another child elsewhere uses exactly the same blocks in his favourite game of making a castle. There is no castle, there is no robot!

Love and attachment are thus futile when they focus upon imaginery objects!