Today, I invite you to explore a discourse based on the text Seeing the Drama of the Mind, provided by the Buddhist Practice Association of Australia. The term “fabrication”in ancient texts is described as the mind’s tendency to store and replay past experiences—sights, sounds, feelings—and weave them into a self-directed, self-acted drama.
Using this concept, let us delve into a Buddhist scripture where the Jade Emperor (Empereur de Jade) seeks the Buddha’s guidance on the origin of afflictions, as recorded in Volume 10 of the Long Agama Sutra. Through a dialogue between the Buddha and Indra (Empereur de Jade), this text reveals the root of human conflict and suffering. The Buddha teaches that all disputes and afflictions stem from a subtle starting point—fabrication—which evolves into desire, attachment, aversion, greed, and jealousy, ultimately leading to conflict and harm. By understanding this chain of afflictions, we can learn to pause, observe, and liberate ourselves from the cycle of suffering, becoming like a lotus that rises unstained from the mud.
In the sutra, Indra asks the Buddha why beings—gods, humans, asuras, and others—engage in conflict, even resorting to violence. The Buddha traces the root cause layer by layer, revealing the causal chain of afflictions:
Indra asks:
“Why are gods, humans, gandharvas, asuras, and other beings bound by resentment, leading to enmity and violence?”
The Buddha replies:
“The knot of resentment arises from greed and jealousy, causing gods, humans, asuras, and other beings to harm one another with weapons.”
When Indra inquires further about the source of greed and jealousy, the Buddha explains:
“Greed and jealousy arise from attachment and aversion. Attachment and aversion are the cause, the condition, and the origin. They exist because of this; without them, they would not exist.”
Indra presses on, asking where attachment and aversion come from. The Buddha responds:
“Attachment and aversion arise from desire. Desire is the cause, the condition, and the origin. They exist because of desire; without it, they would not exist.”
When asked about the source of desire, the Buddha says:
“Desire arises from thought. Thought is the cause, the condition, and the origin. Desire exists because of thought; without it, it would not exist.”
Finally, the Buddha reveals the root cause:
“Thought arises from fabrication. Fabrication is the cause, the condition, and the origin. It exists because of fabrication; without it, it would not exist. Indra, if there were no fabrication, there would be no thought. Without thought, there would be no desire. Without desire, there would be no attachment or aversion. Without attachment or aversion, there would be no greed or jealousy. And without greed or jealousy, beings would not harm one another.”
This dialogue clearly outlines the chain of afflictions: Fabrication → Thought → Desire → Attachment/Aversion → Greed/Jealousy → Conflict. The Buddha teaches that all suffering originates from fabrication—the mind’s erroneous projection and subjective storytelling. This self-directed drama leads us to mistake our thoughts for reality, triggering a cascade of afflictions.
The Meaning of Fabrication: The Mind’s Theater
In modern contexts, “fabrication” might be misunderstood as teasing or provocation. In Buddhist scriptures, however, it refers to the mind’s misinterpretation of reality—a subjective, dramatized projection. Our consciousness acts like a storehouse, filled with past experiences, sensations, and memories. From this archive, we select fragments, weave scripts, and stage dramas, mistaking them for the true world.
This fabrication is like building an inner theater where we produce tragedies or comedies based on our biases and emotions. The problem is that we forget we are the playwright and actor, becoming entangled in the drama. This leads to desire, attachment, aversion, greed, and jealousy, ultimately causing conflict and harm between people.
To illustrate how this chain of afflictions unfolds in daily life, I will share three modern examples to demonstrate how the mind’s theater transforms fabrication into conflict.
Case Study 1: Misunderstandings and Jealousy in the Workplace
Imagine you see your colleague, Li, chatting and laughing with the boss in the hallway. A thought arises in your mind:
- Fabrication: You think, “Is Li flattering the boss? What a brown-noser!” This is your mind weaving a script based on a fleeting observation, projecting your assumptions.
- Thought: The idea grows: “The boss praised Li last time, too. Is the boss playing favorites? My hard work is being ignored!” Your inner script becomes more elaborate, forming a narrative of unfairness.
- Desire: You want to change the situation, thinking, “I need to get the boss’s attention, too. I can’t lose to Li!” A competitive urge and desire for control emerge.
- Attachment/Aversion: You begin to resent Li, assuming they rely on connections rather than merit. Meanwhile, you gravitate toward colleagues who feel similarly “overlooked,” creating an us-versus-them dynamic.
- Greed/Jealousy: When you hear Li might get a promotion, jealousy surges: “Why them? I work harder!” This comparison fuels your suffering.
- Conflict: Eventually, you might make snide remarks about Li in a meeting or gossip behind their back, creating tension in the workplace and escalating disputes.
Reflection: This all began with a single fabrication—your assumption about Li’s conversation with the boss. If you had recognized this as a mental script rather than reality, the subsequent afflictions could have been avoided.
Case Study 2: Marital Discord in the Family
Picture a couple, Mei and Qiang. Mei notices Qiang has been coming home late and is less talkative. She feels uneasy:
- Fabrication: Mei thinks, “Is he growing distant? Does he not love me anymore?” This is a projection rooted in emotion, unsupported by evidence.
- Thought: Her mind elaborates: “He hasn’t cared about me lately. He even forgot our anniversary!” These thoughts solidify into a narrative that he doesn’t care.
- Desire: Mei wants Qiang to explain or comfort her, thinking, “He should spend more time with me and make me feel secure!” A desire to control his behavior arises.
- Attachment/Aversion: She loves Qiang deeply but grows angry at his perceived indifference. Love and resentment intertwine, causing emotional turmoil.
- Greed/Jealousy: Mei becomes jealous: “Why is he so warm with his colleagues but so cold with me? I should be his priority!” This possessiveness intensifies her pain.
- Conflict: Unable to hold back, Mei confronts Qiang, leading to an argument where both hurl accusations, damaging their relationship.
Reflection: In reality, Qiang might simply be preoccupied with work, unintentionally neglecting Mei. The conflict stemmed from Mei’s initial fabrication. Had she paused to recognize her assumptions and communicated openly with Qiang, the quarrel could have been avoided.
Case Study 3: Emotional Outrage on Social Media
Suppose you see a social media headline: “Foreign official publicly insults our country!” Your emotions flare instantly:
- Fabrication: You think, “That’s outrageous! How dare they insult us?” This is a projection based on incomplete information, as your mind begins scripting a drama.
- Thought: Your anger grows: “They’ve always looked down on us. There must be a conspiracy!” Fueled by emotion, your thoughts reinforce a narrative of hostility.
- Desire: You feel compelled to act, thinking, “I need to share this to spread the truth!” This urge to defend drives your actions.
- Attachment/Aversion: You align with others who share your outrage, viewing them as “patriots,” while dismissing those who question the post as “traitors.”
- Greed/Jealousy: Seeing other nations prosper, you feel resentment: “Why can they treat us like this? We shouldn’t be disrespected!” This comparison fuels your agitation.
- Conflict: You post inflammatory comments online, share provocative content, and contribute to a wave of online hostility, escalating into a virtual war.
Reflection: This all began with a sensational headline triggering fabrication. Had you paused to verify the facts or observe your emotional reaction, the cycle of conflict could have been broken.
These three cases—whether in the workplace, family, or social media—reveal a consistent pattern of affliction: starting with a subjective fabrication, progressing through thought, desire, attachment/aversion, and greed/jealousy, and culminating in conflict. The Buddha not only identifies the root of the problem but also offers a solution: halting fabrication.
The Buddha explains to Indra that fabrication manifests in three forms:
- Verbal Fabrication: Harmful speech, lies, or provocative words.
- Mental Fabrication: Prejudices and misconceptions about others or the world.
- Desire-Driven Fabrication: Pursuit and control fueled by craving.
The Buddha teaches us to align our speech, thoughts, and actions in a way that neither harms ourselves, others, nor both. Specifically:
- Observe the Moment of Fabrication: When you catch yourself weaving a script (e.g., “They must look down on me”), pause and ask, “Is this true, or is it my projection?”
- Do Not Follow Thoughts: When thoughts arise, don’t let them spiral. Return to the present moment and focus on facts.
- Let Go of Desire: Release the need to control others or outcomes, accepting things as they are.
- Cultivate Compassion: Replace attachment, aversion, greed, and jealousy with understanding and kindness, restoring inner peace.
The Buddha states:
“If there were no fabrication, there would be no thought. Without thought, there would be no desire. Without desire, there would be no attachment or aversion. Without attachment or aversion, there would be no greed or jealousy. And without greed or jealousy, beings would not harm one another.”
This is the key to liberation: by cutting off fabrication at its root, we can step out of the mind’s theater and cease producing painful dramas.
Dear friends, the Buddha’s teachings are like a mirror, reflecting the workings of our minds. Every day, we fabricate reality, weaving scripts with our biases and emotions, then becoming entangled in them, leading to conflict with others. But we can choose not to perform this play. Just as a lotus rises from the mud unstained, through awareness and practice, we can see through the illusion of fabrication and break the chain of afflictions.
Let us begin today by practicing pausing at the moment fabrication arises, observing our minds with wisdom and dissolving conflict with compassion. When we stop scripting and acting in painful dramas, we become true practitioners, living lives of clarity and freedom. Thank you for listening. May we all become unstained lotuses, and may the world grow more harmonious through our awakening.
