The Delusional Series
Compiled according to the teachings of the Master
Author: Fafu
The Delusional Series: Part 11 –31 Thought 1
To discern the delusions beyond one’s control, one must first understand the thoughts that are within one’s power.
You spoke of your mind, which you cannot control. It simply is, ever thinking. To control it, you must first understand it. Since you are uncontrollable, you must understand the uncontrollable. To understand the uncontrollable, you must understand the controllable. Once you understand the controllable, the uncontrollable becomes clear. How can you understand the uncontrollable? By understanding the controllable. When you fully understand the controllable, you also understand the uncontrollable.
Your thoughts are nothing more than the confirmations of your six senses interacting with the six sense objects. For example, your eyes confirm visual forms, and your ears confirm sounds. Through repeated confirmations, the images that remain in your mind become your thoughts. If you have not experienced something through your senses, such as the concept of “DA,” you will be at a loss when asked to provide it. This is because your six senses have not input any information about what “DA” is. Since your thoughts are essentially memories, images, and impressions left by your senses interacting with the world, you should understand that your thoughts are merely mental images. This is the most basic understanding of thought: it is the memory, image, or impression left by your six senses interacting with the six sense objects.
From a young age, we begin to think. What is this thinking? It’s the process of comparing a mental image with images from our past experiences. For instance, if I see an image that resembles something I once owned but have lost, I might think, “How did this end up here? You must have stolen it.” The conclusion is based on the premise that the image belongs to me because I once possessed it. Now that it’s missing and I’ve found it in your possession, it follows that you have stolen it. Furthermore, the image is valuable, and given your financial situation, it’s unlikely that you could have acquired it legitimately. This reinforces the belief that the image is mine. The significance of this image is amplified by my affection for it; I cannot bear to lose it. When someone steals something I cherish and I am unable to retrieve it, I become resentful. In this scenario, we can observe the interplay of greed, hatred, delusion, and doubt within the mind. This is a deeper level of thinking.
We’ve established that delusions are merely mental images, reflections of our sensory experiences. However, these delusions go beyond simple images; they intertwine with the afflictions of greed, hatred, delusion, pride, and doubt, creating complex narratives. For instance, upon finding an item missing from my possession and seeing it in yours, I immediately conclude that you have stolen it. Why? Because I am wealthy and you are poor, so it’s impossible for you to have acquired it legitimately. This is a manifestation of pride. Doubting your innocence is an act of suspicion, and my attachment to the item is a form of greed. When I realize that it has been stolen, hatred arises. Thus, greed, hatred, delusion, pride, and doubt intertwine within my mind, giving rise to a complex delusion. Driven by these afflictions, I might resort to violence or threats, only to discover later that the item was in my own possession. At this point, a new layer of delusion emerges, again fueled by the interplay of greed, hatred, delusion, pride, and doubt. The possibilities are endless, as delusions are unpredictable and irrational. They are not governed by any fixed rules or formulas but arise spontaneously based on emotions and perceptions. Therefore, delusions are inherently unreliable.