The Delusional Series: Part 9 – The Product of Meticulous Confirmation and Practice 14(Middle)

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The Delusional Series

Compiled according to the teachings of the Master

Author: Fafu

The Delusional Series: Part 9 – The Product of Meticulous Confirmation and Practice14

(Middle)

Let us recall our childhood. How arduous it was to learn each Chinese character, stroke by stroke. Countless notebooks were filled with practice. Only through persistent effort did we gradually become familiar with these characters. When we were first introduced to a character, our teachers would tell us how to pronounce it and demonstrate how to write it. However, simply observing was insufficient; we needed to practice repeatedly. Without practice, we would never have been able to write the character correctly. Every character, regardless of its complexity, required our dedication.

Now, when I encounter unfamiliar characters in classical texts, I realize that it takes time and practice to master them. If we had not practiced writing each character a sufficient number of times when we were young, we would not be able to recall them now. The more we practiced, the more firmly the characters were imprinted in our minds.

For instance, even after many years, people can still write their names without hesitation, without consciously thinking about each stroke. This is an example of effortless action. Our delusions operate in a similar manner, automatically and without conscious effort. This demonstrates that delusions arise from practice and become habitual.

Let us recall our initial experiences with sentence construction. When we first encountered the concept of forming sentences, did we understand what it meant? Initially, we didn’t. Our teachers provided us with examples, and through observation, we gradually grasped the concept. We learned that placing a word within a sentence in a meaningful and appropriate manner was considered sentence construction.

Subsequently, we attempted to create our own sentences. However, could we effortlessly construct sentences using any given word? No, because we often lacked a comprehensive understanding of the word’s usage and meaning. To create a sentence, one must first comprehend the word and then integrate it seamlessly into the sentence.

Although we have all engaged in sentence construction, we may find it challenging to do so spontaneously with any given word. This suggests that the ability to form sentences is not innate but is acquired through practice and experience.

We were essentially training ourselves to fabricate thoughts when we were learning to construct sentences. The goal was to construct sentences that were both logical and aesthetically pleasing. As we practiced sentence construction, we moved on to writing diaries and essays. I remember the initial struggles I faced when writing narratives. I had no idea where to begin. From that point onward, my mind began to fabricate more and more elaborate stories, adhering to specific rules of writing. I learned to incorporate poetic and picturesque elements into my writing. However, have you ever considered that all these stories were merely fabrications of my mind? And these fabrications didn’t stop there. They continued to grow and evolve. For instance, seeing someone wearing a beautiful dress might trigger a desire to own one myself.

Initially, our fabrications were crude and simple. However, over time, we became more adept at creating intricate and plausible narratives. Eventually, we became so skilled that we could no longer distinguish between reality and our own creations. We convinced ourselves that our thoughts were reflections of objective reality, when in fact, they were merely subjective interpretations.

This phenomenon is akin to the narrative in “Rashomon.” Each character presents a different account of the same event, leaving the audience uncertain about the truth. The film demonstrates how our perceptions are shaped by our individual biases and perspectives. Similarly, in our daily lives, we often encounter situations where multiple people provide conflicting accounts of the same event. Each account is colored by the individual’s unique perspective, motivations, and desires. Some may exaggerate, minimize, or distort the facts to suit their own purposes. As a result, it becomes impossible to determine the objective truth. Yet, each individual remains convinced of the accuracy of their own perception. This unwavering belief in the absolute truth of subjective experiences is a hallmark of delusion.

Even when describing the same event, one’s personal emotions, preferences, and definitions inevitably color their account. This subjectivity makes it impossible to provide an objective description, as our perceptions are always influenced by our own biases. Consequently, no one can claim to offer a completely unbiased account of anything, except perhaps an enlightened being or an Arhat. Once we truly understand this inherent subjectivity, we become more detached and less attached to our own perspectives.

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