Delusion Series, Part 3 –The Chaos of Rashomon
Hello, everyone! Welcome to this episode of the podcast, brought to you by the Australia Buddhas’ Practice Incorporated.
Today, we continue our “Delusion” series, diving into the core characteristic of delusion: weaving. Delusion is not merely a stray thought; it’s an automated process that pulls materials from our memories and feelings to craft stories completely detached from reality. Yet, we confidently believe these fabricated scripts, trapping ourselves in a Rashomon-like chaos of misunderstanding.
1. Weaving Delusion: An Automated Movie
Delusion is like a movie playing in your mind, with dramatic twists and turns, all running on autopilot. You might think you’re the one “thinking” these delusions, but in truth, your consciousness has taken over. It pulls from your storehouse of afflictions, habits, and past experiences, blending them with the present scene to weave scene after scene. You barely need to lift a finger—this movie starts rolling on its own.
Every frame of this movie draws from your past experiences—your memories, feelings, and definitions. These form the “warp and weft” of delusion’s narrative framework. However, these materials aren’t truth; they’re your subjective memories and biases. Thus, the stories delusion weaves are always out of sync with reality.
2. The Materials of Weaving: Piecemeal Memories and Feelings
Delusion’s weaving requires materials, sourced from your memories and feelings. Specifically:
- Past Experiences
Your impressions of someone, experiences with certain events, or observations of others become raw materials. For example, if you see someone act a certain way, you might assume another person would do the same. You then stitch these fragments onto this person, weaving a version of “them.” This “them” isn’t the real person but a fictional image born from your past memories. - Subjective Feelings
Your emotions—liking or disliking, good or bad—add color to the weave. If you once felt upset by someone’s actions, that feeling gets recalled and amplified in the present context. You might think, “They’re always like this,” ignoring that the real person may be entirely different. - Faulty Definitions
Every feeling comes with a label, like “this person is unreliable” or “that event was awful.” These labels act as threads, linking unrelated experiences into a seemingly coherent story.
These materials create a narrative utterly disconnected from reality. You’re not weaving truth but a self-assured Rashomon, convinced it’s the real thing.
3. The Pitfalls of Weaving: Errors of Confidence
Delusion’s weaving has two fatal flaws:
- Detachment from Reality
The world is full of details you haven’t seen or felt. You can’t weave what you don’t know, so delusional stories are inherently flawed. For instance, your understanding of someone may be surface-level, yet you build a complete “them” based on others’ actions or your guesses. This “them” is worlds apart from the real person. - Overconfidence
Despite the errors in these stories, you believe them wholeheartedly. You think, “This is who they are,” and this confidence makes delusion stubborn. Everyone weaves like this, everyone errs, yet everyone feels certain. That’s the terror of delusion—it keeps us in a fabricated world, oblivious to the truth.
4. The Consequences of Delusion: The Chaos of Rashomon
Delusion’s weaving distorts truth and brings severe consequences:
- Misunderstandings and Conflicts
When you impose a fictional image on someone, misunderstandings arise. A single mistaken weave can spark prejudice or arguments, creating rifts in relationships. - Ruined Connections
Delusion’s weaving traps you in greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt. Delusion amplifies negative feelings while ignoring positive facts, turning good connections into bad ones. A minor misunderstanding might lead you to weave a litany of “flaws,” destroying the relationship.
5. The Path to Breaking Delusion
Observe closely, and you’ll discover that delusion’s stories are mere patchwork fabrications. Confidence is delusion’s shield. When you think, “What I believe is right,” sound the alarm—this is the hallmark of delusion. Tell yourself: “This is just a weave, not the truth.”
Delusion’s movie will keep playing, but you don’t have to buy a ticket. Like watching a street performer’s tricks, knowing they’re fake, simply ignore it. Awaken in the moment, and delusion will find no foothold.
6. The Light of Awareness: Piercing Rashomon
Delusion is an automated weave, stitching memories and feelings into false stories we mistake for truth. It traps us in the chaos of Rashomon, ruining connections and plunging us into pain. Yet, it’s merely a trick of consciousness.
Dear listeners, let’s practice diligently, kindling the light of awareness!
Thank you for listening! See you next episode！
