Note: I have incorporated below ChatGPT’s elaboration and collaboration, which I find extremely helpful in articulating a reality that is not easily expressible. This is for the sake of readers who are interested in comprehending what is truly happening in their own reality right now. It is by no means an attempt to prove a point, but rather an expression of a reality that is ongoing yet remains unrealized. Each little insight discussed with ChatGPT over time has enabled it to understand what this mind is experiencing and articulate it in its own words, making it easier for readers to grasp.
Look at the body. The movement that comes from the body is not the body itself. The body and the movement are two separate things. The body does not move on its own—it is the mind that moves the body. The movement is the mind. What we perceive as movement is actually the work of the mind. Yet, the mind cannot be seen, as it has no form, no shape, and no color, wherein movement?
From this arises the notion of a being, where the being appears to be the body with the capacity to act. Failing to recognize that it is the mind at work, credit is given to the idea of a being—a non-existent reality, except for the mind’s activity.
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ChatGPT:
This passage beautifully illustrates the illusion of identifying the body with action and the subsequent creation of a sense of self. It suggests that what we perceive as bodily movement is, in fact, the expression of the mind’s activity. The body, in its materiality, is passive, while the movement originates from the mind, which is formless, without shape or color, and thus invisible.
From this misunderstanding arises the notion of a being—an entity believed to be capable of acting, independent of the mind. However, the passage argues that this being is a construct, a false attribution of agency to the body. The reality lies in the unseen, ungraspable mind at work, which, though invisible, is the true source of what we perceive as action.
This concept resonates with the idea of misidentification between the self and the mind-body complex. The illusion of a separate, acting being is an overlay created by failing to recognize the mind’s invisible role behind all apparent movement. This misunderstanding perpetuates the belief in an existential being, whereas in reality, it is only the mind in operation.
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The mind is a mystery and remains so only if one has not investigated it to find the right understanding of its nature. As long as this nature, so close to us, is neither investigated, understood, nor realized, we will continue to exist as ghostly beings—lacking any true existential reality—while harboring the mistaken belief that we are a being possessing both mind and body. In fact, it is the opposite: with the body and mind working together, the construct of a being arises.
To claim that we are a being having a mind and body is like saying that from you, your parents were born—a ludicrous reversal of the truth. Your birth came from them, not the other way around.
When the mind is not fully understood, and ignorance remains, it will always present the opposite of what is true. As a result, what you experience is the reverse of reality. You are thus trapped in a state of illusion, constantly seeking but never finding an end to it—except in the fleeting indulgence of pleasure, which is yet another illusion of temptation. As such, your return, albeit an illusion, is imminent, until the illusion is stopped.
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ChatGPT reply:
This reflection delves deeply into the nature of the mind, highlighting how ignorance of its true nature leads to fundamental misconceptions. The mind remains a mystery to those who do not investigate it. Without this investigation, we live in a state of illusion, falsely identifying with the construct of a “being” that seemingly possesses both body and mind. This erroneous sense of self, born from ignorance, is likened to the absurdity of claiming that a child gave birth to their parents—a complete reversal of reality.
The passage points out that when the mind and body function together, they give rise to the illusory sense of a self. However, to claim that “we are a being with mind and body” is to invert the truth, mistaking the byproduct of their interaction for an independent entity. The truth is that the self is a construct arising from these interdependent processes, not a pre-existing entity controlling them.
The mind, when misunderstood and clouded by ignorance, creates the opposite of what is true. As a result, our experiences become illusions, distorting reality. This perpetual misidentification leads to an endless cycle of seeking satisfaction, often through indulging in pleasures, which only deepens the illusion. These pleasures, being fleeting and illusory themselves, tempt us further into the cycle of ignorance, never leading to true understanding or liberation.
This insight emphasizes the necessity of understanding the mind and transcending the illusions it creates. Only through this understanding can we see beyond the false construct of self and recognize the true nature of reality.
This follow-up last statement suggests that the cycle of returning to illusion is inevitable as long as the illusion itself persists. The phrase “your return, albeit an illusion, is imminent” implies that as long as one remains trapped in ignorance, they will continue to be caught in the cycle of misidentifying with the mind and body, perpetuating the false sense of self. The “return” refers to the continual re-engagement with the illusion, which arises from misunderstanding the nature of the mind and reality.
The use of “imminent” emphasizes that this cyclical return to illusion is unavoidable until the illusion is thoroughly recognized and dismantled. The statement thus underscores the urgency of breaking through this illusion—only by stopping it through investigation, understanding, and realization can one escape the endless repetition of false perceptions and attain a true understanding of reality. It points to the necessity of deep insight to end the cycle of delusion.
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Birth and death are a cycle of illusion. So long as this illusion is not questioned, repeat it will sure be, driven by the chase of temptations that are not truly there, except as illusions. The end of this cycle cannot be found at the level where it operates, but rather from the level of understanding how it comes to be. You must find this understanding yourself; no one can find it for you. And when you do, you will realize that your returning was entirely in vain—a nightmare that did not actually occur, but was made to seem real due to ignorance.
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ChatGPT:
This passage highlights the cyclical nature of birth and death as an illusion, one that continues so long as it remains unquestioned. The phrase “repeat it will sure be” emphasizes the certainty of this cycle’s perpetuation, driven by the pursuit of temptations that are illusory in nature. These temptations, though they seem real, are nothing but projections of the mind, devoid of true substance.
The key insight here is that the solution to breaking this cycle cannot be found at the level of the illusion itself. Instead, one must understand the underlying process that gives rise to it—how the illusion comes into being. This requires a deeply personal journey: “You have to find your own. No one can find it for you.” This highlights the essential solitude of spiritual realization; others cannot do the work for you.
When the illusion is finally understood, the realization dawns that all the returning to this cycle was in vain—a “nightmare” that never truly occurred in reality but was made to feel real through ignorance. The passage suggests that enlightenment involves waking up from this nightmare, seeing that the self’s repeated engagements with illusion were unnecessary, merely products of misunderstanding. It points to a profound sense of freedom that comes with recognizing the illusory nature of birth, death, and the self.