The critical difference between illusion and delusion every Buddhist must know.
"Illusion is an impression that, though false, is entertained provisionally on the recommendation of the senses or the imagination, but awaits full acceptance and may not influence action.
… delusion is a belief that, though false, has been surrendered to and accepted by the whole mind as a truth."
The story of a predawn Egyptian Airlines Crash and the three poisons of Buddhism.

Illusion And Delusion  Dharma Talk

This talk takes us on a journey from a Stephen Hawking story about a gold fish in Modena Italy to the Buddhist philosophy of emptiness and the end of suffering . A look into the nature of the heart as well as the nature of reality.

The Gateway Of Birth And Death (Ir Won Sang)

How does Sila or Virtue leads to awakening?  Many think being virtuous has a magical quality, give away money and get back scores more, build up good “merit” and when you get enough points you can trade them like spiritual frequent flier miles for a ticket to the pure land. This talk explores what is virtue and how it can function as a vehicle for liberation?   What is meant by liberation and liberation from what? The only reason that people act in non-virtuous ways?

Virtue as a path to awakening in Buddhism - Sila

Buddha turned his mind inward and realized that all he or (we), could ever know about the world- was that which --we could be conscious of. This holds true even today, for no matter how powerful the instruments we create they are ultimately just extensions or augmentations to of our existing senses.
Its only the last 100 years  we in the west  broke the mind into 2 parts the unconscious that which  is experiential yet unknown, and the information that is potentially available to be know, or Known our “field of consciousness” or simply consciousness.

 
Buddha observed that for there to be Consciousness.. There has to be consciousness ..of something.
He pointed out that there are only -2 basic objects we can be conscious of: physical objects or the physical world ; which is Sense consciousness, the source of which is  stimulus from the nerves of the corresponding  sense organs (Eye ear nose)and  contact with their respective physical object and mental objects that is all thoughts…, ideas, memories visualizations, desires and so on arising in the mind.

The Body is considered the source of the physical sense organs it is called Rupa ( Pali for Form)  and the Mind is the source of mental object or thoughts  Nama (which in pali means “name”), Together these are known as the 6 sense bases. These are the building blocks from which we create our  reality and our sense of self. The misconstruction (misconception)  is called ignorance , which Buddhists consider to be, the root cause of all suffering.

Understanding The Five Aggregates (Skandhas)

A talk exploring how the 8 fold path acts to stabilize and deepen the experience of the first 3 noble truths.
From his own empirical experience the Buddha made sure his followers had the tools they needed to be , “a light on to themselves”.

In baking a cake there is a purpose to each step. In Buddhist practice each step leads us down the path to awakening.

The 2,500 year method that puts an end to delusion and the suffering is called 3 Aspects of the 8 fold path.

They are Sila , Samadhi and Prajna or Virtue, mediation and wisdom.
First Fold : Sila
Buddha observed the law of cause and effect, you do negative things you get negative experiences . In Buddhism there is no one to save you, there is also no one to punish you. You have to take responsibility for your own actions. The Buddhist guide to behavior is called the precepts. Basically don’t kill, steal, lie or fool around with your neighbor’s spouse. If you do people won’t like you much and will generally make your life miserable. 
So to start the practice the first thing you do is create a foundation relatively free from guilt ,chaos and conducive to self esteem, by avoiding the negative actions that are the results of deluded thinking …even if you don’t know what that yet is. All religions seemed to got this one figured out.

Second fold : Prajna
Is the intellectual knowledge of how reality works, that you will use as a map and catalyst in you meditation practice. It s like the eggs and flour used in cake batter its crucial to making the cake but without the heat of the oven you don’t get cake.
This includes the basic teachings of Buddhist wisdom such as ,, the 4 noble truths, dependent origination and emptiness.

Third fold is Meditation or mind training ***
The mind training that creates the optimal conditions for awakening to take place.
Its purpose is to develop a consciousness powerful enough to consistently monitor and observe the subtle movements of attention. The way attention affects your state of mind .As well as the constantly changing impersonal and often contradictory thoughts feelings memories we associate with a sense of self .

Cliff Wallshein

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