Lectures on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (Pitāputrasamāgamanasūtra) (90)

Are the battles with enemies in a dream truly existent?

Original text:大王。譬若有人。于睡梦中。与诸冤对。共相斗战。于意云何。是人觉已。忆念梦中。斗战等事。为实有不。王曰不也。

佛言大王。是人所梦。执以为实。为智者不。王曰不也。世尊。何以故。梦中毕竟。无有冤对。何况与之。共相斗战。当知是人。徒自忧恼。都无有实。

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, suppose there is a person who, while asleep and dreaming, engages in mutual battles with many enemies. What do you think? After this person awakens, he still recollects the events of the battle in the dream—are those things in the dream truly existent? King Śuddhodana said: They are not truly existent.

Great King, if this person clings to the dream as being truly existent and refuses to let go, is he a wise person? King Śuddhodana said: This person is not a wise one, World-Honored One. Why? Because in the dream there are no enemies at all, let alone any matter of doing battle with those enemies. This person merely brings sorrow and vexation upon himself; there is nothing real in the dream.