Lecture Notes on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (106)

Grasping at the objects of the six sense-objects only wears the mind out in vain

In the dream there was actually no sound of music, yet not only could one not alertly realize that one was dreaming, but the mind even gave rise to joy, comfort, and craving—that is all the more inverted, for the event did not even exist, and the mental state even less so; it is all false and illusory. Taking the dream as real and constantly recalling and fantasizing about it is merely wearing oneself out in vain; there is no real matter there, and one pointlessly drives one's own mind into thoughts and fantasies—that is simply exhausting the mind, with no actual benefit to be gained. Our mind, within the six realms of existence, is likewise wearied in the same way, constantly grasping at the objects of the six sense-objects, only to gain nothing in the end, coming and going empty-handed. Delusive thoughts, hopes, wishes, and yearnings—all of these only wear the mind out in vain. In reality they are of no use; at the time of death, it will still be like drawing water with a bamboo basket—all for nothing.