The Sutra of the Compendium of Father and Son: Discourse 136

Is the fragrant anointment in a dream real?

Original Text: King, it is like a person who, in a dream, anoints his body with sandalwood, tamala leaves, or other fragrances. What do you think? After awakening, when this person recalls the fragrance applied in the dream, was it real? The king said: No, it was not.

The Buddha said: King, is this person, who clings to his dream as real, wise? The king said: No, World-Honored One. Why is that? After all, there are no fragrances whatsoever in a dream, much less the act of anointing the body. It should be understood that this person merely wearied himself in vain, for none of it was real.

Explanation: The Buddha said: King, suppose a person in a dream anoints himself with sandalwood, tamala leaves, or other fragrances. What do you think about this? After waking, when this person recalls the fragrance he applied in the dream, was the act of anointing real? King Śuddhodana said: It was not real.

The Buddha said: King, is this person who clings to his dream as real a wise one? King Śuddhodana said: He is not wise, World-Honored One. Why? Because ultimately, there are no fragrances in the dream, let alone the act of anointing. This person was merely engaging in futile delusion, vainly wearying his mind, for there was nothing real at all.

The act of anointing with fragrance in a dream is illusory, and the dream itself is also illusory. But did this person dream? Indeed, he did. Although dreaming is a false appearance, the existence of this illusion cannot be denied. We can only strive to recognize that this is a dream and thereby awaken. Recognizing that all phenomena are false appearances, striving to prove that all phenomena are illusory—that is enlightenment. In the future, this will enable liberation from the cycle of birth and death.