Commentary on the Sutra of the Compendium of Father and Son (194)

The Analogy of Drinking Wine

Original Text: Furthermore, O King, it is like a person who, in a dream, saw himself drinking wine until he became intoxicated and confused. He could not distinguish virtuous dharmas from unwholesome actions, nor was he aware of the merits or faults of his deeds. After waking up, he constantly reflected on the events in the dream, wondering: "Were those events real?" The King replied: "No, they were not."

Explanation: The Buddha said: "I shall give another dream analogy, O King. Suppose a person in a dream saw himself becoming utterly intoxicated after drinking wine. He could neither distinguish virtuous dharmas nor unwholesome actions, nor was he aware of the merits or faults of his deeds. After waking up, he constantly reflected on the events in the dream, wondering whether they were real. King Śuddhodana replied: 'They were not real.'"

Original Text: The Buddha said: "O King, what do you think? If this person were to cling to the dream as real, would he be considered wise?" The King replied: "No, World-Honored One. Why? Because ultimately, there was no drinker in the dream, let alone intoxication. It should be understood that this person merely wearied himself in vain, for there was no reality to it at all."

Explanation: The Buddha said: "O King, what do you think? If this person were to cling to the dream he experienced as truly real, would he be considered wise?" King Śuddhodana replied: "This person is not wise, World-Honored One. Why is that? Because ultimately, there was no drinker in the dream, let alone the occurrence of intoxication. It should be understood that this person's constant reflection only pointlessly exhausted his mind, for there was no actual substance to it."