1 00:00:00,421 --> 00:00:02,339 Don Quixote and the Nanke Dream 2 00:00:02,341 --> 00:00:03,958 Two paths to waking up 3 00:00:04,439 --> 00:00:06,375 A thin old man from rural Spain 4 00:00:06,479 --> 00:00:09,535 Mistook windmills for giants 5 00:00:09,638 --> 00:00:11,696 Charged with his spear 6 00:00:11,798 --> 00:00:14,416 Knocked down by the blades 7 00:00:14,478 --> 00:00:16,336 Fell into the mud with his horse 8 00:00:16,866 --> 00:00:18,784 In a similar absurdity 9 00:00:18,785 --> 00:00:20,584 A Tang Dynasty man 800 years ago 10 00:00:20,586 --> 00:00:23,523 Fell asleep drunk under a locust tree 11 00:00:23,665 --> 00:00:24,863 Dreamt of marrying a princess 12 00:00:25,026 --> 00:00:26,223 Served as governor for 20 years 13 00:00:26,386 --> 00:00:27,584 Had seven children 14 00:00:27,586 --> 00:00:28,683 Enjoyed wealth and glory 15 00:00:28,706 --> 00:00:29,544 Upon waking 16 00:00:29,546 --> 00:00:30,502 The sun had not yet set 17 00:00:30,746 --> 00:00:32,522 The wine on the table was still warm 18 00:00:33,513 --> 00:00:34,311 One charged outward 19 00:00:34,753 --> 00:00:36,351 Fighting the fake as if real 20 00:00:36,954 --> 00:00:37,830 One sank inward 21 00:00:38,153 --> 00:00:40,330 Living a whole life in a dream 22 00:00:40,674 --> 00:00:41,631 Half a world apart 23 00:00:41,833 --> 00:00:43,010 Separated by 800 years 24 00:00:43,073 --> 00:00:43,911 These two men 25 00:00:44,153 --> 00:00:46,051 Were doing the same thing 26 00:00:46,274 --> 00:00:48,371 They took something non-existent 27 00:00:48,513 --> 00:00:50,371 As their entire world 28 00:00:50,433 --> 00:00:52,491 And gave their lives to it 29 00:00:52,969 --> 00:00:53,286 Hello 30 00:00:53,530 --> 00:00:53,966 Everyone 31 00:00:54,249 --> 00:00:55,386 I am Wang Lijie 32 00:00:55,569 --> 00:00:57,547 Let's do something interesting today 33 00:00:57,689 --> 00:00:59,167 Spain's Don Quixote 34 00:00:59,410 --> 00:01:01,646 And the Tang Dynasty's Nanke story 35 00:01:02,009 --> 00:01:03,466 Put them on the same table 36 00:01:03,649 --> 00:01:07,266 View these dreamers through Buddhism 37 00:01:07,370 --> 00:01:08,046 You will find 38 00:01:08,370 --> 00:01:10,266 They weren't just dreaming 39 00:01:10,329 --> 00:01:11,126 More importantly 40 00:01:11,329 --> 00:01:12,649 After waking up 41 00:01:12,650 --> 00:01:15,147 They took opposite paths 42 00:01:15,489 --> 00:01:16,326 And these two paths 43 00:01:16,689 --> 00:01:18,867 Are exactly East and West 44 00:01:18,889 --> 00:01:20,888 Facing the great dream of life 45 00:01:20,889 --> 00:01:22,587 Two different answers 46 00:01:23,519 --> 00:01:25,255 Let's start with the Easterner 47 00:01:25,679 --> 00:01:27,016 His name was Chunyu Fen 48 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,936 A bold and reckless man 49 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:33,376 A large locust tree stood south of his home 50 00:01:33,519 --> 00:01:34,736 Its branches covered the sky 51 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:37,216 One day he got drunk on his birthday 52 00:01:37,239 --> 00:01:39,135 And was helped to the porch to rest 53 00:01:40,046 --> 00:01:41,303 In a daze 54 00:01:41,326 --> 00:01:43,383 Two messengers in purple appeared 55 00:01:43,446 --> 00:01:45,463 Inviting him on the King's orders 56 00:01:45,686 --> 00:01:47,023 He followed them into a carriage 57 00:01:47,285 --> 00:01:50,062 It drove into a hole under a locust tree 58 00:01:50,285 --> 00:01:52,043 Inside was another world 59 00:01:52,365 --> 00:01:53,823 Called the Kingdom of Great Locust 60 00:01:54,046 --> 00:01:55,702 The King treated him with great respect 61 00:01:55,725 --> 00:01:57,622 Married Princess Golden Branch to him 62 00:01:57,686 --> 00:01:59,862 And made him Governor of Nanke 63 00:02:00,559 --> 00:02:02,496 Twenty years passed there 64 00:02:02,839 --> 00:02:04,916 He governed Nanke perfectly 65 00:02:05,439 --> 00:02:06,517 Loved by the people 66 00:02:06,518 --> 00:02:07,656 With outstanding achievements 67 00:02:07,919 --> 00:02:09,556 The Princess bore him five sons 68 00:02:09,758 --> 00:02:10,735 And two daughters 69 00:02:10,999 --> 00:02:11,995 He reached the peak of power 70 00:02:12,318 --> 00:02:13,455 Wealth and glory 71 00:02:13,598 --> 00:02:16,775 The pinnacle of human imagination 72 00:02:17,303 --> 00:02:19,159 But good times never last 73 00:02:19,383 --> 00:02:21,020 The neighboring Tanluo Kingdom invaded 74 00:02:21,462 --> 00:02:22,720 He sent troops to fight 75 00:02:22,730 --> 00:02:23,531 But suffered a crushing defeat 76 00:02:23,742 --> 00:02:24,581 Soon after 77 00:02:24,583 --> 00:02:27,400 The Princess died of illness 78 00:02:27,622 --> 00:02:28,859 The King began to distance himself 79 00:02:29,182 --> 00:02:30,520 Growing suspicious of him 80 00:02:30,663 --> 00:02:31,780 Finally, he ordered 81 00:02:32,103 --> 00:02:33,639 To send him back home 82 00:02:34,247 --> 00:02:35,943 The same two purple-clad messengers 83 00:02:36,046 --> 00:02:38,223 Escorted him out of the tree hole 84 00:02:38,646 --> 00:02:39,283 He opened his eyes 85 00:02:39,727 --> 00:02:41,623 Still lying on his own porch 86 00:02:41,967 --> 00:02:44,503 The sun hadn't even set yet 87 00:02:44,766 --> 00:02:47,126 The unfinished wine by the window 88 00:02:47,127 --> 00:02:48,303 Was still warm 89 00:02:48,687 --> 00:02:50,343 Decades of glory and shame in a dream 90 00:02:50,407 --> 00:02:52,943 Was just a nap in reality 91 00:02:53,326 --> 00:02:54,764 What chilled him even more 92 00:02:55,006 --> 00:02:56,264 Was what happened next 93 00:02:56,647 --> 00:02:58,324 He had the tree hole dug up 94 00:02:58,847 --> 00:02:59,824 And looked inside 95 00:02:59,927 --> 00:03:01,704 It was a giant ant nest 96 00:03:02,087 --> 00:03:03,384 With a dirt platform in the middle 97 00:03:03,527 --> 00:03:05,623 Swarming with ants 98 00:03:05,766 --> 00:03:07,704 Two large ants guarded the center 99 00:03:08,046 --> 00:03:10,423 This was the capital of Great Locust 100 00:03:11,027 --> 00:03:13,245 Digging further along the south branch 101 00:03:13,348 --> 00:03:14,564 Another ant nest 102 00:03:14,788 --> 00:03:17,724 That was Nanke Prefecture, where he ruled for 20 years 103 00:03:17,987 --> 00:03:19,705 The splendor of his dream 104 00:03:20,027 --> 00:03:21,564 A life of honor and disgrace 105 00:03:21,628 --> 00:03:23,485 Was just a nest of ants 106 00:03:23,788 --> 00:03:25,724 Chunyu Fen understood instantly 107 00:03:25,867 --> 00:03:29,045 Life's illusions are like the Nanke Dream 108 00:03:29,188 --> 00:03:30,747 He quit wine and women 109 00:03:30,747 --> 00:03:32,525 And turned to Taoism 110 00:03:32,668 --> 00:03:33,384 Three years later 111 00:03:33,628 --> 00:03:35,925 He died peacefully at home 112 00:03:36,232 --> 00:03:37,728 This is the Eastern way of waking 113 00:03:37,952 --> 00:03:38,428 See through it 114 00:03:38,791 --> 00:03:39,268 Let it go 115 00:03:39,552 --> 00:03:40,728 Leave the world behind 116 00:03:40,911 --> 00:03:42,750 By digging up an ant nest 117 00:03:42,751 --> 00:03:45,448 He saw the whole world as one 118 00:03:45,848 --> 00:03:46,045 Now 119 00:03:46,408 --> 00:03:48,825 Let's cut to Spain 120 00:03:49,208 --> 00:03:50,244 A poor country gentleman 121 00:03:50,528 --> 00:03:52,225 Named Alonso Quixano 122 00:03:52,408 --> 00:03:54,065 Living in rural La Mancha 123 00:03:54,208 --> 00:03:55,285 He had no major flaws 124 00:03:55,528 --> 00:03:56,385 Except one 125 00:03:56,408 --> 00:03:58,385 He loved chivalric novels too much 126 00:03:58,528 --> 00:03:59,204 Reading and reading 127 00:03:59,368 --> 00:04:00,584 Until his mind broke 128 00:04:00,688 --> 00:04:03,524 He believed the tales of knights and demons 129 00:04:03,808 --> 00:04:06,225 Were all true 130 00:04:06,248 --> 00:04:10,105 And the world needed a new knight to save it 131 00:04:11,310 --> 00:04:14,047 So he renamed himself Don Quixote 132 00:04:14,229 --> 00:04:16,727 Found some rusty ancestral armor 133 00:04:16,910 --> 00:04:19,487 Led out a skinny old horse 134 00:04:19,669 --> 00:04:21,967 Gave it a majestic name 135 00:04:22,229 --> 00:04:25,686 He chose a local farm girl 136 00:04:25,710 --> 00:04:28,366 As the noble lady he would serve 137 00:04:28,790 --> 00:04:30,246 He then persuaded 138 00:04:30,309 --> 00:04:33,566 An honest peasant, Sancho, to be his squire 139 00:04:33,790 --> 00:04:35,766 Promising him 140 00:04:35,790 --> 00:04:37,766 Governorship of an island 141 00:04:38,189 --> 00:04:40,886 Then the pair set off 142 00:04:41,121 --> 00:04:42,361 What happened next 143 00:04:42,361 --> 00:04:44,579 Is what we still laugh at today 144 00:04:44,721 --> 00:04:47,258 He saw dozens of windmills 145 00:04:47,281 --> 00:04:49,418 As giants with long arms 146 00:04:49,522 --> 00:04:51,079 Charged them for a duel 147 00:04:51,361 --> 00:04:52,698 And was knocked flying 148 00:04:52,962 --> 00:04:54,539 He saw a flock of sheep 149 00:04:54,561 --> 00:04:56,579 As two warring armies 150 00:04:56,921 --> 00:04:59,459 He mistook a small inn for a castle 151 00:04:59,522 --> 00:05:02,281 A barber's basin used for rain protection 152 00:05:02,281 --> 00:05:05,099 Mistaken for a legendary magic helmet 153 00:05:05,202 --> 00:05:07,738 He seized it and wore it as his own 154 00:05:08,002 --> 00:05:09,438 Three times he set out as a knight 155 00:05:09,721 --> 00:05:11,120 Making a fool of himself along the way 156 00:05:11,121 --> 00:05:12,079 Beaten at every turn 157 00:05:12,361 --> 00:05:13,938 Hardly ever winning a fight 158 00:05:14,161 --> 00:05:15,440 In everyone's eyes 159 00:05:15,442 --> 00:05:17,618 He was a complete madman 160 00:05:18,539 --> 00:05:19,337 At the end of the story 161 00:05:19,659 --> 00:05:21,757 His fellow townsman set a trap 162 00:05:22,060 --> 00:05:24,258 A young man posed as the Knight of the White Moon 163 00:05:24,260 --> 00:05:25,236 Challenged him to a duel 164 00:05:25,419 --> 00:05:26,217 And defeated him 165 00:05:26,539 --> 00:05:27,899 By the rules of chivalry 166 00:05:27,899 --> 00:05:29,036 He was ordered to return home 167 00:05:29,060 --> 00:05:31,356 Forbidden from adventuring for a year 168 00:05:31,859 --> 00:05:33,097 Don Quixote conceded 169 00:05:33,419 --> 00:05:35,036 Returning home in dejection 170 00:05:35,140 --> 00:05:37,436 Falling ill as soon as he arrived 171 00:05:38,363 --> 00:05:40,820 Then comes the book's most pivotal moment 172 00:05:41,084 --> 00:05:42,040 After days of high fever 173 00:05:42,403 --> 00:05:43,500 And falling into a deep sleep 174 00:05:43,644 --> 00:05:44,601 He woke up 175 00:05:45,004 --> 00:05:46,261 Suddenly lucid 176 00:05:46,483 --> 00:05:47,820 He calmly announced 177 00:05:47,843 --> 00:05:50,420 He was no longer the knight Don Quixote 178 00:05:50,483 --> 00:05:52,740 But the ordinary, good man 179 00:05:52,764 --> 00:05:54,221 Alonso Quixano 180 00:05:54,564 --> 00:05:57,141 He cursed the harmful chivalric novels 181 00:05:57,283 --> 00:05:58,261 And wrote his will 182 00:05:58,283 --> 00:06:00,620 Stating if his niece were to inherit his estate 183 00:06:00,723 --> 00:06:03,781 She must never marry a man who reads such books 184 00:06:04,810 --> 00:06:06,986 Sancho wept by the bedside 185 00:06:07,089 --> 00:06:08,626 Clinging to him and saying 186 00:06:08,770 --> 00:06:09,926 Master, please do not die 187 00:06:10,169 --> 00:06:11,128 Get up quickly 188 00:06:11,130 --> 00:06:13,209 Let us go to the fields and be shepherds 189 00:06:13,210 --> 00:06:14,827 Let us continue our adventures 190 00:06:15,169 --> 00:06:16,947 But Don Quixote shook his head 191 00:06:17,289 --> 00:06:19,289 Clearly and rationally 192 00:06:19,289 --> 00:06:21,267 He admitted the absurdity of his life 193 00:06:21,450 --> 00:06:22,887 Then, amidst the weeping of others 194 00:06:23,130 --> 00:06:24,027 He breathed his last 195 00:06:24,751 --> 00:06:26,787 Do you hear the difference between these endings 196 00:06:27,390 --> 00:06:29,328 Chunyu Fen saw through the dream 197 00:06:29,431 --> 00:06:31,487 And turned toward a different peace 198 00:06:31,830 --> 00:06:34,487 Don Quixote had his dream shattered by reality 199 00:06:34,511 --> 00:06:37,167 Then died lucid and heartbroken 200 00:06:37,631 --> 00:06:38,307 One awakening 201 00:06:38,710 --> 00:06:39,547 Leads to liberation 202 00:06:40,230 --> 00:06:40,828 One awakening 203 00:06:41,350 --> 00:06:43,367 Leads to disillusionment and death 204 00:06:43,871 --> 00:06:46,008 The East leads to spiritual practice 205 00:06:46,350 --> 00:06:48,568 The West leads to dying in resentment 206 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,098 Both wake from a great dream 207 00:06:51,161 --> 00:06:53,397 How can they take such different paths 208 00:06:53,961 --> 00:06:55,120 To answer this 209 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,897 We must use the microscope of Buddhism 210 00:06:58,293 --> 00:06:59,291 There is a Buddhist term 211 00:06:59,573 --> 00:07:01,070 Called Parikalpita 212 00:07:01,334 --> 00:07:02,010 It means 213 00:07:02,373 --> 00:07:03,310 Our minds 214 00:07:03,373 --> 00:07:05,772 Take the shadows they project 215 00:07:05,774 --> 00:07:08,870 As real, independent, and certain things 216 00:07:09,094 --> 00:07:10,551 And cling to them tightly 217 00:07:11,053 --> 00:07:12,630 The world you see 218 00:07:12,654 --> 00:07:14,950 Is largely not the world itself 219 00:07:15,014 --> 00:07:17,551 But a story woven by your mind 220 00:07:17,654 --> 00:07:18,611 And you believe it 221 00:07:18,813 --> 00:07:19,950 You become attached 222 00:07:20,212 --> 00:07:21,691 Don Quixote's giants 223 00:07:21,693 --> 00:07:24,390 Are the clearest form of Parikalpita 224 00:07:24,693 --> 00:07:25,690 A windmill is a windmill 225 00:07:26,053 --> 00:07:27,029 That is a fact 226 00:07:27,452 --> 00:07:28,669 But in his mind 227 00:07:28,693 --> 00:07:31,150 The windmill is covered by a thick story 228 00:07:31,253 --> 00:07:32,572 That story tells him 229 00:07:32,573 --> 00:07:33,289 It is a giant 230 00:07:33,573 --> 00:07:35,190 An evil that must be eradicated 231 00:07:35,493 --> 00:07:36,810 What he rushes to fight 232 00:07:37,053 --> 00:07:38,669 Is never the real windmill 233 00:07:38,772 --> 00:07:40,869 But the giant in his own mind 234 00:07:41,217 --> 00:07:42,713 Chunyu Fen is the same 235 00:07:42,977 --> 00:07:44,535 The ant nest is real 236 00:07:44,537 --> 00:07:47,254 But his mind covered it with a script 237 00:07:47,417 --> 00:07:50,994 Of nation, marriage, office, and children 238 00:07:51,136 --> 00:07:54,095 He cried, laughed, and loved in that script 239 00:07:54,097 --> 00:07:55,194 Living there for twenty years 240 00:07:55,496 --> 00:07:57,095 The kingdom he served 241 00:07:57,097 --> 00:07:59,335 And the lady Don Quixote served 242 00:07:59,336 --> 00:08:00,913 Are essentially the same thing 243 00:08:01,136 --> 00:08:02,494 Shadows projected by the mind 244 00:08:02,696 --> 00:08:04,913 Then mistaken for reality 245 00:08:05,719 --> 00:08:06,315 So you see 246 00:08:06,678 --> 00:08:08,375 The first level of the answer appears 247 00:08:08,558 --> 00:08:09,396 These two stories 248 00:08:09,719 --> 00:08:11,615 Are fundamentally the same story 249 00:08:11,878 --> 00:08:14,216 An Easterner and a Westerner 250 00:08:14,238 --> 00:08:15,075 Separated by eight hundred years 251 00:08:15,438 --> 00:08:16,856 In their own ways 252 00:08:16,918 --> 00:08:20,238 they mapped the human mind 253 00:08:20,238 --> 00:08:21,075 Every one of us 254 00:08:21,438 --> 00:08:22,517 to some extent 255 00:08:22,519 --> 00:08:25,135 lives in our own dream kingdom 256 00:08:25,279 --> 00:08:26,875 facing our own windmills 257 00:08:27,318 --> 00:08:28,375 with spears raised 258 00:08:29,133 --> 00:08:30,950 But before moving on 259 00:08:30,972 --> 00:08:33,869 I want to note a subtle difference 260 00:08:34,092 --> 00:08:34,690 These two dreams 261 00:08:35,013 --> 00:08:36,869 were entered differently 262 00:08:37,292 --> 00:08:38,090 Chunyu Fen's dream 263 00:08:38,493 --> 00:08:40,030 was a passive fall 264 00:08:40,332 --> 00:08:41,089 He was drunk 265 00:08:41,453 --> 00:08:42,549 messengers arrived 266 00:08:42,892 --> 00:08:44,350 the carriage entered the tree 267 00:08:44,573 --> 00:08:46,209 He was swept in by fate 268 00:08:46,813 --> 00:08:50,530 the tree, the ants, the wine, the afternoon 269 00:08:50,972 --> 00:08:52,789 all pulled him in blindly 270 00:08:52,972 --> 00:08:54,890 Buddhism calls this 'dependent origination' 271 00:08:55,372 --> 00:08:56,172 meaning 272 00:08:56,173 --> 00:08:58,750 nothing arises from thin air 273 00:08:58,813 --> 00:09:02,150 but manifests through conditions 274 00:09:02,453 --> 00:09:04,052 In the dream, he truly believed 275 00:09:04,053 --> 00:09:05,990 He had no idea he was dreaming 276 00:09:06,092 --> 00:09:07,929 Only upon waking and digging up the nest 277 00:09:08,252 --> 00:09:09,589 did he realize the truth 278 00:09:10,035 --> 00:09:11,372 Don Quixote is different 279 00:09:11,675 --> 00:09:12,191 His dream 280 00:09:12,474 --> 00:09:14,252 was a conscious choice 281 00:09:14,435 --> 00:09:17,292 He knew others saw windmills 282 00:09:17,394 --> 00:09:19,732 yet he chose to see giants 283 00:09:19,994 --> 00:09:21,632 He wasn't tricked into the dream 284 00:09:21,915 --> 00:09:23,074 He used his will 285 00:09:23,075 --> 00:09:24,772 to force this mundane world 286 00:09:24,795 --> 00:09:28,091 into a world worth fighting for 287 00:09:28,394 --> 00:09:29,191 In a way 288 00:09:29,435 --> 00:09:31,372 he was more awake than Chunyu Fen 289 00:09:31,394 --> 00:09:32,532 and more stubborn 290 00:09:32,874 --> 00:09:34,793 This is a man with eyes open 291 00:09:34,795 --> 00:09:36,571 creating a dream for himself 292 00:09:36,955 --> 00:09:39,372 One was swept in by fate 293 00:09:39,514 --> 00:09:42,051 the other built it with will 294 00:09:42,435 --> 00:09:43,392 Remember this difference 295 00:09:43,754 --> 00:09:45,273 because it determines 296 00:09:45,274 --> 00:09:47,331 how they eventually woke up 297 00:09:47,615 --> 00:09:49,213 But more interestingly 298 00:09:49,495 --> 00:09:50,513 is the second layer 299 00:09:50,896 --> 00:09:51,532 Why these two dreams 300 00:09:51,936 --> 00:09:53,952 ended in different ways 301 00:09:54,656 --> 00:09:58,113 Note an easily overlooked detail 302 00:09:58,656 --> 00:10:00,332 How did Chunyu Fen wake up 303 00:10:01,056 --> 00:10:02,812 He was awakened by an action 304 00:10:03,255 --> 00:10:04,672 He dug open the tree hollow 305 00:10:04,735 --> 00:10:06,593 Saw the ant nest with his own eyes 306 00:10:06,776 --> 00:10:08,912 He saw the hardware of that dream 307 00:10:09,056 --> 00:10:11,473 Saw that magnificent kingdom 308 00:10:11,656 --> 00:10:14,753 Physically just a pile of dirt and bugs 309 00:10:15,056 --> 00:10:16,113 The Eastern awakening 310 00:10:16,176 --> 00:10:19,713 A total awakening after seeing the underlying truth 311 00:10:20,215 --> 00:10:20,853 Once seen 312 00:10:21,056 --> 00:10:22,832 The entire illusion collapses 313 00:10:22,896 --> 00:10:26,152 Collapsing along with all attachment to it 314 00:10:26,255 --> 00:10:27,052 One becomes empty 315 00:10:27,255 --> 00:10:27,893 One becomes still 316 00:10:28,095 --> 00:10:29,672 One enters the path of Tao 317 00:10:30,719 --> 00:10:32,076 How did Don Quixote wake up 318 00:10:32,519 --> 00:10:34,336 He didn't see any truth 319 00:10:34,438 --> 00:10:37,296 He was repeatedly and violently defeated by reality 320 00:10:37,479 --> 00:10:38,316 Windmills struck him 321 00:10:38,438 --> 00:10:39,576 Sheep trampled him 322 00:10:39,599 --> 00:10:42,775 Finally the Knight of the White Moon forced his surrender 323 00:10:43,078 --> 00:10:44,096 The Western awakening 324 00:10:44,158 --> 00:10:46,936 Awakening after ideals are crushed by reality 325 00:10:47,078 --> 00:10:48,716 He didn't see through the knightly dream 326 00:10:49,038 --> 00:10:50,317 He just couldn't fight anymore 327 00:10:50,318 --> 00:10:52,535 Forced to admit the dream was unworkable 328 00:10:52,838 --> 00:10:53,916 So in his awakening 329 00:10:54,239 --> 00:10:55,296 There is no liberation 330 00:10:55,399 --> 00:10:58,398 Only an old man facing a lifetime of absurdity 331 00:10:58,399 --> 00:11:00,535 A deep, bone-chilling desolation 332 00:11:00,798 --> 00:11:01,995 One is enlightenment 333 00:11:02,239 --> 00:11:03,696 One is resignation 334 00:11:04,119 --> 00:11:06,296 One is turning off the light from within 335 00:11:06,359 --> 00:11:08,696 One is having the light smashed from without 336 00:11:09,639 --> 00:11:11,696 No wonder one leads to otherworldly peace 337 00:11:11,759 --> 00:11:13,735 And the other to a heartbroken death 338 00:11:14,705 --> 00:11:15,343 At this point 339 00:11:15,506 --> 00:11:18,064 Simply ranking East versus West 340 00:11:18,065 --> 00:11:19,385 Would be too shallow 341 00:11:19,386 --> 00:11:21,522 That's not what this channel is for 342 00:11:21,665 --> 00:11:23,522 I want to go one step further 343 00:11:23,585 --> 00:11:26,203 Ask a question neither book answers 344 00:11:26,626 --> 00:11:27,622 What happens after waking up 345 00:11:28,305 --> 00:11:29,823 Chunyu Fen dug up the ant nest 346 00:11:30,106 --> 00:11:31,122 Quit wine and lust 347 00:11:31,146 --> 00:11:32,642 Retreated into Taoism 348 00:11:32,825 --> 00:11:34,402 It sounds very sophisticated 349 00:11:34,626 --> 00:11:36,042 But have you ever wondered 350 00:11:36,106 --> 00:11:38,145 If this is just moving from one dream 351 00:11:38,146 --> 00:11:39,223 Jumped into another dream 352 00:11:39,746 --> 00:11:42,203 He used to cling to wealth and fame 353 00:11:42,305 --> 00:11:44,923 Now he clings to something called Taoism 354 00:11:45,266 --> 00:11:46,343 The object of his grasp has changed 355 00:11:46,665 --> 00:11:47,744 But that grasping hand 356 00:11:47,746 --> 00:11:50,282 That heart needing to hold something to feel safe 357 00:11:50,465 --> 00:11:51,183 Has it let go 358 00:11:52,185 --> 00:11:53,162 True awakening 359 00:11:53,185 --> 00:11:54,742 Is it possible that even "I am awake" 360 00:11:54,986 --> 00:11:56,944 And the thought of "I must practice Taoism" 361 00:11:56,945 --> 00:11:58,183 Must also be gently set down 362 00:11:59,499 --> 00:12:00,916 Look at Don Quixote again 363 00:12:01,339 --> 00:12:03,436 Before death, he renounced knighthood 364 00:12:03,459 --> 00:12:05,355 Returning to the rational Alonso 365 00:12:05,859 --> 00:12:07,416 The book calls this clarity 366 00:12:07,658 --> 00:12:09,076 A return to the right path 367 00:12:09,658 --> 00:12:11,835 But the weeping Sancho by the bed 368 00:12:11,898 --> 00:12:14,778 Cried out something startling: "Don't die" 369 00:12:14,778 --> 00:12:16,436 "Let's go adventuring again" 370 00:12:17,018 --> 00:12:18,475 Think about those words 371 00:12:18,938 --> 00:12:21,235 The squire always seen as a fool 372 00:12:21,379 --> 00:12:24,156 The most practical, grounded peasant 373 00:12:24,298 --> 00:12:25,375 In the final moment 374 00:12:25,658 --> 00:12:27,635 Did not want his master to be sober 375 00:12:27,739 --> 00:12:29,635 He wanted his master to keep dreaming 376 00:12:30,138 --> 00:12:31,255 Who is truly awake 377 00:12:31,778 --> 00:12:34,056 Is it Alonso, who renounced his life's passion 378 00:12:34,298 --> 00:12:36,276 And then lost his life 379 00:12:36,379 --> 00:12:37,576 Or is it the madman 380 00:12:37,818 --> 00:12:40,936 Don Quixote, who lived every day with fire 381 00:12:42,099 --> 00:12:44,417 If clarity brings only disillusion and death 382 00:12:44,418 --> 00:12:45,355 Could this clarity 383 00:12:45,379 --> 00:12:46,735 Also be a form of attachment 384 00:12:47,058 --> 00:12:49,416 An attachment to truth and correctness 385 00:12:50,058 --> 00:12:52,258 Western literature sees clarity as the end 386 00:12:52,258 --> 00:12:53,457 But Buddhism asks 387 00:12:53,459 --> 00:12:54,696 Are you sure that is the end 388 00:12:54,938 --> 00:12:56,135 And not just another wall 389 00:12:57,015 --> 00:12:57,571 At this point 390 00:12:57,974 --> 00:12:59,171 The true answer of Buddhism 391 00:12:59,494 --> 00:13:00,551 Begins to emerge 392 00:13:00,815 --> 00:13:02,531 It doesn't side with Chunyu Fen, saying 393 00:13:02,935 --> 00:13:03,853 Dreams are fake 394 00:13:03,854 --> 00:13:05,232 Wake up and renounce the world 395 00:13:05,415 --> 00:13:07,171 Nor does it side with Sancho, saying 396 00:13:07,535 --> 00:13:08,493 Since it's a dream 397 00:13:08,494 --> 00:13:10,191 Then stay mad to the end 398 00:13:10,614 --> 00:13:12,531 Buddhism takes the middle path 399 00:13:12,935 --> 00:13:13,911 It calls this 400 00:13:13,935 --> 00:13:15,112 The non-duality of emptiness and form 401 00:13:15,502 --> 00:13:15,972 What do you mean? 402 00:13:16,614 --> 00:13:17,691 The truly awakened 403 00:13:17,974 --> 00:13:19,512 know that this is a dream 404 00:13:19,614 --> 00:13:21,051 Know windmills aren't giants 405 00:13:21,295 --> 00:13:22,872 Know fame is but an anthill 406 00:13:23,015 --> 00:13:24,431 Yet they do not flee 407 00:13:24,574 --> 00:13:25,732 They still live earnestly 408 00:13:25,974 --> 00:13:28,311 Vibrantly within this dream 409 00:13:28,895 --> 00:13:29,931 They act with chivalry 410 00:13:30,214 --> 00:13:31,392 They love others 411 00:13:31,415 --> 00:13:33,232 They govern the dream world well 412 00:13:33,334 --> 00:13:35,252 But they are clearly aware 413 00:13:35,895 --> 00:13:37,071 I know this is a dream 414 00:13:37,134 --> 00:13:38,752 So I am not held hostage by it 415 00:13:38,854 --> 00:13:40,613 And because I know it's a dream 416 00:13:40,614 --> 00:13:43,174 I can live truly gently, without fear 417 00:13:43,175 --> 00:13:44,311 Inside of it 418 00:13:44,794 --> 00:13:46,650 It's like watching a movie 419 00:13:46,673 --> 00:13:48,673 You might cry at moving parts 420 00:13:48,673 --> 00:13:49,270 Feel anxious 421 00:13:49,514 --> 00:13:51,091 Worry for the protagonist 422 00:13:51,394 --> 00:13:52,351 But you always know 423 00:13:52,673 --> 00:13:53,611 It is just a movie 424 00:13:53,914 --> 00:13:54,430 When the lights come on 425 00:13:54,713 --> 00:13:55,793 You wipe your tears 426 00:13:55,794 --> 00:13:58,331 And calmly walk out 427 00:13:58,754 --> 00:14:00,930 Neither coldly refusing to engage 428 00:14:01,034 --> 00:14:03,890 Nor collapsing, saying life is meaningless 429 00:14:04,114 --> 00:14:05,111 Fully immersed 430 00:14:05,274 --> 00:14:06,611 Yet fully free 431 00:14:07,154 --> 00:14:08,913 Chunyu Fen's highest state 432 00:14:08,914 --> 00:14:10,930 Shouldn't be fleeing to a monastery 433 00:14:10,953 --> 00:14:12,632 But carrying that awareness 434 00:14:12,634 --> 00:14:14,111 Back to his life in Yangzhou 435 00:14:14,394 --> 00:14:15,513 Eating when it's time to eat 436 00:14:15,514 --> 00:14:16,770 Working when it's time to work 437 00:14:16,914 --> 00:14:19,731 No longer enslaved by an anthill 438 00:14:20,713 --> 00:14:22,513 Don Quixote's most moving part 439 00:14:22,514 --> 00:14:25,010 Was never his deathbed clarity 440 00:14:25,073 --> 00:14:27,510 But that indefinable spark in his madness 441 00:14:28,114 --> 00:14:29,832 Knowing they were windmills 442 00:14:29,833 --> 00:14:31,890 Yet choosing to be a knight 443 00:14:32,073 --> 00:14:32,871 Have you noticed? 444 00:14:33,193 --> 00:14:34,553 The highest way to live 445 00:14:34,553 --> 00:14:35,592 Is not being awake 446 00:14:35,593 --> 00:14:36,510 Nor being asleep 447 00:14:36,754 --> 00:14:38,571 But keeping your eyes open in the dream 448 00:14:38,953 --> 00:14:39,992 So next time 449 00:14:39,994 --> 00:14:43,091 When you struggle with a windmill in life 450 00:14:43,233 --> 00:14:45,971 When you fret over an anthill 451 00:14:46,034 --> 00:14:47,811 When you're fighting to exhaustion 452 00:14:47,994 --> 00:14:50,711 Perhaps ask yourself quietly 453 00:14:51,154 --> 00:14:53,112 Is what I'm charging toward 454 00:14:53,114 --> 00:14:54,632 A real giant 455 00:14:54,634 --> 00:14:58,430 Or a story I've projected onto a windmill 456 00:14:59,394 --> 00:14:59,831 This question 457 00:15:00,313 --> 00:15:01,290 I leave to you 458 00:15:01,553 --> 00:15:02,510 I'd love to hear 459 00:15:02,914 --> 00:15:04,211 In your life 460 00:15:04,233 --> 00:15:07,010 The windmill you've fought for so long 461 00:15:07,154 --> 00:15:08,010 What is it 462 00:15:08,274 --> 00:15:09,790 Did you eventually see it clearly 463 00:15:10,353 --> 00:15:11,331 Once you did 464 00:15:11,433 --> 00:15:14,050 Did you walk away like Chunyu Fen 465 00:15:14,114 --> 00:15:16,433 Or learn to keep your eyes open in the dream 466 00:15:16,433 --> 00:15:17,750 And continue to live earnestly 467 00:15:18,353 --> 00:15:20,130 Tell me in the comments 468 00:15:20,274 --> 00:15:20,991 I am Wang Lijie 469 00:15:21,031 --> 00:15:22,506 See you next time