Did Buddha say “The world is but an illusion?

[SarathW]

Can someone tell me what exactly Buddha said about illusion. Did he say that world (five aggregate) is an illusion (Maya)?

I am reading a book called The Buddha’s Ancient Path by Ven Piyadassi Thero. page 56 it says:

In regard to Kassapa’s question Buddha said “Surely, Kassapa, suffering is not non-existent. Suffering is”

Does it mean that suffering is not an illusion?

If world is an illusion why Buddha asked us to practice Metta?

[daverupa]

Form is like a glob of foam; feeling, a bubble; perception, a mirage; fabrications, a banana tree; consciousness, a magic trick — this has been taught by the Kinsman of the Sun. However you observe them, appropriately examine them, they're empty, void to whoever sees them appropriately.

Suffering does exist; the world is not an illusion, but it is empty.

[tiltbillings]

but it is empty.

Of what?

[daverupa]

but it is empty.

Of what?

Of a self or that which belongs to a self.

[m0rl0ck]

Then who / what suffers?

[tiltbillings]

Then who / what suffers?

You do.

[m0rl0ck]

Then who / what suffers?

You do.

[daverupa]

Just suffering arises, just suffering ceases.

"By & large, Kaccayana, this world is in bondage to attachments, clingings (sustenances), & biases. But one such as this does not get involved with or cling to these attachments, clingings, fixations of awareness, biases, or obsessions; nor is he resolved on 'my self.' He has no uncertainty or doubt that just stress, when arising, is arising; stress, when passing away, is passing away. In this, his knowledge is independent of others. It's to this extent, Kaccayana, that there is right view.

[tiltbillings]

Just suffering arises, just suffering ceases.

With such insight, such would be your knowledge; you will no longer have dukkha.

[Viscid]

[tiltbillings]

:popcorn:

And you are eating popcorn.

[daverupa]

:popcorn:

And you are eating popcorn.

Empty calories...

[tiltbillings]

:popcorn:

And you are eating popcorn.

Empty calories...

All the better to become more expansive.

[Viscid]

And you are eating popcorn.

Empty calories...

All the better to become more expansive.

Expansiveness is suffering.

[SarathW]

Form is like a glob of foam; feeling, a bubble; perception, a mirage; fabrications, a banana tree; consciousness, a magic trick — this has been taught by the Kinsman of the Sun. However you observe them, appropriately examine them, they're empty, void to whoever sees them appropriately.

Suffering does exist; the world is not an illusion, but it is empty.

Hi Daverupa
Thanks for the link. The pali word "Maya" means magic trick. However it is translate to english as illusion. The world mean the five aggregate in Buddhism. So Buddha said consiousness is an illusion!
Hence world should be an illusion too!
Dukkha (Suffering) also refered to five aggregate. So Dukkha cant be real!

[polarbuddha101]

Form is like a glob of foam; feeling, a bubble; perception, a mirage; fabrications, a banana tree; consciousness, a magic trick — this has been taught by the Kinsman of the Sun. However you observe them, appropriately examine them, they're empty, void to whoever sees them appropriately.

Suffering does exist; the world is not an illusion, but it is empty.

Hi Daverupa
Thanks for the link. The pali word "Maya" means magic trick. However it is translate to english as illusion. The world mean the five aggregate in Buddhism. So Buddha said consiousness is an illusion!
Hence world should be an illusion too!
Dukkha (Suffering) also refered to five aggregate. So Dukkha cant be real!

When did the Buddha ever say the world was Maya? I've never come across the Buddha saying such in the suttas and from my understanding the Buddha wouldn't say such a thing. The concept of Maya is that all the changing phenomena of the world is an illusion and behind it all is brahma, the Atman or Atta, the unchanging ground of being that is our true self and the Buddha teaches anatta or anatman so maya is hindu not buddhist (as far as I know).

[SarathW]

Hi Polar
Thanks. Please read the following link


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_(illusion)

What do you think about the follwoing in relation to my question:

the Buddha is not affected one way or the other by the illusion. Beyond conceptuality, the Buddha is neither attached nor non-attached. This is the middle way of Buddhism, which explicitly refutes the extremes of both eternalism and nihilism.

[tiltbillings]

Hi Polar
Thanks. Please read the following link


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_(illusion)

What do you think about the follwoing in relation to my question:

the Buddha is not affected one way or the other by the illusion. Beyond conceptuality, the Buddha is neither attached nor non-attached. This is the middle way of Buddhism, which explicitly refutes the extremes of both eternalism and nihilism.

The Buddha in the suttas does not say that the world is an illusion.

[SarathW]

Hi Tilt
Do you know the pali word use in Sutta for "Magic Trick"?

[ground]

The Blessed One said, "What is the All? Simply the eye & forms, ear & sounds, nose & aromas, tongue & flavors, body & tactile sensations, intellect & ideas. This, monks, is called the All.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

From ignorance as a requisite condition come fabrications. From fabrications as a requisite condition comes consciousness. ...
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html