"When an unpleasant object such as an enemy appears to our mind, we take this appearance at face value as a real, externally existent enemy, and so we react with fear or hostility; and when an attractive object such as a beautiful man or woman appears to our mind we are equally taken in and respond with desirous attachment. We are fooled completely by appearances - not for a moment do we question their validity.
If we did question appearances, we would discover that that is all they are: mere appearances to mind, with no real object behind them. The enemy we fight or flee from is no more real than the tiger in the dream, and has no more power to harm what we really are. And the beautiful man or woman we are so attached to is like a lover we meet in a dream, a mere appearance arising like a wave in the ocean of our mind and later dissolving back again."
Question appearances, lest you mistake a friend for an enemy and harm society itself.
It appals me that in romance, we do not question appearances but create a perfect world based on what other people present as true.
We do it in our work relationships but not in our romantic relationships.
By doing so, we suffer for not questioning appearances.
In doing so, we give lie to our loving nature.
If one truly loves another person, then it is imperative to question appearances.
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