It's often said in spiritual circles that we live in "The Matrix" (probably owing much to the movie by that name) or in a dream. I think that for those who are just being introduced to their spiritual path, to ask them to discount what they see, hear, smell etc as an illusion is asking them to take a leap of awareness that is very challenging at the least. But i think that the concept is more concretely expressible if introduced as the concept that so many people are squandering the blessings of today in pursuit of a future that they dream to achieve. If you don't appreciate the the present because you're constantly focused on it being nothing more than a tool to your dreams of a future that you believe will bring you joy then your joy only exists in your dream. Even if you attain your goal and it brings you great satisfaction, there will still be a tomorrow and you will be left with "what now" and a new stage of dreaming begins.
In order to awaken from dreams you must realize that peace and joy are yours for the taking today. But to realize them you can't be only focused on a future that despite all of your heroic efforts you have only the smallest fraction of control over at best and in most cases none at all. Your desperate grasping at control is merely another dream.
Ram D'am
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