Been reading the book by Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh "Understanding Our Mind ..." and I found the following quotation this morning:Erroneous perceptions bring about much suffering. We feel certain that our perceptions are correct and complete, yet often they are not.
... We live in a universe filled with false images and delusions, yet we believe that we are truly in touch with the world. We may have a deep respect for the Buddha, and believe that if we were to meet him in person, we would bow before him and attend all of his teachings. But, in reality, we may have already met the Buddha in our own town and not had the slightest wish to even go near him, because he didn't conform to our image of what a Buddha is supposed to look like.
We are certain that a Buddha appears with a a halo, wearing beautiful robes. So when we meet a Buddha in ordinary clothes, we do not recognize him or her. How could a Buddha wear a sports shirt? How could a Buddha be without a halo?
Even if you think you are certain, check it again ...
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