Question and answer 13

Disciple: The very object of an earlier waking is still there in the waking that follows a dream. A dream object is not there in a later dream. How then are the two alike?

Guru: All objects are a transformation of avidyā and an appearance in consciousness, nothing more. They arise together with the mental mode when it arises, and perish together with it when it perishes. So it is not right to say that the object of an earlier waking is still there afterwards. Like the dream, it arises only at that moment. So the two are alike.

Disciple: The earlier waking object itself is present in the waking that comes after the dream too. A dream object is not in a later dream. How are these two alike?

Guru: All objects are only the transformation of avidyā and the apparent modification of consciousness. When the mental mode arises, they arise along with it; when the mode perishes, they perish along with it. Therefore it is not right to say the earlier waking object itself is there later too. But like the dream, it arises at that moment only. Therefore both are alike.