If "All Forms are Illusory," Why Should We Still Strive in Life?

The Diamond Sutra states, "All forms and appearances are deceptive and illusory." This teaching is often misunderstood as a form of nihilism, suggesting that if everything eventually vanishes into emptiness, then all effort loses its value. However, the truth is quite the opposite.

Illusion does not mean non-existence; it represents "impermanence."

We strive in life not to possess these "forms," but to cultivate ourselves within their flow. Life is like a movie: the images on the screen are mere flickers of electricity and shadow, but the emotions, insights, and growth we experience while watching are real. We strive so that, within this limited script, we may play the role of "self" to the best of our ability.

Because it is illusory, we can be composed.

When we realize that success, failure, fame, and wealth are all temporary "forms," we are liberated from anxiety. Striving is no longer a transaction for a specific result; it becomes a pure expression of the will to live. We eat, work, and love—no longer trembling in fear of loss, but fully immersed in the joy of the process.

Creating meaning within the illusion.

To strive is to give oneself an account of this illusory journey. Something is not worth pursuing only if its result is eternal; rather, because life happens only once, the act of "participation" itself is the most powerful response to the void.

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