If Reality is But a Dream in Conventional Truth, Why Must We Still Repay Our Debts?

In the study of Buddhism or metaphysics, many encounter a puzzling paradox: If the Diamond Sutra states that "all conditioned phenomena are like a dream, a phantasm, a bubble, or a shadow," and if the essence of the world is empty and illusory, then can my real-world debts be wiped away as if they were "mere dreams"?

If reality is a dream, why do we still have to work so hard to pay back what we owe?

1. The Two Truths: A "Binocular" View of the World

To answer this, we must first understand the core logic of the Two Truths in Buddhist philosophy: Ultimate Truth (Paramartha Satya) and Conventional Truth (Samvriti Satya).

• Ultimate Truth (Emptiness): From the perspective of the final nature of reality, nothing is permanent or self-existent. Everything arises from causes and conditions and fades when those conditions dissolve. At this level, there is indeed "no self, no object, and no debt."

• Conventional Truth (Appearance): As long as we are not yet enlightened and still live within the world of our senses, the laws of cause and effect remain unfailing. Hunger feels hungry, pain feels painful, and a debt carries a moral and practical obligation to be repaid.

An Analogy: Two characters on a movie screen might be fighting intensely. While we know it is just a projection of light and shadow (Ultimate Truth), as long as the movie is playing, the logic within the film must be consistent. You cannot expect the protagonist to survive without water just because you know the screen is "empty."

2. The Logic of the Dream: Running from the Dream-Tiger

When we say "reality is like a dream," it does not mean "reality does not exist." It means reality lacks an independent, eternal essence.

Imagine you are dreaming. In the dream, you borrow a hundred dollars from a neighbor. Although you realize it was "fake" upon waking, while the dream is still happening, if you don't pay it back, the neighbor will knock on your door, and you will feel anxiety, shame, or fear of consequences. Within the system of the dream, the rules of the dream are the truth.

Our current "reality" is simply a larger, more stable "collective dream." As long as you have not "awakened" (attained enlightenment), you must abide by the physical laws and moral contracts of this dreamscape.

3. The Law of Karma: Real Rules in an Illusory World

A common saying in Zen is: "Everything is empty, but the law of cause and effect is not empty."

This sounds contradictory, but it is profound. It is precisely because the world is "empty" (fluid and without fixed essence) that things can transform according to cause and effect. If you borrow money, you plant a "cause." If you do not repay it, that "seed" remains in your consciousness (Alaya-vijnana).

• Legally: Failure to repay leads to damaged credit and legal trouble.

• Psychologically: Evading responsibility creates deep-seated guilt and anxiety, which is a form of suffering (Dukkha) in itself.

• Karmically: Energy seeks balance. Attempting to "possess" through evasion usually results in a loss in a much more painful form later on.

4. The Essence of Practice: Using the False to Reach the True

Many mistakenly believe that because things are "illusory," they can act recklessly. This is a dangerous misunderstanding known as "clinging to emptiness."

A true sage is one who "believes deeply in cause and effect, yet remains unattached in the heart."

Repaying a debt is not just about following a social contract; it is a form of mental cultivation. By repaying, you practice:

• Honesty: Facing the reality of your agreements.

• Responsibility: Owning the consequences of your actions.

• Letting Go: Releasing your attachment to material wealth.

Conclusion

So, why is reality a dream, yet we must still pay our debts?

Because as long as you are driving in this "dream," you must follow the traffic rules, or you will crash. More importantly, repaying your debts is a way of "waking up." When you can handle all worldly responsibilities with integrity and responsibility, while remaining internally unburdened by them, you are much closer to the moment of awakening.

Next time you are counting out cash to pay a bill, smile to yourself and think: "In this dream-like world, I am performing an act of true integrity."

 

Explore more at Everest Art Studios:
https://everestartstudios.com/collections/best-sellings