On our second morning together, I asked Bhante to explain the difference between ignorance and delusion. He said ignorance is like being blind. In ignorance, we cannot see at all. In delusion, we think that something that will make us unhappy will make us happy. In delusion, we see backward. This offers us an important starting point. Have you ever thought something would make you happy only to have it cause unhappiness? Have you ever shook your head and wondered what you were thinking? What was your mental state? What was your emotional state? How did you feel when you were seeing backward?
Reflection
Describe a time when you wanted something that made you unhappy. Describe the thoughts, emotions, mental states, circumstances. Reflect for a while on the mental state of delusion.