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they say that everything in the world is an illusion, that…

“they say that everything in the world is an illusion, that it’s not real. but how’s it an illusion? who’d say those real, material things right there in front of you are fake, right? the form that material things exist in is one way, while the form they manifest in, it turns out, is different. and…” quote by li hongzhi
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““they say that everything in the world is an illusion, that it’s not real. but how’s it an illusion? who’d say those real, material things right there in front of you are fake, right? the form that material things exist in is one way, while the form they manifest in, it turns out, is different. and our eyes have an ability: they can fix the material things in our material dimension so that they appear to be in the state we now see. but actually, that’s not their state. that’s not even their state in our dimension. for example, what does a human being look like under a microscope? his whole body is loose and made up of little molecules, just like grains of sand, and they’re granular and in motion, electrons are orbiting nuclei, the whole body is wriggling and in motion, and the surface of the body isn’t smooth, it’s irregular. the same goes for every material thing in the universe, be it steel, iron, stone, or whatever, all the molecular elements inside them are in motion. you really can’t see the overall form of it, and the truth is, none of those things are static. this table is wriggling too, but your eyes can’t see the reality of it. so this pair of eyes can give you a false image.””

li hongzhi

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Physical reality is composed of constantly moving particles, so our senses perceive a static illusion rather than true dynamic nature.

In simple terms: Our eyes see a static picture, but everything is in motion.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the limits of perception.

Themes

perception reality illusion physics spirituality

Mood

curious reflective skeptical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • Science education
  • meditation practice
  • critical thinking
  • artistic observation

Key Concepts

Quantum mechanics philosophy of mind materialism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does this view change your trust in sensory information?
  • What practices help perceive beyond illusion?
A Different Perspective

Our senses can be deceiving; deeper investigation may reveal complexity.

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