There Are No Final Answers
Robert, I've read your book many times and know that you don't agree with people when they say this world/existence/reality is just an illusion.
But the transience of life itself does seem to show that all is passing, all won't last, and that there is nothing to cling to. All is empty, void and in this sense, it seems to me as if the world is an illusion from the perspective of transience does have some kind of merit. May I please know your thoughts about this?
Yes, sure. In my view, the fact that something does not endure forever does not indicate that it should be considered an illusion. A lake is real, even if eventually it will dry up. A mirage of a lake is an illusion. There is a difference, particularly for someone who is dying of thirst.
If enduring endlessly is the test, then everything is an illusion. Nothing lasts forever. Eventually, the Sun will go nova and explode, melting itself and everything else in its orbit. Do you want to say that the Sun is an illusion?
This "not real" idea is an unfortunate import from Hindu religious metaphysics that has confused countless people in my observation. Spit it out and find your own mind.
Ha, ha. I love your explanation. Clear as the morning sun in spring. Thank you.
But I guess what I'm saying is that by virtue of life's transience, there is really no point in grasping and holding on to anything in life. do you agree or have any more thoughts about this?
Yes, there is nothing to grasp and no escape hatch. We are all falling through space without knowing what that is or what we are. I reject all explanations that claim to be final answers.