Removing illusions is not a simple task to accomplish. It persists even after one has attained a certain level of understanding. A tiger appeared in a man’s dream. After that, he awoke, and his dream was no longer there. Despite this, his heart continued to beat rapidly. A field was visited by a group of robbers. Intruders were frightened away by a figure made of straw that resembled a man and was placed there. Due to the presence of the apparition, the thieves were unable to convince themselves to enter the field despite their best efforts. On the other hand, one of them advanced and discovered that it was nothing more than a figure constructed out of straw. After returning to his companions, he stated, “There is absolutely nothing that you should be afraid of.” However, they continued to oppose going. Both of them reported that their hearts were racing really quickly. After then, the bold robber placed the figure on the ground and declared, “It is nothing, it is nothing.” The process of “Neti, Neti” is described here.
The moral of the story highlights the enduring power of illusion even in the face of knowledge. It suggests that overcoming illusion requires not only acquiring knowledge but also a courageous and introspective mindset. The process of ‘Neti, Neti‘—meaning ‘Not this, Not this’ in Sanskrit—implies the need to continually discard false perceptions and reassess reality, acknowledging that the residue of illusion may persist even after gaining knowledge. Ultimately, the moral encourages the cultivation of inner strength and resilience to confront and dispel lingering illusions.