Lectures on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (Pitāputrasamāgamanasūtra) (98)

Are the harassments by ghosts in dreams really existent?

Original text: 大王。譬若有人。于睡梦中。为毕舍遮。之所娆害。心生怖畏。痴迷闷绝。大王。于意云何。是人觉已。忆念梦中。为鬼所娆。为实尔不。王曰不也。

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, suppose there is a person who, in a dream, is harassed by a piśāca ghost, and his mind becomes very frightened, confused, and faints. Great King, what do you think? After this person wakes up, he still recollects being harassed by a ghost in the dream—is this really existent? King Śuddhodana replied: It is not really existent, World-Honored One.

Original text: 佛言大王。是人所梦。执以为实。是智者不。王曰。不也世尊。何以故。梦中毕竟。无鬼所恼。何更说有。痴迷闷绝。当知是人。徒自疲劳。都无有实。

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, if this person takes his dream to be really existent, is he a wise person? King Śuddhodana replied: He is not a wise person, World-Honored One. Why is this said? In the dream there was no such thing as being harassed by a ghost at all, let alone the matter of being frightened into fainting and losing consciousness. We should know that this person merely tires himself in vain, and there is nothing real in it at all.