Joyful Illusions?

  People often refer to illusions as somehow bad or in a negative light. For example, we say, "I thought this was real but it was just an illusion". In fact, there are plenty of love songs around the world that essentially say just this point. Many people feel bitter when they think that something is going to last forever, only to find to their dismay that things change. Feelings change, thoughts change, and 'seasons change', as the popular song goes. I sometimes wonder, is illusory nature necessarily harmful or bad? Or is it possible to savor the illusions without being governed by them in some way?
   Here again, I am reminded of something I read in Master Sheng Yen's Chan and Enlightenment. He remarks, "Illusory dharmas refer to 'many' and 'dual' dharmas that result from changing conditions in space and time. Through causation, these dharmas form the myriad kinds of phenomena.  Because we do not fully recognize that phenomena arise from causes and conditions, and are forever changing, we think that phenomena are enduring. Therefore, by pursuing, possessing and rejecting, we give rise to 'the many'." (p.236) I believe that as long as a person does not see their experiences as these permanent, enduring entities, then there is no need to cry about illusions. Illusions are unavoidable. because they refer to the way all of our situations are destined to come and go, not to last.
  I recall reading a long-standing debate that happened between two 'rival' philosophies, the Roman Cynics and the Epicureans. The Cynics believed that it is best not to succumb to any illusory ideas about the enduring existence of anything, so they decided to renounce all their possessions and live in poverty. According to these philosophers, it is best not to even be tempted by the possibility of money or fame, so it is therefore ideal not to even start on that path at all. I think their approach is similar to Ascetics, who deliberately renounced all pleasurable experiences to train themselves spiritually.
     For Epicureans, on the other hand, it is okay to enjoy pleasurable pursuits as long as one does not succumb to the attitude that they are enduring in any way. Epicureans even conceptualized pleasure as a way of training the mind to find the 'right' ways to enjoy friendships and pleasurable situations: almost with a kind of aesthetic, 'recreational' distance which allows me to appreciate the form of things without distorting them into ego or possessiveness. I think the Epicurean philosophy became the ancestor to a later 'sentimental' education, where students learn how to appreciate fine art using these senses, without degrading sensual pleasure into a form of seeking.
     It's hard to say which of these two positions is a good middle path in looking at illusions, and perhaps both have their weaknesses. The trouble with Cynicism is that it doesn't quite renounce the ideal of fame, since it is constantly 'rebelling' against fame and pleasure. Without anything to compare to, would Cynics still be proud of their ability to withstand temptations and live frugally? Here, it is hard to say. One virtue of Cynicism is that it would make for a simpler and less destructive lifestyle, since it does involve living simply and renouncing the usual trappings of honor and social status, I think that Cynics would be able to enjoy their lives with less, but it's hard to say whether or not that would be an insight into the spiritual condition of humanity.
        For Epicureans, on the other hand, the situation is much more complex. I would imagine that an Epicurean life would spin between being safely distant from emotions and being seduced by appearances. It's hard to find anyone in this day and age who only takes one sip of wine in a room full of wine bottles. For this reason, I would imagine that a modern-day Epicurean would be a deeply troubled or complex being, who is trying to attain spiritual salvation through a combination of 'beholding' the beautiful and abstaining (distancing?) from excess.
     With meditative practice, I think it's possible to have experiences that could not be conceived of if one is simply enjoying or beholding temporary phenomena. But the emphasis here is not on the quality of experiences, but having an insight into the temporary nature of these experiences: how they emerge and disappear, and how it is observed from moment to moment. This is quite different from admiring a work of art or appreciation. It involves a deeper knowing of what those thoughts and feelings are, and not being blinded by their allurements. The joy would consist precisely in beholding the impermanence of phenomena as pointers to a deeper experience of mind.

Master Sheng Yen (2014) Chan and Enlightenment. New York: Dharma Drum