Am I a man dreaming I'm a butterfly, or.......?

Question

.......am I a butterfly dreaming I'm a man?

Quote from some ancient chinese philosopher.

What do you think? Is what appears to be the waking life the real one, or is the dream life?

I must say, my dream life is much more interesting than my real life....I can fly/be anything I want/go out with Prince Charles (please don't ask me where *that* one came from!)...../go to amazing places and do amazing things.

Waking life is so much more prosaic.

For heaven's sake, why do you feel the need to be insulting? It's just a question.

And I don't think the quote is meant to be taken *that* literally, i.e. I'm a butterfly. All he's saying is that he wasn't sure sometimes whether the dream life was the real life or the waking life was the real life.

Answer 1

Hey, just *loved* your question!
You are actually BOTH, a man and a butterfly. Dreams are part of reality as much as everyday life.
In our western culture we have totally lost touch with the power and the importance of dreaming, but all the tribal populations keep dreams in great consideration.
Life is much more interesting in dreams, you're right, but do you know that thru dreams, with specific tecniques (lucid dreaming etc.) you can work on your 'real' life? you can take it by the hand, and lead it where you want, so that your life is going to be as close as possible to your dreams...

Answer 2

I have those types of dreams too and I've known the quote for years!
I think what it means is, "am I a woman dreaming I'm a soul or a soul dreaming I'm a woman?"
I was told the Butterfly was the Chinese symbol for the soul or conciousness of man.
I think we all have to find our own meaning to the question.
Now how do I go about dreaming I'm with Prince Charles?'
That's one man I'd love to talk to.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

We all dream, and yes we all do all these things and things may be other even find hard to imagine. That is just so good and fabulous of us that we have dreams. But lets stay with your question and following it closely as it try to walk of legs or flutter forward in thin air like a butterfly. I thing you can be good in either case. You can live a life your dreams, seeing everything the way you like to see, or live to realise your dreams. You can be butterfly with two beautiful restless wings, or a man with most things in pairs, like you arms and legs, but in either case you must realise that you just one head. Make up you mind fast, keep it together, and your dilema will be resolved.

Answer 5

Yes his name was Chuang Zu.
As I understand it, the whole point is that at the level of enlightenment there is no difference between the man and the butterfly. Like the joke about 'one with everything' - only, at the level of Satori it isn't a joke. Man, butterfly - one being.
The story is to show Chuang Zu's expression of enlightenment, not something to be taken literally.

Answer 6

I would say, yes.......

But, only on symbolic terms.......

A man is born into the world from a cocoon within a womb..... When he dies, his soul shall enter the ground and at the calling of God be resurrected...... If to a life in heaven, he shall be given a pure and holy body...... if not his soul shall rise from the grave to be kindled with the fire........

Yet, a "beacon" of who we really are exists within.... and it is the only place where no lie can be told...... It is a place of truths.... and it is a place of impossible realities that it must be true..... This "beacon" recons with God on a daily basis... .so much so that the body is not allowed to stay away from it, no matter what one does to prolong their stay in this place.......

I believe God made "sleep" as a failsafe for nightly return so that we may tell Him what we are doing with our allotted time..... .and so God knows the hearts of men..... So we dream......

But, when these "pages" of our life are finished..... The story we shall tell about the things we have done..... Shall be read open.... These books shall be open...... and we shall be judged out of the things that are written in our personal book of life..... and if it is worthy, shall be included in the anthology of the Book of Life..... Which is His-story.... that belongs to God.......

So, dream on.... I say.... but be true...... because you may change within and a butterfly, you may be...... But, these days... are but pages in your book of life!!!


Your sister,
Ginger,
((Dream Interpreter))

Answer 7

"What do you think? Is what appears to be the waking life the real one, or is the dream life?"

I think we should abolish the word "real". It just confuses people.
Real is what you wish it.

Answer 8

yea once I dreamt that I was kissing William Shatner when he was about 30 mm then I woke up! I guess that one won't come true.

I have also had dreams that have inspired me to write stories - which is a hobby of mine.

Wonder what I will dream tonight.

Answer 9

You are having a dream in which you are actually asking an interesting question. Wake up for God's sake!

Answer 10

the Chinese symbol for change is a butterfly.