When Views Run the Show
Most of us don’t realise how much our lives are shaped — even ruled — by our views. They quietly influence everything we think, say, and do. What we notice is likely only the tip of the iceberg. Because views have no shape, form, or colour, they slip by unnoticed while the mind’s automatic programming keeps running what we call “our life.” But is it really ours? Or is it simply life unfolding on its own?
The body–mind works like a programmed machine, powered by defilements — greed, hatred, and delusion — along with feelings and perceptions. If left unchecked, this programme is like a computer virus, silently taking over the system and causing breakdowns. In human terms, those breakdowns can appear as depression, confusion, or even self-destruction. Yet, sometimes, by the right causes and conditions, something or someone appears to bring clarity. That is when a shift becomes possible.
A simple thought like, “I should tell this person about that,” is already a view. If unnoticed, it can harden into a belief. From there, defilements slip in and the “virus” takes control. One view can multiply into endless shoulds and should-nots. The greatest delusion is believing that this mental chatter is automatically right. But when we see through it, we can laugh at how deceptive thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions are. They seem alive, working together to create suffering — yet, on closer inspection, they are only passing appearances.
Immersion hides the bigger picture. It’s like watching a movie: light projects onto a screen, creating shapes, colours, and characters. Joy, sadness, anger, guilt — all appear vivid and real. We get swept away by the story. But when we truly see, it’s clear that it’s all just light on a screen — appearances at the mind’s door. The laughter that comes then is not part of the movie; it’s the joy of recognising the illusion.
Every time judgment appears, you can be sure a view is at work. And it’s not “out there” — it’s coming from our own mind. It’s like one movie character judging another, when both are simply light on the same screen. Without recognising the source of projection, we remain caught in the loop. Death may end the body, but if the mind remains deluded, it will simply reappear in another form, continuing the same play. This is nature unfolding — beyond anyone’s control.
As views are seen for what they are, ignorance begins to give way to wisdom. The sun — which has always been shining — becomes visible again, no longer hidden behind clouds. The clouds were never truly removed; it’s just that the mind’s operating system has shifted from perception to wisdom. And with that shift, life is no longer run by hidden views, but illuminated by clear seeing.
In grace,
Chee Guit Yeng
21 October 2025