In signal processing the state of the world, x is measured, obtaining y = ax+b+e, where a is the scale factor, b is the offset and e, the random error, annoys by varying between measurements.
The signal processing engineer tries to sweet talk a computer into calculating f, a function contrived with the goal that z=f(y) should be close to x. The philosophic and metaphoric importance of the signal processing perspective is the clarity with which it exposes the engineer's problem. We only get to see z. We are trying to infer x. There are some special cases. Short the inputs and x=0. Generally though we are stuck with various f's and make inferences by comparisions amongst them.
Buddhism throws an extra ingredient into the mix. We have emotional needs, and things we want from the world to meet our needs. This gives rise to u, the state the world "ought" to be in. When Buddhism says that "the world" is an illusion it is not commenting on the discrepancy between x and z, but noticing that within our heads there are our desires, represented by u and "the world" u+z/2. Whoops!
The idea is to use techniques such as meditation to cultivate positive emotions states and mental clarity. Cultivating positive emotions, independent of situation, helps to calm the relentness gnawing of our emotional needs. With an inward looking mental clarity we start to see the mind's tricks, the subtle self-deceptions, always pushing to adjust our internal world model to two-thirds u and one-third z. Enlightenment is when we see things "as they really are", z instead of u+z/2.
Here is an example of how this works in practise. There is a religion called Buddhism, which it fucking useless. However, I'm hurting real bad. I've got to have something to believe in, a crutch to help me limp through life. I need Buddhism to be wonderful, a 100% solution to my problems. So I compromise and tell myself that I want it to be 100% perfect and that unfortunately it is only 50% perfect, that will have to do.
If I became enlightened I would see Buddhism as a waste of time and be free of it.
Mumon's comment Those who understand the parable of the raft do not build themselves a raft. Lacking buoyancy they perish in mid-stream.
Zen's patriachs build a gate out of paradox And padlock it shut The key to the padlock Is not seeing the gate
