A pattern is a semi-permanent structure in the memory — a recurring arrangement of experience that persists over time. Patterns are the building blocks of the illusion; they form the content of all perception, thought and memory.

Patterns in memory

The memory is not a static storehouse but a dynamic sea of vibrations. Some vibrations stick and form copies — these become patterns. Patterns are what we perceive as objects, thoughts, emotions and the world itself. They are impermanent but can persist for varying lengths of time.

Pattern recognition

The intellect naturally seeks patterns in experience. This ability — to recognise, classify and predict patterns — is the basis of knowledge. When experiences are organised in a logical and consistent manner in the memory, they form the low-entropy structures we call knowledge.

Patterns and illusion

Since patterns are impermanent and dependent on conditions, they are deceptive. The world as we perceive it is a pattern — a stable-seeming appearance that is in fact constantly changing. The realisation that all patterns are illusory, and that the experiencer alone is real, is central to the path.

Vibration and pattern

Vibration is the substrate of memory; patterns arise when vibrations organise themselves into stable configurations. The study of patterns is the study of the illusion itself.

See also: vibration, memory, illusion, layers.