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However, if we have a dream, the mind has improperly incurred (no intention, no control or "subconsciousness").
When we wake up, the mind is proper (having intention and control or"consciousness").
The point is the thought. If we think, our mind incurs a feeling of "desire" (the feeling of thirst means what has caused our mind dirty and fluctuated.
The thirst could be divided into three categories (1) Desire to have such happiness keep flowing to self more and in a consistent manner (2) Desire to destroy or run away from the suffering contact (3) Uncertain or undecided feeling against the non-happy-or-painful feeling contact. In brief, it is called satisfied-dissatisfied-uncertain).
The mind is aggravated, tired, worried or tortured (the level of the feeling is dependent on the desire incurring).
     That is suffering which has happened after the feeling from the first contact.
If we can think without the feeling of desire (because of the knowledge in no-self state and concentrated mind), our mind will not suffer. When the mind has no suffering, it is calm, clear, smooth and comfortable. That is the character of "clear mind" (clear of desire). Buddhism presumably calls this type of mind "nirvana" or "cold".
The desire or thirst is caused by the "habit" of our mind which is accustomed to desire instigated when the mind has contacted items or objects (the mind is satisfied with happiness, dissatisfied with suffering and uncertain with non-happy-or-painful feeling) as it has retained this habit for a long time.
Initially, the desire is caused by the "sense of self" which has incurred with all livings since there birth (the new born have a slight sense of self). This sense has caused a number of different senses.
When the mine has contacted a number of things, the desire has increased (and the sense of self has also gone up) and it has been retained in the memory of our subconsciousness (this incident has incurred beyond control or without intention). It is called our habit.
When the mind is possessed with desire, this sense will fully take control of the mind and has caused the mind to be satisfied, dissatisfied or uncertain. Then, there is a sense of self (our existence) incurred at once.
When there is a sense of self, "selfishness" has followed.
The people with strong selfish behavior or the "evil" have a tendency to take advantage of other people.
The people with slight selfish behavior or the "good" may feel sympathy for, help or may not take advantage of other people.
The evil could simple make a bad thing but hardly make a good deed.
The good could simple make a good thing but hardly mark a bad deed.
;Every time when a bad thing is committed, there is an evil consequence such as uneasiness, discomfort or sorrow (as applicable) when the act is being committed and after it is committed for a while.
However, when the good deed is committed, there is a good consequence such as happiness, comfort and pleasure. That is, good deed-good, bad deed-bad.
The good or the bad thing is dependent on what is being committed (good or bad is not the object or money). That is the real concept of Buddhism.
When the mind is held with selfness, the mind is filled with suffering (the level of suffering is subject to the amount of desire or selfness) because we are holding on the body which is getting old, sick or dead or the beloved person or item which is being apart or the hated person or item person encountered or disappointment for failure. Such mind is unable to avoid suffering.
That is the conclusion of human's suffering, which is caused by selfness. If there is no selfness, there is no suffering.

17. What is the advantage of the knowledge on the "no-self state"?

Those who have no idea on the "no-self state" would hold on selfness and always end up with suffering (presumably theirs). That is a pure stupid person even though he has learned a lot in other areas, he is unable to get rid of his mental suffering properly. That is, he cannot to be free from all suffering.
For those who are knowledgeable about the "no-self state" he cannot to be free from all sufferings because he has found a proper way to get rid of the suffering.
Even though he has a family life with some desire, his suffering is reduced because he does not firmly hold on to selfness for a level practical to him (that is, compliance with the four noble truths and having temporary nirvana).
Whenever he could fully comply with the four noble truths, he could release himself from selfness and does not have a sense of selfness in his mind (presumably being self), permanently (that is permanent nirvana).

18. What is what?

What am I? If we want to make a sophisticated answer, it would be "there is no me" and there is no one or no item. All things are the combined element only. If we want to make a simple answer so other people can understand, it would be "we are a living created by nature".
All living are born only to have perception (feeling). No living could hold the natural items as his (perhaps for a temporary period). Any stupid living could hold that the life is "his" and other items are "his".
     Then such living could suffer (there is no one really suffering). Any smart living which dose not hold on to "selfness" and dose not hold that the item are his, such living will not suffer (there is no one really suffering).
The nature has created human with ultimate misconception (Avijja) that selfness is inside every mind of people.
That is how nature makes fun of human or how natures deceive.
However it dose not deceive anyone because there is no one deceived. It has deceived the mind of nature (when we understand the meaning of no-self, the problem of life after death will be gone because we understand that "there is no birth of selfness so there is no death of selfness".

19. What has Buddha taught?

Buddha has taught only "how to get rid of the current suffering" because it is most urgent and essential. The most wonderful thing is no suffering throughout our life (it is a dream to get rid of suffering in the future life for those knowing nothing about "no-self" because it is fully implanted with the teaching of Brahma).
      The four noble truths are the heart teaching of Buddha to get rid of suffering. The point is that: suffering is caused by selfness and cessation of suffering is caused by no-self.
Buddhism follows the scientific as it does not teach anyone to believe other persons including textbooks and reasoning. However one should believe in what has been tested by himself, believe when there is a proof. And no teaching of Buddha is involved with astrology and black magic but the teaching is that one should depend on himself not other people or any spirit.
There are no rituals or ceremonies in Buddhism. Buddhism is the religion for those with wisdom, honesty, determination and sacrifice, However, those with such qualities seem to be small in number. There are a few because there are those who are not strictly bound to religion and prejudice if there is a reason and scientific method so they will accept.

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