The Buddha’s elucidation of the Fundamentals
The Buddha says in his Discourse on Fundamentals (Mūlapariyāya Sutta):
(1) The ordinary human being perceives a solid as a solid (paṭhaviṁ paṭhavito sanjānati).
(2) The Emancipated One (Arahat) apperceives a solid as a solid (paṭhaviṁ paṭhavito abhijānāti).
(1) The ordinary human being having perceived the solid comes to the conclusion the solid exists (paṭhaviṁ paṭhavito saññatva paṭhaviṁ maññati).
(2) The Arahat having apperceived the solid does not come to the conclusion the solid exists (paṭhaviṁ paṭhavito abhiññatva paṭhaviṁ namaññati).
This difference in conception between the ordinary person and the Arahat is similar to the difference between the bird and the human being in front of a mirror, as described earlier.