The Illusion of Reality

What is true? What do you perceive to be true? Is what you perceive actually true?

Consider this: you perceive a blue sky during the daytime, which is not real in an absolute sense. You see water in the desert that is unattainable. These perceptions are often taken as truths, but are they?

Perception and Objective Reality

Perceptions are not reliable as proof of objective reality. Yet, we cannot deny our own existence, which is beyond our five senses. Our aliveness is an unmistakable light that perceives the world around us. But it cannot perceive itself.

Take a simple analogy of the eye. The eye can see the entire cosmos but has no way of seeing itself. The reflection in the mirror is never the same as seeing oneself directly. How can the eye know about its own existence? It can only intuit: “I can see the entire cosmos and therefore I am!”

Aliveness and Consciousness

Our own light of aliveness cannot sneak behind itself and perceive itself. It can only intuit: “I can perceive the entire cosmos and therefore I am!”

The Boundaries of Perception

If what you perceive is not changing, then it is true. However, do you know anything in your perception that is not time-bound, i.e., is never changing?

The Nature of Truth

Your question is not so simple. There is no such thing as an external, objective truth. Truth is a state of accuracy, determined by consciousness and validation by others. For example:

Objective Truth

“John smokes cigarettes” is a true statement if you see John smoke cigarettes. “Jane does not smoke cigarettes” is typically regarded as false only if you see Jane smoke a cigarette. If you never see Jane smoke a cigarette, you cannot infer that she does not smoke. Thus, truth is only inferable by the presence of something, not its absence.

Perception and Deception

What you perceive to be true is only that which you can see. If you cannot see it, you don't assume. Perception can be deceptive. You can perceive something that misleads you into thinking something is true in many scenarios. What you see may lead to false conclusions.

Therefore, the truth of what you perceive is not always true. Perception can be misleading and fallible, and it is up to us to recognize and question our perceptions.

The Path to Mindfulness

Understanding the fluid nature of perception and reality is crucial for navigating our existence with clarity and mindfulness. Recognizing that what we perceive is not always what is true can lead to greater self-awareness and a more nuanced understanding of the world.

By embracing the transient and sometimes deceptive nature of our perceptions, we can develop a more robust sense of reality. This requires a constant vigilance and the willingness to question our experiences.

Ultimately, the pursuit of truth is an ongoing journey. By remaining aware and questioning our perceptions, we can achieve a deeper, more authentic understanding of ourselves and the world around us.