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Perception of Reality

"Man can not perceive reality as it is using his senses, his physical senses. But ask yourself what is meant by 'reality as it is'?"

Reality differs depending on the perceiver.

"That is correct. What does that say about this reality?"

That it is not static, but subject to change.

"Is that truly so? Or is it the perception that is changeable?"

Perception is nothing but the transfer and interpretation of information. This in turn is being influenced en thus defined by various factors. Finally reality is being perceived in the brain, undoubtly subjectively and altered.

"Altered from what?"

From reality... I see where you are going with this.

"Indeed. It is only perception that is changeable. The reality is just that what is, no more or no less. We can speak of the ultimate reality."

So reality is unchangeable?

"I did not say that. Reality is that what is. That what is exists within the time dimension. Everything is different from one moment to the next. That what is is equal to evolution, for everything constantly evolves. Changeability is thus a fundamental characteristic of reality, is a synonym of it even."

Where does the notion of 'the illusion of reality' come from then?

"The illusion lies in not directly perceiving reality. Our perception results in an interpretation of the form. The reality behind the form, that what is, is not being perceived as it is."

How is the form, then?

"You need to look beyond the form, because the form results in an illusion."

But you say that our perception and interpretation of the form the illusion creates...

"Yes, but the form can only be interpreted. Each interpretation is preceded by a perception or observation and is ultimately an illusion. Only that what is is no illusion. Each form is an illusion, because form can only be perceived and thus interpreted."

And the form, can it be avoided?

"That is what the masters do; they perceive reality behind the form. They have learned to be aware of reality without having to observe it. Then the illusion dissolves and can that what is be perceived."

How do you do this?

"By focussing your attention on that what is.
First you need to reach a thourough realisation that each form is an illusion. When your whole being is drenched in this understanding, that as soon as you perceive something, it is not real anymore, then you can start to make contact with the reality behind the reality of illusion.
You don't exactly alter your perception abilities, you do away with them. Perception equals interpretation, which results in illusion. Stop perceiving and you will find yourself in that what is, because you too are that what is.
There is no reason why you should make the interpretation, nobody has that necessity. You are so used to it that it has become a self-evident part of your existence. But it remains an illusion and nothing more, however real it may seem."

What shall we perceive when we look beyond the form?

"That what is."

And that is?

"God."

- Ahansa Advaya

- Ayoni

Posted by Ahansa on 2008-07-19 20:54:38 | Rating:

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		In his hauntingly beautiful song ‘Jagi Ne Jou To Jagat Dise Nahi...' Narsinh Mehta sings about one of the Sankara’s favourite ideas - Maya: When I wake up, the world recedes from my sight. Only in sleep, its bewildering miseries and enjoyment perplexes me! My being is a play of the Consciousness: The brahman playing with the brahman! The metaphor of sleep and awakening has a crucial significance in the Vedantic thinking, especially that of Sankara. The plurality and the relativity of the phenomenal world arose out of ignorance hence was compared to the experience of dreaming where one mistook dreams for reality and once one is awake, one realizes that what one saw in sleep was unreal. Hence the knowledge that the brahman alone exists is compared to awakening.
Posted by vbhatt on 2008-07-31 13:27:13