Reality
Each of us lives in our own personal, separate reality, although we may share time, space, views and banana milk shakes with each other. Our own reality is personal and private. If we’re all sitting in a room we all have a different perspective of the room, nobody else sees the room through our eyes. Not only that, but we also all have unique feelings, thoughts and emotions in any moment that effectively define our reality in that moment. So the next time you’re amongst a group of people you might reflect on the fact that no one’s reality is the same as yours and that you basically don’t entirely know their reality and they don’t know yours. It’s very easy to go around imagining that you’re in touch with reality and that everyone’s sharing and experiencing that same reality.
Reality is subjective in nature - what you see is what you get. So in what sense does it mean anything to talk about reality as if it where some fixed, objective thing? If we consider reality as “all that exists” then we must include in that not only the reality of what is observed but also the observer. What I would propose, therefore, is that reality, or all that exists, is not only the sum of all our personal realities, but also that which contains and observes them.
What is it that’s not only the sum of all realities but also the container of them? Each of us is conscious, and it’s that consciousness that experiences our personal reality. It’s also the same consciousness that experiences every personal reality. It doesn’t mean that my consciousness experiences your reality, it simply means that consciousness is what’s experiencing every reality. Therefore consciousness is the reality that we all share and have in common, and the possibility that your reality is pink while mine is blue doesn’t prevent us from realising the common reality of consciousness. To realise this common reality of consciousness it’s necessary that consciousness awakens to itself in you.
To help facilitate this awakening we can bring ourselves more into line with the reality we all share. This shared reality is the perceptual reality of our senses. It’s this reality, before the mind names anything and defines it, that we can participate in. It’s the natural present reality that’s always there before we abstract, analyse and interpret it. It’s the reality where everything simply is what it is. It’s the reality that’s always there before we separate ourselves from it.
The mind operates on many levels - perceptual, conceptual, dream, intuitive, psychic and more. Each of these levels gives a different reading or interpretation on the world. The conceptual mind is the one that analyses and interprets the world; it’s the one that differentiates and separates. So, if we’re not to be banished to a life of separation and therefore conflict, this faculty of the mind must be kept under control.
The conceptual, thinking mind enables us to control and have power over others and nature, but unfortunately, the mind, when used for this purpose can easily take over and dominate our lives. It’s true position should be that of tool or servant to us - available when needed. If we develop the ability to keep the conceptual, thinking mind in it’s rightful place, only using it when needed, then we have the option of always returning to the reality of our senses. From that position it’s easier and more likely that consciousness can awaken to itself. Then, and only then, will the reality that’s common to all become obvious, and that reality is neither pink nor blue but the light by which all colours of reality are seen.