The Law of Life: The Dichotomy of Hallucinations and Reality
Dissecting the many components of belief that come together to form a reality.
The Components of Belief
Reality is a collection of fortunately positioned beliefs and existences in a range of logically justifiable situations. However, through insight meditation, concentrated observation and the courage to step away from the you you believe exists, the components of belief that make up this illusory world and the repetitiveness of what is perceived as reality will become clear.
In the second section, the notion of a belief in the existence one encompasses was simply discussed, rather than critically analysed and dissected. It is easy to observe the concept of a belief – as well as its contents – but harder to formulate the components necessary for its development.
The reality we tend to find ourselves observing does not come without its persuasive nature, carefully woven throughout the senses with which we mistakenly identify. One will never find comfort in the pursuit of detecting hallucinations in the midst of reality, for neither would exist without the same factions of belief. It is more productive to focus on why we believe a specific observation is real, rather than to choose which observation follows our subjective definition of reality.
The Unfortunate Essence of Credulity
Familiarity can be seen as one of the many illusions or mechanisms of reality. One misinterprets the familiarity of the observed existence for a dependable point of reference, by which one uses to compare — relatively — all other experiences. However, the concept of familiarity has no grounds in the dependancy of what is real, but rather what is believed.
Similar to the instantaneous acceptance an individual displays towards the observed physical reality, an equivalent characteristic allows for the belief in the concept of the illusory self. It is uncommon to question the actuality of the illusory self, as there are many delusions that arise to condition the individual in constantly reinstating their false beliefs. Therefore, it is inefficient to identify the proper aspects of reality worthy of questioning and more productive — albeit rather exhausting — to challenge the true nature of everything.
Being able to deconstruct the convincing facade of reality is easier said than done. Distractions can also be seen as a mechanism of reality that divert your ability of observing all that is physical critically. Although it is possible to manifest a state of awareness that provokes permanent insights about the world we live in, distractions may completely direct your attention elsewhere.
Inevitable diversions hinder your ability to recognise what is happening around you, immersing you into the illusion of reality and constructing a void in your thought process. This forces you to involuntarily react instead of acting critically in regards to a specific situation. In doing so, one has little to no control — or even the illusion of control — over their actions and decisions, reducing the moments of opportunity when beliefs can be challenged and insights observed.
The Fundamentals of Reason
Upon the analysis of reflections concerning memories and that which we tend to imagine — independent of circumstantial evidence — the mechanism of belief is the only distinguishing factor. Yet, it is not a factor that determines the objective Truth, but one that promptly concludes any doubts or uncertainties one may have regarding a memory. A belief in a memory — real or imagined — is sufficient evidence for an individual to digress and do whatever it is they believe their memories suggest, should those memories hold a necessity for future consideration.
In the pursuit of what is real, one must contemplate the definition of reality with as much similarity to the perfect definition of the objective Truth, which is thus far unknown. However, as it stands the nature of the objective Truth has very few obvious characteristics one can use to compare the observed reality. In order to properly analyse this reality without a reference to what is supposedly the “Truth”, one must find all that is necessary in the development of a belief, slowly transcending the factions of reality that bring about the illusory self and observing all that remains.
We have established that for an individual to believe and accept an observed situation the only mechanism required is belief, without which one may not interpret similarly the authenticity of the observed. Conversely, if an individual belonged to a situation from which they formed a conclusion of inauthenticity, they would harness a waking lucidity. Such an individual could be seen in a woken state, as those alike; who consciously wonder in their dreams, understanding the true nature of their observed reality.
Existence is the word we give our strong belief in the relationship of what we observe and the illusory self, two abstractions that are independent of our true self. There is enough merit in the mechanism and conceptualisation of belief, that one requires no more to engage in the act of believing, but how long does it take an individual to believe their identity is represented by their observed reality?
A difficult concept to grasp is the instantaneous conception of the self. With time concluded as no more than a concept with which we measure change in our physical reality, it must be removed from our investigation. Thus, the development necessary for a belief to embody an individual is one single moment.
One moment where a belief is observed and unquestioned, creating the illusion that there exists a moment other than the now. In the now, every detail and query an individual ponders is justified by as many memories as it takes to end the interrogation on the self. Should the individual fail at finding enough reason to consider a certain facet of existence, one may accept the notion — and mechanism — of forgetfulness.
Forgetfulness is a strange mechanism of reality that somewhat permeates the true nature of the objective Truth; the assumption that there is more to know than what is already known. It is the effort to express an idea, without having the sufficient tools necessary to properly convey the abstractions to another or one’s self. This is the closest understanding in the pursuit of the Truth most may ever come to know, yet it is as close as one may need, in order to uncover all that remains unknown.
Breaking Away from Reality
One of the most deceptive and delusive attributes in illusory realities can be found in the widely accepted concept of time; that there exists a past, which yields a present and precedes a future. There is only one present moment — happening now — where insights can be uncovered and beliefs abolished. A single moment wherein lies your only chance to dissect the intricacies of every sensation and thought you observe.
With the desertion of the notion of time, another concept one may find — although essentially inherent — change to be more or less paradoxical by nature. How can some thing be as it is now, different to what it was at another time if “time” does not exist? How can some one, be as they are now, and different at some other time that does not exist? It is impossible for one thing to have multiple forms in an infinitesimal and singular moment, where all things simply are.
This concludes that the concept of change, or the beliefs therein contained, must not only be discarded in regards to the observer, but also to all that is observed. After careful consideration and concentrated analysis of all that you observe, certain insights become clear — some more obvious than others — and allow you the capability to look beyond what is seen. There are many ways to break apart all the peculiarities of reality, whereas the most insightful realisation is made when we understand why we have the ability to observe any thing at all.
The Mechanisms of Reality
When investigating the factions of belief and the mechanisms of reality, it would be rather absurd to assume that an equivalent amount of critical analysis is applied from whichever entity employs the very notions we are exploring, in order for them to properly function. It can be said that these mechanisms are simple to observe, yet they produce a complicated framework of understanding when placed under scrutiny.
Each individual mechanism can be studied closely when the observed situation is concentrated and the environment controlled. It is not often one may find a singular functioning mechanism; instead, what is apparent can be seen as a collection of mechanisms. These mechanisms work together to allow the instantaneous development of the belief necessary to prevent an individual from further questioning of the reality they find themselves in.
A completely untrained (in the art of insight concentration), unaware and abstinent individual with no disturbance in behaviour or mental function has no reason to question any facet of reality –other than that of curiosity — because of the illusive nature of the physical and simply, the belief that what is, should be. However, individuals that have consumed mind-altering substances may be subject to hallucinations – or a state of awareness wherein things are not the way they are supposed to be.
The widely accepted definition of the term hallucination follows:
An experience involving the apparent perception of something not present.
This assumes the presence of some thing without the perception of it. This is paradoxical because if an individual is not present to perceive an object, it cannot exist. Scientifically, one does not explore a physical world with objects to be seen, rather one observes a world based on the interpretation of their sensory receptors. Philosophically, all that is observed exists with intention — as proposed in the previous article — and is as true as any other observation one may perceive.
There are mechanisms of reality that are in the present moment, whose sole purpose is to delude an individual into accepting that which they observe. Each instance of an observation provides one with as much justification as is necessary to prevent existential curiosity. However, there are ways and techniques an individual can engage to allow the identification of certain mechanisms and facets of reality.
Unfortunately in today’s society, the quick — but unconventional — ways in which one may gain insights to the true objective reality happening right now are somewhat frowned upon. It is otherwise possible to attain similar realisations through excessive insight meditations and questioning of all that is observed. On the journey to uncovering the true nature of reality, many truths will come to light, but only after conditioned beliefs are left behind; paving the way to a new and untethered understanding.
