The Puzzle of Perception
Isn’t it amazing that we take everything we see for granted? We never question how we see the world or wonder if our view is complete. Yet the research continues to remind us that we are all constructing our very personal view of the world all the time. The solid and predictable perceptions that underlie our confidence in reality are less substantial than we’d like to believe. We observe the world around us and assume that our senses are completely reliable. Yet, the fascinating world of neuroscience offers a very different interpretation. This counter-intuitive conclusion has been suggested in many ancient traditions. We are not the first humans to realise that the world we perceive is nothing more than an illusion. We sit for the most part in a sparsely-furnished, solitary cell with only a mirror for company. We open our eyes and all we see is the image of ourselves reflected in the looking-glass. The entire universe is a reflection of whatever’s pouring out of our hearts and out of our minds.
To be fair, it’s an impossible concept to grasp with the limited faculties of our conscious minds. It’s an experience that can only be initiated when the chaotic flow of our thoughts and feelings becomes still. The more we try to control our minds, the more we remain trapped within the bubble of our perception. But when the mind becomes silent, when we cease to project our mental and emotional energy out into the world, our sense of identity falters. Our individuality dissolves. We are no longer separate from the world. We are the world and everything and everyone in it.
If the wisdom of the ancients and the latest research in neuroscience are helping us to understand the riddle of perception, then we can understand that the way we see everything is an extension of whatever’s in our hearts. When you fill your heart with peace, calm, joy and love, these are the things you will perceive in the world around you. The mirror of the world will reflect the beautiful light within you.
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