Reality Tunnels. . . .
"All great truths begin as blasphemies"
- George Bernard Shaw
What if we could experience everything that happens on this planet, all at once, all at the sametime.
How would that be?
Reality tunnels are the myopic thoughts that we repeat often enough to use as stories of self identification.
And reality tunnels create the way we percieve the world at any given time.
This is what I mean. . . .
If someone says, "XYZ is a terrible bastard". . .it of course does not mean that XYZ is in reality a terrible bastard. All it means is that this one particular individual holds a belief, a thought, that XYZ is a terrible bastard. . . another individual might say instead, "XYZ is an incredible person". . . .it also does not mean that XYZ is an incredible person, it just means that individual holds the thought that they are. . .no more, no less.
All of us recognize the above as true. Most people would say that we could sum it up simply with the fact that people hold "opinions". But that is only half the story. . .how are those opinions formed?
As an example, one individual may claim XYZ is a miserable bastard, and when asked how they came to that conclusion they will relate some sort of story which is meant to verify their opinion. . . ."well one day XYZ said this to me. . .and I just think that. . . . .etc."
Now for purposes of learning, lets assume the story is true. If the incident actually did happen exactly as that single individual believes, does that therefore actually make XYZ a bastard?
Are you first grade?
Everyone reading this has probably attended first grade in the past. . .most likely, many Years ago. So are you first grade? If not, are you your wedding day? Are you your drivers license test? Are you a trip to the dentist?
If the answer to the above is no, then you most likely recognize that you are not any one particular experience you have ever had. You HAVE experiences. . .which is to say your bodily senses relate feedback to you. . . .but are those experiences you? Is that bodily feedback you?
So XYZ is not one particular experience, and neither is anyone else.
"Start a huge, foolish project, like Noah. It makes absolutely no difference what people think of you." -Rumi
Some people may say individuals are not those experiences, but that how individuals relate to different experiences can serve as an accurate means to measure their value.
And although that seems to be the average point of view, it is in reality backwards.
If we assume for a moment that this were true, it still completely ignores the process by which that "experience" with XYZ was processed.
For one thing the experience itself was viewed from a particular place, at a particular point and time. And their may have been much more to that particular experience then could be perceived by the senses at that one point in space and time. Other bodies at different locations, or slightly different times, witnessing the same event, may all have very different versions of how it occurred. . . . .and this is just due to the limitations of our own nervous system.
Next, the particular observing bodies color the experience. . . .which having now past, is in reality just a memory. . . .with the flavor of all their own, personal, past experiences, all their conditioning, social, cultural, educational, family and relationship related. Their own beliefs, opinions, ideas, values, and sense of self worth, all serve as filters through which the memory of that particular experience is perceived, understood, and communicated.
So given all those filters, all those layers of programming, and given the single point of observation in space and time, it's clear that any single persons opinion about a past experience does not relate the reality of what that experience was actually like. . . .ever.
But that has not even begin to scratch the surface when it comes to how incredibly wrong individual opinions can be.
"The only thing that we can know is that we know nothing and that is the highest flight of human reason." -Leo Tolstoy
Next we need to talk about measurement. The individual who relates their opinion of XYZ, when asked, attempts to validate that opinion with the re-telling of some experience they hold in the form of a memory. And we know that this memory is simply the experience as perceived from one particular point in space time. And we know that this experience, once perceived from a particular space and time, is then colored by all the previous experiences, opinions, ideas, concepts, and beliefs that the person telling us the story has had.
But their is another important question to ask. . .once this experience is perceived by an individual, and once that perception becomes a memory which is then stored in a highly conditioned mind. . . .(mind is conditioning, the grid). . . . .then how does that one particular individual judge the actions of another person within that experience? And by judge I mean place a value on the person based on their actions in that event. I am not implying that it is outrages if they do so, or even that their is anything wrong in doing so. . .I am asking 'how' exactly it is done? By what mechanism does it occur?
And the answer is obviously, by comparison to another memory. . . .but only always.
We all know this to be true. In otherwords, we don't know we are missing something until we know it exists somehow. Someone not knowing it exists, would not miss it, and therefore their perception of an event may be much different from someone else who has had it. By 'it' I mean anything, and by perception I mean their view of reality.
But even degrees of having, and degrees of knowing, can have a drastic effect. Consider this. . . someone used to high quality food, will notice when the food becomes simply average, and they may likely view that change as a "negative". Someone used to poor quality food may also notice when the food becomes instead average. But they will most likely view that change, that experience, as "positive".
Now the question is, was that change in food positive or negative?
And if your answer is, "it depends on the individual". . .I would only add, exactly.
"None attains to the Degree of Truth until a thousand honest people have testified that he is a heretic." -Junaid
So we know that an individual who relates their opinion of XYZ, when asked, will often attempt to validate that opinion with the re-telling of some experience they hold in the form of a memory. And we know that this memory is simply the experience as perceived from one particular point in space time. And we know that this experience, once perceived from a particular space and time, is then colored by all the previous experiences, opinions, ideas, concepts, and beliefs that the person telling us the story has had. And finally, we know that when that tainted memory as viewed from a very limited space and time is judged, measured, compared, it is then used a tool to measure other individuals value as based on their reaction to it. . . . .in other words, "I think the food has gotten worse! I know the food has gotten worse. He keeps saying the food has gotten better, but I know it has gotten worse!". . . . . .frustration as viewed from an individual reality tunnel.
And we call that normal.
A dog barks wildly everytime strangers come to the door. . . .one stranger, upon leaving the front door, says "that dog is vicious!". . . . . .A dog barks wildly everytime strangers come to the door. . . .the family inside loves how gentle the dog is with the family, and everyone in the house. And what a good watch dog he is. . . . ."that dog is wonderful". . . . . . .
Which is the dog, vicious, or wonderful?
If your answer was, "of course it depends on the circumstances". . .I would only add, exactly.
Here is where it gets really crazy. . . .all these tiny, distorted, little points of view, are accumulated by individuals. . . .they are collected in a limited number. . .while supplies last.
What I mean is this, what can you remember from July 7th 1987 at 4:40 pm PST? Can you remember exactly what you where doing then? How about where you were? Who was around you? How about the weather that day?. . . . .no luck?
What do you remember?
We all have a very limited amount of memories we recall enough to recognize as "known".
How many memories can you actually recall in this moment? And if you can recall anything, how vivid is it? How about the Year before? How about all your Years?
Now out of all those memories. . . .how much of your life so far is not remembered?
Do you remember more moments, in terms of minutes of the day, then you have forgotten? How many minutes in 1987 can you remember? How many minutes total where there in 1987? See how incredibly minuscule the amount of individual memories are when compared to the reality of the time itself?
How are those memories picked?
What makes them more vivid then the others? What causes you to recollect them? It is some form of collection process. . . .some sort of selection process we engage in to choose which memories we hold, and which we don't recall. . . .it is a collection of memories to form a story. . .the story validates our sense of self. . .it is the story of I.
A re-collection. . .a recollection.
This brings up yet another point. So although we realize that an individual who relates their opinion of XYZ, when asked, will validate that opinion with the re-telling of some experience they hold in the form of a memory. And we know that this memory is simply the experience as perceived from one particular point in space time. And we know that this experience, once perceived from a particular space and time, is then colored by all the previous experiences, opinions, ideas, concepts, and beliefs that the person telling us the story has had. And finally, we know that when that tainted memory as viewed from a very limited space and time is judged, measured, and compared, it is then used a tool to measure other individuals value. And we know that that value will then be compared against the individuals own personal "me" story. . .which IS their own limited collection of previously stored memories. . .and from that small string of past memories, an opinion is reached.
I think it is clear the above stated is fact, but what is amazing is that though we now this, we still give credence to the concept of opinion itself. Opinion as drawn from a single reality tunnel.
Some people right here might say, "yes, but when I hear the same opinions from multiple people, then I place more weight in them." Or perhaps. . ."Yes, but if I hear an opinion from 'this' particular person, I tend to believe that".
And that sounds like common sense, but it is in reality completely upside down.
"Cling to the sacred and disdain the profane and you will be sunk in an ocean of life and death forever."
Multiple people simply means multiple reality tunnels. . .each built in the same fashion as the above stated one was. And the degree to which their consensus can be valued as accurate is related to how far back in the chain of perception we want to go. . . .in other words:
Straight minute by minute account of the events themselves. . .least subjective. . .but still limited by a particular point of space and time, and still taken through certain filters (most of which occur without us consciously realizing it).
Feeling, or overall opinion of the account. . . .far more subjective. . .limited in space and time, taken through many patterns, and then measured against the tiny me story or the individual relating their perception.
Opinion on the value of the experience itself. . . .completely subjective. . .based solely on the previous memories of observing individual.
So if we just want a minute by minute account, we may find the various witnesses disagreeing greatly (this often occurs with multiple witnesses to a single event). . . .but we also find them agreeing on a few key observations of the event itself. So this holds some value. But if we begin asking how the individual felt about the experience. . .now things become very different.
This is not quite as true if the experience is highly extraordinary in comparison to more common experiences. If it is really unique, then many of the observers may share in similar feelings related to the event. And in my opinion, this is part of the value such experiences hold. But if it is a more average experience, that means the individuals will all have had similar experiences in the past, and therefore, far more memories to measure the experience against, and as a result. . .far different reality tunnels.
And finally, if we ask these multiple observers of a single events what the event itself meant, after it has transpired, then no two answers will be exactly the same. . . . .(and that doesn't mean that they should be either).
If we say, "yes, but if I hear an opinion from 'this' particular person, I tend to believe that". This just means that we have discovered a community of people, or person, who share similar reality tunnels. . .similar opinions on the way the world is. . . . .and it is in our nature to do that. It is in our nature for cells to link with cells that they can communicate with. And for cells which cannot communicate, to go separate ways, and find cells with which they can communicate.
That is how we put ourselves together.
"I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts."
- Will Rogers
Now we get to the really-really crazy part. . .people then take these reality tunnels, and often based solely on them, they go out and perform certain actions. And that call it "free will".
And to top it off, if the actions begin producing negative consequences, these same individuals may go on to believe that the remedy for that is MORE actions! The root cause of the reality tunnel is seldom ever addressed. . . . after all, it's the decision maker.
And even when the root cause of ignorance (good synonym for reality tunnel) is known, people will often still believe the idea that the solution lays with more action. As if an invisible hand could move inside the mind and change the thoughts one thinks like moving around building blocks, or turning dials.
Insane but true.
How do we free ourselves of reality tunnels?
How about realizing we have one to begin with. And then observing it in the moment.
When we start to see the absurdity of opinions it may seem weird how they are given much time by our awareness at all. But then we have to remember, they almost always are. And they cause dissention within families, as one individuals version of reality, "reality tunnel", conflicts with anothers. And this carries itself all the way up to the level of global politics. . . . .it's worth remembering that Millions of people have been slaughtered in bloodshed and wars over things as absurd as reality tunnels, since recorded history.
After all, aren't you proud to be an (insert your nation here)?
Isn't (insert your nation here). . . the best Nation on Earth?
"I think this Country is the best! I know this Country is the best!. He keeps saying his Country is better, but I know he is wrong!"
As stupid as that above stated dialogue is, welcome to Nationalism.
"What are you, some sort of Socialist!"
Some people take comfort in holding tight to reality tunnels which display the world in stark contrasts, a reality of black and white.
Others, who may be more mature, claim instead to see reality as having more shades of grey.
I say it's neither.
I say reality is always moving.
And if that where actually the case, wouldn't trying to hold on to any opinion about reality be exactly the same as trying to measure a single point is the middle of a flowing river. . . . .what is it NOW. . .ok how about now, and now, and now, and now, and now. . . . .and so on.
Trying to know yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.
Or so the opinion goes.
Satsu lost one of her beloved grandchildren and exploded in a torrent of tears. A neighbor remarked to her, "I heard you received a certificate of enlightenment from Hakuin himself, so why are you carrying on so?"
"Idiot!" she said. . . "This is just how I feel at this moment!"
- George Bernard Shaw
What if we could experience everything that happens on this planet, all at once, all at the sametime.
How would that be?
Reality tunnels are the myopic thoughts that we repeat often enough to use as stories of self identification.
And reality tunnels create the way we percieve the world at any given time.
This is what I mean. . . .
If someone says, "XYZ is a terrible bastard". . .it of course does not mean that XYZ is in reality a terrible bastard. All it means is that this one particular individual holds a belief, a thought, that XYZ is a terrible bastard. . . another individual might say instead, "XYZ is an incredible person". . . .it also does not mean that XYZ is an incredible person, it just means that individual holds the thought that they are. . .no more, no less.
All of us recognize the above as true. Most people would say that we could sum it up simply with the fact that people hold "opinions". But that is only half the story. . .how are those opinions formed?
As an example, one individual may claim XYZ is a miserable bastard, and when asked how they came to that conclusion they will relate some sort of story which is meant to verify their opinion. . . ."well one day XYZ said this to me. . .and I just think that. . . . .etc."
Now for purposes of learning, lets assume the story is true. If the incident actually did happen exactly as that single individual believes, does that therefore actually make XYZ a bastard?
Are you first grade?
Everyone reading this has probably attended first grade in the past. . .most likely, many Years ago. So are you first grade? If not, are you your wedding day? Are you your drivers license test? Are you a trip to the dentist?
If the answer to the above is no, then you most likely recognize that you are not any one particular experience you have ever had. You HAVE experiences. . .which is to say your bodily senses relate feedback to you. . . .but are those experiences you? Is that bodily feedback you?
So XYZ is not one particular experience, and neither is anyone else.
"Start a huge, foolish project, like Noah. It makes absolutely no difference what people think of you." -Rumi
Some people may say individuals are not those experiences, but that how individuals relate to different experiences can serve as an accurate means to measure their value.
And although that seems to be the average point of view, it is in reality backwards.
If we assume for a moment that this were true, it still completely ignores the process by which that "experience" with XYZ was processed.
For one thing the experience itself was viewed from a particular place, at a particular point and time. And their may have been much more to that particular experience then could be perceived by the senses at that one point in space and time. Other bodies at different locations, or slightly different times, witnessing the same event, may all have very different versions of how it occurred. . . . .and this is just due to the limitations of our own nervous system.
Next, the particular observing bodies color the experience. . . .which having now past, is in reality just a memory. . . .with the flavor of all their own, personal, past experiences, all their conditioning, social, cultural, educational, family and relationship related. Their own beliefs, opinions, ideas, values, and sense of self worth, all serve as filters through which the memory of that particular experience is perceived, understood, and communicated.
So given all those filters, all those layers of programming, and given the single point of observation in space and time, it's clear that any single persons opinion about a past experience does not relate the reality of what that experience was actually like. . . .ever.
But that has not even begin to scratch the surface when it comes to how incredibly wrong individual opinions can be.
"The only thing that we can know is that we know nothing and that is the highest flight of human reason." -Leo Tolstoy
Next we need to talk about measurement. The individual who relates their opinion of XYZ, when asked, attempts to validate that opinion with the re-telling of some experience they hold in the form of a memory. And we know that this memory is simply the experience as perceived from one particular point in space time. And we know that this experience, once perceived from a particular space and time, is then colored by all the previous experiences, opinions, ideas, concepts, and beliefs that the person telling us the story has had.
But their is another important question to ask. . .once this experience is perceived by an individual, and once that perception becomes a memory which is then stored in a highly conditioned mind. . . .(mind is conditioning, the grid). . . . .then how does that one particular individual judge the actions of another person within that experience? And by judge I mean place a value on the person based on their actions in that event. I am not implying that it is outrages if they do so, or even that their is anything wrong in doing so. . .I am asking 'how' exactly it is done? By what mechanism does it occur?
And the answer is obviously, by comparison to another memory. . . .but only always.
We all know this to be true. In otherwords, we don't know we are missing something until we know it exists somehow. Someone not knowing it exists, would not miss it, and therefore their perception of an event may be much different from someone else who has had it. By 'it' I mean anything, and by perception I mean their view of reality.
But even degrees of having, and degrees of knowing, can have a drastic effect. Consider this. . . someone used to high quality food, will notice when the food becomes simply average, and they may likely view that change as a "negative". Someone used to poor quality food may also notice when the food becomes instead average. But they will most likely view that change, that experience, as "positive".
Now the question is, was that change in food positive or negative?
And if your answer is, "it depends on the individual". . .I would only add, exactly.
"None attains to the Degree of Truth until a thousand honest people have testified that he is a heretic." -Junaid
So we know that an individual who relates their opinion of XYZ, when asked, will often attempt to validate that opinion with the re-telling of some experience they hold in the form of a memory. And we know that this memory is simply the experience as perceived from one particular point in space time. And we know that this experience, once perceived from a particular space and time, is then colored by all the previous experiences, opinions, ideas, concepts, and beliefs that the person telling us the story has had. And finally, we know that when that tainted memory as viewed from a very limited space and time is judged, measured, compared, it is then used a tool to measure other individuals value as based on their reaction to it. . . . .in other words, "I think the food has gotten worse! I know the food has gotten worse. He keeps saying the food has gotten better, but I know it has gotten worse!". . . . . .frustration as viewed from an individual reality tunnel.
And we call that normal.
A dog barks wildly everytime strangers come to the door. . . .one stranger, upon leaving the front door, says "that dog is vicious!". . . . . .A dog barks wildly everytime strangers come to the door. . . .the family inside loves how gentle the dog is with the family, and everyone in the house. And what a good watch dog he is. . . . ."that dog is wonderful". . . . . . .
Which is the dog, vicious, or wonderful?
If your answer was, "of course it depends on the circumstances". . .I would only add, exactly.
Here is where it gets really crazy. . . .all these tiny, distorted, little points of view, are accumulated by individuals. . . .they are collected in a limited number. . .while supplies last.
What I mean is this, what can you remember from July 7th 1987 at 4:40 pm PST? Can you remember exactly what you where doing then? How about where you were? Who was around you? How about the weather that day?. . . . .no luck?
What do you remember?
We all have a very limited amount of memories we recall enough to recognize as "known".
How many memories can you actually recall in this moment? And if you can recall anything, how vivid is it? How about the Year before? How about all your Years?
Now out of all those memories. . . .how much of your life so far is not remembered?
Do you remember more moments, in terms of minutes of the day, then you have forgotten? How many minutes in 1987 can you remember? How many minutes total where there in 1987? See how incredibly minuscule the amount of individual memories are when compared to the reality of the time itself?
How are those memories picked?
What makes them more vivid then the others? What causes you to recollect them? It is some form of collection process. . . .some sort of selection process we engage in to choose which memories we hold, and which we don't recall. . . .it is a collection of memories to form a story. . .the story validates our sense of self. . .it is the story of I.
A re-collection. . .a recollection.
This brings up yet another point. So although we realize that an individual who relates their opinion of XYZ, when asked, will validate that opinion with the re-telling of some experience they hold in the form of a memory. And we know that this memory is simply the experience as perceived from one particular point in space time. And we know that this experience, once perceived from a particular space and time, is then colored by all the previous experiences, opinions, ideas, concepts, and beliefs that the person telling us the story has had. And finally, we know that when that tainted memory as viewed from a very limited space and time is judged, measured, and compared, it is then used a tool to measure other individuals value. And we know that that value will then be compared against the individuals own personal "me" story. . .which IS their own limited collection of previously stored memories. . .and from that small string of past memories, an opinion is reached.
I think it is clear the above stated is fact, but what is amazing is that though we now this, we still give credence to the concept of opinion itself. Opinion as drawn from a single reality tunnel.
Some people right here might say, "yes, but when I hear the same opinions from multiple people, then I place more weight in them." Or perhaps. . ."Yes, but if I hear an opinion from 'this' particular person, I tend to believe that".
And that sounds like common sense, but it is in reality completely upside down.
"Cling to the sacred and disdain the profane and you will be sunk in an ocean of life and death forever."
Multiple people simply means multiple reality tunnels. . .each built in the same fashion as the above stated one was. And the degree to which their consensus can be valued as accurate is related to how far back in the chain of perception we want to go. . . .in other words:
Straight minute by minute account of the events themselves. . .least subjective. . .but still limited by a particular point of space and time, and still taken through certain filters (most of which occur without us consciously realizing it).
Feeling, or overall opinion of the account. . . .far more subjective. . .limited in space and time, taken through many patterns, and then measured against the tiny me story or the individual relating their perception.
Opinion on the value of the experience itself. . . .completely subjective. . .based solely on the previous memories of observing individual.
So if we just want a minute by minute account, we may find the various witnesses disagreeing greatly (this often occurs with multiple witnesses to a single event). . . .but we also find them agreeing on a few key observations of the event itself. So this holds some value. But if we begin asking how the individual felt about the experience. . .now things become very different.
This is not quite as true if the experience is highly extraordinary in comparison to more common experiences. If it is really unique, then many of the observers may share in similar feelings related to the event. And in my opinion, this is part of the value such experiences hold. But if it is a more average experience, that means the individuals will all have had similar experiences in the past, and therefore, far more memories to measure the experience against, and as a result. . .far different reality tunnels.
And finally, if we ask these multiple observers of a single events what the event itself meant, after it has transpired, then no two answers will be exactly the same. . . . .(and that doesn't mean that they should be either).
If we say, "yes, but if I hear an opinion from 'this' particular person, I tend to believe that". This just means that we have discovered a community of people, or person, who share similar reality tunnels. . .similar opinions on the way the world is. . . . .and it is in our nature to do that. It is in our nature for cells to link with cells that they can communicate with. And for cells which cannot communicate, to go separate ways, and find cells with which they can communicate.
That is how we put ourselves together.
"I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts."
- Will Rogers
Now we get to the really-really crazy part. . .people then take these reality tunnels, and often based solely on them, they go out and perform certain actions. And that call it "free will".
And to top it off, if the actions begin producing negative consequences, these same individuals may go on to believe that the remedy for that is MORE actions! The root cause of the reality tunnel is seldom ever addressed. . . . after all, it's the decision maker.
And even when the root cause of ignorance (good synonym for reality tunnel) is known, people will often still believe the idea that the solution lays with more action. As if an invisible hand could move inside the mind and change the thoughts one thinks like moving around building blocks, or turning dials.
Insane but true.
How do we free ourselves of reality tunnels?
How about realizing we have one to begin with. And then observing it in the moment.
When we start to see the absurdity of opinions it may seem weird how they are given much time by our awareness at all. But then we have to remember, they almost always are. And they cause dissention within families, as one individuals version of reality, "reality tunnel", conflicts with anothers. And this carries itself all the way up to the level of global politics. . . . .it's worth remembering that Millions of people have been slaughtered in bloodshed and wars over things as absurd as reality tunnels, since recorded history.
After all, aren't you proud to be an (insert your nation here)?
Isn't (insert your nation here). . . the best Nation on Earth?
"I think this Country is the best! I know this Country is the best!. He keeps saying his Country is better, but I know he is wrong!"
As stupid as that above stated dialogue is, welcome to Nationalism.
"What are you, some sort of Socialist!"
Some people take comfort in holding tight to reality tunnels which display the world in stark contrasts, a reality of black and white.
Others, who may be more mature, claim instead to see reality as having more shades of grey.
I say it's neither.
I say reality is always moving.
And if that where actually the case, wouldn't trying to hold on to any opinion about reality be exactly the same as trying to measure a single point is the middle of a flowing river. . . . .what is it NOW. . .ok how about now, and now, and now, and now, and now. . . . .and so on.
Trying to know yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.
Or so the opinion goes.
Satsu lost one of her beloved grandchildren and exploded in a torrent of tears. A neighbor remarked to her, "I heard you received a certificate of enlightenment from Hakuin himself, so why are you carrying on so?"
"Idiot!" she said. . . "This is just how I feel at this moment!"
