Holograms and the Nature of Reality
By: Devatma Saraswati
The human experience of reality is a fascinating interplay of perception and consciousness. Our brains receive input from the five senses, allowing us to navigate and interact with the world around us. Just as a hologram is a representation of a higher-dimensional object on a two-dimensional surface, our consciousness constructs four-dimensional realities by processing sensory information from our surroundings. However, it is important to recognize that these realities are not absolute truths but rather subjective interpretations created by consciousness. Here we delve into the intriguing concept that reality, as we perceive it, is akin to a holographic re-creation, no less in waking life than in dreams.
Holograms: Bridging Dimensions
Holograms have long captivated our imagination by their ability to create three-dimensional representations from two-dimensional surfaces. A hologram is a complex interference pattern that encodes information about the object it replicates. Similarly, the human brain, with its intricate neural network, receives sensory input and processes it into a multidimensional experience. Our perception of reality is constructed by integrating visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory information, generating a holistic representation of our surroundings.
Perception and Consciousness: The Architects of Reality
While our senses provide the raw data, it is consciousness that weaves the tapestry of reality. Consciousness goes beyond mere sensory input and encompasses our awareness, thoughts, emotions, and subjective experiences. It possesses a unique ability to generate holographic representations of reality, which we encounter both in our waking state and during dreams.
Dreams: Windows to the Holographic Nature of Reality
Dreams offer a profound glimpse into the intricate workings of consciousness. Every night, our consciousness manufactures entire worlds for us to experience within the realm of the mind. In dreams, we become both the subjects and objects, actively participating in a fabricated reality. Here, consciousness is revealing its secret ability to fabricate reality. This striking similarity between dreams and waking life underscores the holographic nature of our perception. In both states, we construct subjective realities that shape our experience of the world. The result is that we each create our own subjective illusions of reality and instead of knowing it as ourselves we falsely assume it is the world.
Reality vs. Truth: Unveiling the Distinction
While reality is the way we perceive the world through our senses, truth delves deeper into the realm of insight and higher knowledge (prajna). The distinction between the two is vital. Our perception of reality is colored by individual experiences, beliefs, and cognitive biases. It is an ever-changing, subjective interpretation. Truth, on the other hand, transcends individual perspectives and seeks to know the fundamental nature of existence as pure universal consciousness. It requires introspection, critical thinking, and an exploration of the deeper layers of consciousness. Eyesight creates the illusion; insight reveals the Truth!
Embracing the Mystical Secrets
The understanding that our individual experiences of reality are a holographic recreation invites us to question our assumptions and look beyond the surface of appearances. It highlights the profound influence of consciousness in shaping our experiences and challenges us to explore the depths of our own minds. By embracing this mystical secret, we can cultivate a heightened awareness of the subjective nature of reality, fostering empathy, understanding, and an open-minded approach to the diverse perceptions of others.
Crafting Our World from Within
Our perception of the world is a profound and intricate interplay between our internal mental representations and the external stimuli we encounter. When we recognize that our interaction with reality is limited to our own perceptions and holographic mental constructs, we begin to understand the significant role that identity, beliefs, attitude, and mentality play in shaping our understanding of the world.
The Influence of Perception on Reality
Perception forms the foundation of our experience. It is through our senses that we receive information about the world around us. However, this sensory input is subject to interpretation and filtering by our minds. We construct mental representations of reality based on our unique set of beliefs, experiences, and biases. As a result, our perception of the world is inherently subjective, varying from person to person.
The Role of Identity, Beliefs, and Attitude
Identity serves as a lens through which we perceive and interpret the world. Our individuality, shaped by factors such as culture, upbringing, and personal experiences, colors the way we view reality. Identity encompasses not only our external traits but also our internal self-concept. How we define ourselves can determine the aspects of reality we focus on, what resonates with us, and the connections we make with others. Our identity can act as both a bridge and a barrier, enabling us to relate to certain experiences while potentially hindering our understanding of those outside our immediate frame of reference.
If we identity with the external parts of our being on the objective side of all experiences, this is called pashubhava, or animal instincts, and refers to the state of identifying with the body-mind-ego complex. Enligtenment occurs when our higher intelligence (buddhi) makes the transition from pashubhava to Shivabahava. Shivabhava means you are now identifying with the immortal Self, or Atman. When you realize yourself as that formless silent consciousness and fully expanded awareness on the subjective side of all experience then not only do you not suffer due to falsely identifying with the wrong parts of you who are, but you gradually become fully established in permanent bliss and joy – knowing yourself as beyond the play of energy and matter, and eternally free.
Beliefs: Shaping Our Interpretation
After identity comes beliefs. Beliefs are the cognitive structures that frame our interpretation of reality. They serve as mental frameworks that filter and organize incoming information. Our beliefs influence what we consider possible or impossible, acceptable or unacceptable. These frameworks can be empowering, limiting, or even distortive. For instance, someone who believes in the abundance of opportunities might approach challenges with enthusiasm, while someone with a belief in scarcity might react with anxiety. Our beliefs form the scaffolding upon which we construct our understanding of reality, often reinforcing what aligns with them and discarding what contradicts them.
Attitude: The Color Palette of Perception
Attitude, the emotional and evaluative stance we take toward experiences, further influences our perception of reality. A positive attitude can illuminate opportunities and foster resilience in the face of adversity, while a negative attitude can cast shadows and magnify difficulties. Attitude, in a way, acts as a painter’s brush, adding shades of emotion and interpretation to the canvas of our experiences. It determines whether we see challenges as opportunities for growth or as insurmountable obstacles. Through cultivating a mindful attitude, we can actively shape our perception of reality and navigate it with greater grace.
Empowerment Through Awareness
Recognizing the interplay of identity, beliefs, and attitude offers a pathway to empowerment. By cultivating self-awareness, we can become conscious of the lenses through which we view the world. This awareness grants us the freedom to choose whether these lenses serve us or limit us. We can engage in introspection to explore how our beliefs have evolved and whether they continue to align with our evolving selves. We can also refine our attitude, intentionally selecting the emotional palette we bring to our experiences.
Navigating a Multifaceted Reality
Acknowledging the impact of identity, beliefs, and attitude expands our perspective on reality. It prompts us to embrace the diversity of interpretations that arise from different identities and experiences. This recognition fosters empathy and understanding, promoting harmonious interactions in a world where each individual’s holographic reality is uniquely their own.
In Conclusion
As we journey through the multidimensional landscapes of perception and consciousness, we unearth the profound truth that reality, though seemingly concrete, is a canvas painted by our inner world. Our identity, beliefs, and attitude are the brushes we wield, crafting our unique masterpiece. By understanding their influence, we not only deepen our connection to ourselves but also foster a more compassionate and inclusive connection with the rich tapestry of realities that coexist around us. As we continue practicing yoga, meditation and tantric sadhana we expand our awareness beyond the constraints of the limited ego-mind and realize our truth as infinite and eternal Universal Consciousness. Now you are free and can forever remain established in your own self-born qualities such as bliss, joy and happiness.
