Can a human ever know absolute reality?

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   Emanate Presenceposted 11 years ago

   Can a human ever know absolute reality?
   
   Is it possible for an individual to escape the bubble of his own perceptions, beliefs and mental constructs and know universal truth?

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   Dorothee-Gyposted 11 years ago

   In my opinion, there isn't any universal truth. Everything comes to us through our own filters, our perception, our belief systems. We're just playing a huge, total-surround, 5-sense virtual reality game.
   
   Fun to play!

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      Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Fun answer, and thanks for playing!

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   Klavdija Frahmposted 11 years ago

   I can speak for myself - my bubble is too thick for something like that

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      Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I love it.

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   raciniwaposted 11 years ago

   No human has the capacity to know absolute reality, only bits and pieces that are manifestations of the immense power of the Universe...

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      Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Beautiful. Will enjoy to read more from you, raciniwa.

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   ShyShriposted 11 years ago

   In my personal opinion, we're the part and parcel of the absolute. Our life's aim is to know who we are. So, it's possible, and it should be the goal of every individual soul. It is not easy but possible. Many great saints have proved it.

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      Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Great comment. I look forward to more from you.
      
      I'm writing a hub on beliefs, perceptions, and the absolute. From my unfolding perspective....

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   kinz1posted 11 years ago

   yes, you can because I am one of those human being. It was God will than it was done.

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      Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Are you saying that God created you differently than everyone else--not in his own image, as the Christian bible says he has done? If so, why? And how do you know that you are different and can perceive and comprehend everything?

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      SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Perhaps it is God's will for all of us, just like the father of the prodigal son is joyous at any son's return. But it's up to us to choose to come Home.

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   MiseryHinataposted 11 years ago

   I think to some point everybody knows one universal truth or another. These truths are often times just warped by religion, culture, society, etc.For instance, I believe many know that kindness is important, everybody just shows it differently and teaches it differently. If that makes sense.

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      Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Makes perfect sense to me. Good points!

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   Laura Schneiderposted 11 years ago

   I think that, by defining that there IS a defining bubble around an individual, you've defined the answer as "no". This is because there's a bubble that encompases, by definition, "his own perceptions, beliefs and mental constructs," outside of which the human cannot be defined. Note that this question is predicated on the assumption of the existance of "universal truth" and "absolute reality," which in my mind are separate concepts, both of which would need to be understood by the human outside of his bubble in order for the answer to this question to be "yes".
   
   Either that or the answer is 42. (best guess)

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      Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Even if it assumes there is a bubble, it also assumes there may be a way through or around it. The human *could* be defined outside the beliefs by whatever it is that can go outside, yes? I like your perceptive response.

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      Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Pardon, but that's actually your central question: "CAN we escape the bubble?", not an assumption. Practically, you ask if we can be better than ourselves, to reach beyond ourselves: I think we all have that power, which "*could* be defined outside..

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   SidKempposted 11 years ago

   My own belief is that yes, one can, and, in fact, ultimately will. But it means letting go of everything we believe ourselves to be, even our idea of "human" as something different or special. Once we realize that each person is a unique expression of a universal Life or Reality, then the bubble of our perceptions, beliefs, and mental constructs becomes permeable. Then we can work to see it for what it is, and be free of it. Then the body and the life and the lifetime become tools for unique expression, not limitations on Life itself, or on Consciousness. In Zen terms, we dwell simultaneously in two consciousnesses, the Absolute and the Relative.
   
   It's not easy work, but well worth doing! For joy and bliss come with connecting to, and ultimately knowing, Ultimate Reality.

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      Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Marvelous insightful comment, Sid.
      'Letting go of the idea of what it means to be human' goes along with Laura's, 'outside of which the human cannot be defined.' It is time also I 'let go' of my aversion to being a follower, and follow your writings

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      Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Without some bubbles, though, wouldn't we be in danger? Aren't "unique" and "universal life or reality" opposites?
      
      Using a different approach, physics (thermodynamics, specifically): you can't observe something without changing it. So, answer is no.

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      Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Laura, your intelligent response is appreciated. To me, it is something for more dialog as in a forum. I'd love it! May I invite you to write more also in the hub just published, "What do you believe and why?"

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    eHealerposted 11 years ago

    Not that I am aware of, Emanate. Reality, by it's very definition, is someone's perception. So, your reality is YOUR reality, and mine, is MY reality. That old philosophical question, "if a tree falls down in a forest, and no one hears it, does it make a sound?" still sums up the definition of reality. What is perceived, and what is not perceived, is a determinant of reality defined. Universal truth is a collective belief that is shared by more than one person, and this is probably due to similar cultures, brain structures, and other similarities shared. A universal truth that is accepted by a large number of 6 year olds would be that Santa Clause Exists. Just an example.

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       Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Great, great comment. I would like to know more about you and will check your hubs.

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       Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Very practical and logical. I like the contrast of personal reality/perception with universal truth. Ex: do I see the exact "red" that you do when looking at it? If no, then our perceptions of universal truth are the same though our realities differ.

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    tsmogposted 11 years ago

    Answering the first I speculate the answer to be no, yet is conditional to not knowing the exactness of brain dead as experience. The time it takes for something sensed to reach that particular of brain function is a factor of time. Therefore the 'what' is sensed is always an experienced as recall and not now. Maybe the film 'Flatliner's may offer some insight with theory.
    
    The second question I ponder Glenda, the good witch of the North. Seems she understood bubbles best.

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    BeYOUtifuLifeposted 11 years ago

    I believe that we are ever expanding creations and that the knowing of universal truth yields to us in proportion to what we are willing to allow.  Universal truth is expansive so we as individuals are forever filling its expanse and knowing that this is part of our growth.

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       Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I really like that picture--"ever-expanding creations" as "part of our growth" into the expanding universal truth. Good answer, BeYOUtifuLife.

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       Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, beautifully written.

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    connorjposted 11 years ago

    
    
    Again this is a complexed question. I believe our knowledge of absolute reality will never be discerned until we pass on (brain dead). Our material (flesh) reality seems to be primarily a function of our central nervous system (primarily our brain) it seems to form our present reality...
    I must think about this more...

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       SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       ConnorJ - I encourage you to study the latest brain science / meditation mixes, esp. the HeartMath Institute and Joseph Chilton Pierce. Integrate heart-brain, pre-frontal cortex, neocortext, left, right, base, and belly brains, & get connected!

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    Randy M.posted 11 years ago

    We have layers of bubbles, as we do layers of our energy bodies.  By persistent and gentle use of the surfactant called meditation, we can pop these layers (which include our conditioning) and glimpse universal truths, and in some measure, can integrate that divinity into our being.

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       SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       No wonder I like soapy showers, jacuzzi baths, and meditation! Seriously, though, good metaphor. I'm guessing you've studies the Vedas, or Hindu sources?

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       Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       A completely new idea: popping our own bubbleS (plural)! Are bubbles bad, because the more we pop the closer we are to universal truths? Are the multiple universal truths multiple divinities (gods)? Fascinating! (Many more ??s than space permits).

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       SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       The Absolute is the Light that shines through water and air. The Relative is the water, the air, and the bubbles. No bad, no good. Dogen: a lIfetime  is a bubble in a stream, lighting in a summer storm. We're all just interference patterns!

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       Randy M.posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I have studied mainly Taoist works, and have had the benefit of s teacher who is versed across various eastern   spiritual traditions.

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       SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Wonderful to meet you, Randy M. I lead a Zen community, study taoism and across the board. I have found a wonderful qigong teacher. Let's learn together.

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    Sarah Christinaposted 11 years ago

    It is possible, although not likely. But anything is possible. This is a very difficult question to answer because of the character limit, so I can't go as far into things as I would like.
    
    Breaking outside of your own bubble of perception is a slow, painful process but worth it to a certain degree, if you choose to do so. The more points of view or perceptions that you are aware of, the more your own perception grows. This means getting to know and studying lot's of different people from different places and cultures. At the same time, you also have to destroy your own mental constructs and rebuild them. You will know it is happening because your brain will start to hurt--literally. You have to question everything. One way that someone put it to me was that you should look at everything in this world like you are an alien. That it is all foreign to you. And then attempt to relearn everything, so that you are no longer influenced by the bias of your parents, your culture, the world, etc. and this will lead you to greater truth. Even then, it is debatable if one has enough time in their life to ever expand their awareness to see the full picture of reality.
    
    Additionally, it is possible that some people have explored this path and have gone far, maybe some of the great philosophers, but we will never know. I befriended a person once who had gone this path, and made more progress than anyone I've met. However, this doesn't mean there aren't more people out there that have made it farther. I know my friend is certainly searching for them.
    
    I know he saw enough of reality that he couldn't explain it all to me. That is the consequence, unfortunately, of taking that path. The farther you break outside your own bubble, the further away you are from everyone else that is still in their bubble. My friend was a "bubble exploder" so to speak, but this left him feeling ultimately alone because he had yet to find anyone that had broken and expanded their awareness to his level. As you discover the truth and reality of things (and you aren't always right, you still make mistakes on this journey) the world becomes a frustrating place because no one will listen or they don't understand. They are trapped by their own perception. You begin to realize if you continue down this path, you will eventually reach a point when you can no longer relate to anyone at all. This isn't saying you are above them, but your awareness is. They haven't done their homework, so to speak.

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       SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       It does become more challenging as we go farther. But there are ways of remaining connected. Ask your friend to get in touch with me. I might be able to help him rebalance and continue on his journey while improving his ordinary connection.

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       Sarah Christinaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I would, but I am no longer in contact with them. The reasons are complicated but we decided to go our separate ways. I didn't agree with some of their beliefs, such as, that there isn't a God.

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       Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Your profound and honest insights are touching. "This is a very difficult... I can't go as far into things as I would like... The more points of view or perceptions that you are aware of...." There is a new question on HP about PD forum discussion...

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    shivanchirakkal10posted 11 years ago

    There are many people who them self said as saint, matha, ghuru, human god etc are claiming that they are divine people and they know universal truth. This people for their existence predict some event to be going to happen. Always such predicts are become wrong.
    The humanity developed much in their life style and education(knowledge). But I think the law of nature(Universal truth) is not in the control of human. The birth and death, happiness and sorrow, hot and cool, and whatever we seen and feel in nature is, the law of nature. The world's existence is in this.
    But, one of the small creature in the universe, we the human being think that every thing is under our foot.
    Dear Emanate Presence, you raised a good question. Thanks

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       SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Anyone who claims "I am a saint" is full of ego. Anyone who makes specific predictions of the future is lost in mind games. But that does not mean that there are not genuine saints, full of humility, who know that we are all shining with Divine Light

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       Sarah Christinaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, many people get caught up in their own egos, unfortunately, and become arrogant. On the path of seeking truth, one must keep themselves in check and continuously work at remaining humble.

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       Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Sarah Christina, this reminds me of the man who received a lapel pin medal as recognition for his humility. Then it had to be taken from him because he wore it....

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       Sarah Christinaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Nice, I like that story. Irony.

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    wba108@yahoo.composted 11 years ago

    Yes, but only through Jesus! He said-
    
    " you will know the truth and the truth will set you free".
    
    He also said -
    
    "I am the way, the truth and the life"
    
    Therefore our knowledge of absolute reality is possible through our knowledge by relationship with Jesus.

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       Emanate Presenceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I have been there so understand where you are coming from.

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       SidKempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, but do we have to know it is Jesus we are relating to? Or any time we live the Way, act on the Truth, and live the Life, are we one with Jesus?

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       wba108@yahoo.composted 11 years agoin reply to this

       SidKemp - I would say you would have to know it is Jesus because it says in the scriptures that : "Apart from me you can do nothing" . Based on this scripture and its context I would say that the only way to be one with Jesus is through relationship.

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       Byonder5posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Good answer! The clearest I have ever seen has been when I was touched with the Holy spirit.

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       Sarah Christinaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Me too! I agree.

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    studentsageposted 11 years ago

    Definitely not. No matter how much science we use to label the world, no matter how intelligent the person is who describes it, nobody really knows what this world is or who we are. I mean, 'human' is just a word we made up to call what it is we think we are.
    
    I can't help but think that no one knows anything, truly, in our world. Obviously there are 'truths' we know as 'fact'. But, someone had to have thought that up, made it so by their own idea of reality.
    
    At the same time, I'm awed by the fact that we've created these names for so many things, that we've sorted the words I'm writing now to such a degree that I could explain to you all my whole day, and have you understand what I did.
    
    "We are an impossibility in an impossible universe." - Ray Bradbury
    
    You can believe in anything, but I don't think we'll ever know the truth.

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