HOW We See Reality Versus WHAT We See In Reality

Updated Aug 26, 2014

WORK IN PROGRESS:
This post is a work in progress and is subject to changes, revisions, edits and deletions. I've presented it here to give you an idea of a general concept; however, I'm not sure I've done a very good job explaining it. Please bear with me as I continue to work through this.

The Bible and The Quran both talk about the blind being able to see (Isaiah 35:5, NIV and Quran 3:49, Sahih). 

There are two ways that we can see. The first is HOW we see reality and the second is WHAT we see in reality. Let me explain:

1. HOW We See Reality:
• This has to do with perception of reality. For example, if I see deer in the back yard, I may see it as a bad thing because I don't want deer eating my flowers. But if I go through a change in the perception of my reality, my eyes will be opened and I'll perceive reality in a new way. I'll see that the deer symbolize bestowal and peacefulness, therefore I'll see them as a good thing. It's the same event, just perceived differently.
• Another example is that I often write about being immersed in the quality of selfishness. At the same time, I write about already being in bestowal. This may seem like a contradiction, but it's not. Today, we're all immersed in selfishness, we haven't gone through a change in the perception our reality. When we do, we'll eventually realize that we were always in bestowal. It's the same events perceived differently. This is HOW we see reality. Our eyes will be opened to a new perception of reality.
• Note that in this world we grow from childhood to adulthood. When we go through a change in the perception of our reality, we also grow from childhood to adulthood.
2. WHAT We See In Reality:
• There are a number things that may affect WHAT we see in reality:
• a) Our Individual Growth and Development:
• We're born as infants and we grow to become adults. As we grow our needs change. For example, when we're babies we 'see' pacifiers, when we're toddlers we 'see' toys, when we're school children we 'see' books, when we're young adults we 'see' relationships, when we're adults we see 'jobs, families and houses' etc. What we see in reality changes - depending on our age, growth and development. The things we 'see' may have always been there, but we weren't old enough to really 'see' them. For example, a baby may play with car keys, but she doesn't really understand what a car is or what keys are.
• Note that in this world we grow from childhood to adulthood and what we 'see' depends on our age, growth and development. When we go through a change in the perception of our reality, we also grow from childhood to adulthood and what we 'see' in the new perception of reality, also depends on our age, growth and development in that new perception of reality.
• b) Desire And Fulfillment:
• Imagine that you need a ruler but you don't have one, then you forget all about it. A week later, you find a ruler on the ground, the ruler 'appears' and you remember, 'I need a ruler'. So you pick it up and use it. You had a desire and it was fulfilled. I'm not saying that you should keep everything you find, not at all. There are instances when it's appropriate to return things that you find. However, sometimes, things are just given to you because you desire them. Desire and fulfillment affects WHAT we see in reality.
• c) Timelines:
• Unbeknownst to us, we move through timelines and the different timelines have subtle differences. For example, sometimes you may notice that things are missing. Let's say you're at home and you're looking for your favourite cup, but you can't find it anywhere. Was it left in a previous timeline? Missed in a general <select all>, <copy> and <paste>? As you look for it, you desire it. Later that day you find it in an obscure place. Did they go back and get it? Missing laundry socks fall into this category.
• Sometimes it's about noticing new things. For example, let's say you're at home looking out the window and for the first time you notice that there's a bird's nest in the tree outside. You think, 'Was it always there? How come I never noticed it before? Is it new?'
• Moving through timelines affects WHAT we see in reality. 
• d) The Mirror Effect:
• This one is kind of weird, so brace yourself and don't be afraid. Imagine that you're standing next to someone and you can see them, but they can't see you. You assume that they can see you, but they can't. They exist is your world, but you don't exist in their world. Now imagine if it were the other way around, if other people could see you, but you couldn't see them. You exist in their world, but they don't exist in your world. This may have to do with The Mirror Effect, the fact that reality is a mirror of who we are. What we see on the outside is a reflection of who we are on the inside. The Mirror Effect affects WHAT we see in reality.
• Another example is that you may be able to see things that other people can't or other people may be able to see things that you can't. For example, let's say you're sitting with your friend and you see a dog walk by and she doesn't or perhaps she sees a car drive by and you don't. You're living in two different worlds because of The Mirror Effect.
• e) Other Factors:
• There may be other factors that affect WHAT we see in reality.

Now of course everything is interconnected - our growth and development, desires and fulfillments, movements through timelines and The Mirror Effect. They don't exist exclusively of each other. For example, as you grow you may get to an age when you need a ruler, the desire is fulfilled and you 'find' a ruler, you may have moved through timelines to 'find' it, and the ruler you find on the outside becomes a mirror of the ruler you desired on the inside.

There's a difference between HOW we see reality and WHAT we see in reality. While it may seem very confusing, it's actually quite simple - in everything we do, we should seek to benefit others instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2014, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.