From the moment we are born and every following moment of our existence, our subjective understanding of reality consists of receiving and interpreting sensory input. The problem is not the hardware, our five senses all work correctly and accurately (with birth defects being the obvious exception). The hardware is fine, but the interpretation process is where the problem lies. 99.9% of the time, we work on the assumption that our five layers of sensory input are the sum total of reality.
But Eastern thought and quantum thought tell us differently. Even within the Christian world, while we do admit to the reality of God, his interaction with mankind and the prospect of eternity, these concepts are still held at arm’s length as “future” or, at best, an emotional accessory. The immediate reality upon which everyone works, is that of the financial here and now, retirement included. We work to buy things, to invest, to provide for our families, to prepare for retirement, and to enjoy the physical here and now. It simply is the framework within which everyone works and thinks.
So, what do we do when we come to realize that the physical here and now only accounts for 5% of reality? According to Eastern thought, all mankind is connected, i.e., the sin of anyone person adversely affects the whole of humanity, in a metaphysical way. We see when we meet someone and get an uneasy feeling, or, adversely, when we immediately “connect” with someone we meet.
The overall question here is responding to reality. When we move past the shallowness and distractedness of a mere temporal reality and begin to see life holistically, the result is disturbing. We find ourselves out of sync with the rest of society. The bright and shiny things of pop culture take on a paper cut-out feel. That which so easily distracted us in the past, now only leaves us empty. Like a child learning to walk, we need to grow up and learn to live as genuine human beings.
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