“How do our perceptions correspond with base level reality?” PART 2
‘How does thinking about this metaphysical stuff impact my life? What does it even matter, if it matters at all?”
The implications of such a metaphysical understanding are not simply intriguing but can indeed be transformative for the lived experience. They invite us to rethink the nature of our interactions with the world and ourselves and can profoundly alter our perception of reality, consciousness, and human potential.
Our understanding of the world, or our “metaphysics,” greatly influences the way we perceive, interact with, and live in the world. We often take for granted that our perceptions offer an accurate depiction of reality, not realizing that they are but an encoded representation, a simplified version of the complex base reality of what actually is.
The representation is not only influenced by our bio-cognitive limitations but also by the metaphysical assumptions we carry from the culture we find ourselves in. These assumptions - often unconsciously acquired - shape our perception and put limits on what we are capable of experiencing. If we assume, as we often do in the West, that the physical world is the ultimate reality, external to us, we may overlook the richness and depth of human experience that lies beyond the physical realm.
However, if we shift our metaphysical understanding, as proposed in Part 1, and consider base reality as being wholly mental in nature, this could potentially revolutionize our experience of life. First, it can help us to appreciate the interconnectedness of all things. For, if everything is composed of the same substrate - consciousness - then we are inherently connected to the world around us, including other people, animals, and even inanimate objects, i.e., we are consciousness, and consciousness is us. This realization fosters a greater sense of empathy, compassion, and interconnectedness, promoting a more harmonious relationship with our universe and all of its inhabitants.
Second, this metaphysical perspective promotes introspection and self-understanding. If our reality is solely a product of consciousness, it behooves us to better understand our minds. Why? Because, practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and other introspective practices take on more meaning as we recognize their power to shape our realities.
Third, this understanding can help to relieve existential anxiety. Often, we feel isolated, alone- insignificant in a vast, indifferent universe. But when we recognize our consciousness is indeed a piece of the fundamental substrate of all that is “reality,” that we are integral to the universe, not mere insignificant specks within it- this can lead to a profound sense of belonging and purpose.
Finally, embracing a consciousness-based metaphysical view can allow us to explore new frontiers of human potential. If our consciousness is not merely a bi-product, or epiphenomenon, of our “physical” brains, but rather is instead yet another wave in the ocean of all that is, it implies that we might have capacities that extend well beyond what our current cultural and “scientific” paradigm says is possible. This might even include capacities for intuition, telepathy, or other "psi" phenomena, which would certainly make more sense if our minds are indeed an interconnected part of the very fabric of reality.
Adopting a consciousness-based metaphysical view, as suggested by the latest scientific developments and ancient philosophical traditions, can have profound implications for our lived lives. This view promotes a sense of connectedness, introspection, and existential ease, and can open the door of possibility to explore all untapped human potential with fewer constraints. By shifting our metaphysical understanding, we can not only redefine our perception of reality but also enrich our experience within it. In short, we can be transformed from mere observers of physical reality to active co-creators of a conscious universe.
What is more, it is worth noting that the materialist worldview is fairly recent to human existence. Can you imagine a person living in a village, either in the jungle or savanna, believing there was some separation between herself and all of nature? Of course not! You yourself only need to experience an expanded state of consciousness, let’s say with a moderate to strong journey with psilocybin or ayahuasca, to return from that journey with the feeling that the separation of yourself from the rest of existence is the real illusion.
The ancient mystics, either through dialectic inquiry, devotion, and/ or mystical states, all came to this same conclusion. The Yogācāra school of Mahayana Buddhism, often called the "Mind-Only" school, holds that all phenomena are manifestations of “mind.” Advaita Vedanta teaches non-dualism, emphasizing that the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are one, and this ultimate reality is considered to be nothing but pure consciousness. The ancient Greek-Egyptian wisdom tradition known as Hermeticism proposes the idea of "The All" being fundamentally mental in nature, hence the Hermetic adage "All is Mind, The Universe is Mental." Taoism does not explicitly state that all is mind, rather that ultimate reality is ineffable and transcends distinctions such as the “physical” and the “mental.” Neo-Platonism suggests the existence of "The One," an incomprehensible, all-encompassing reality from which everything else emanates. Other forms of mysticism, including Christian, Jewish (Kabbalah), and Islamic (Sufi) mystic traditions, often suggest a non-dual reality where the ultimate truth or divine is not separate from the self or the world, which can be interpreted as a form of "all is mind."
What is strange is that in the West, we have manufactured this artificial distinction between ourselves and the rest of creation, which is a great cause of our suffering. So yes, our metaphysical understanding has profound implications for our well-being and experience of the world.