Reality Tunnels, Naive Realism, & the Cosmic Schmuck...
The moment I was old enough to comprehend death was the moment I became a philosopher. I've studied numerous religions and schools of thought, spending decades (yes, decades, plural) trying to understand life, death, cultures, and the universe...
I'm not easily offended, but on two occasions, two different (but very similar) people told me I have no concept of reality and that my brain doesn't function in the real world... For a moment I was quite insulted, but then I realized what Cosmic Schmucks and Naive Realists they were, and then I began to feel sorry for them...
The fact of the matter (or at least how I perceive it) is that there is no one set reality. Robert Anton Wilson speaks best on the subject of Reality Tunnels, which is a theory I've gone by for years before I've even heard of it. What the theory states is that everyone has their own Reality Tunnel which we've created for ourselves and has been influenced by our parents and society and the way we were raised. That which applies to us becomes a part of our Reality Tunnel and that which doesn't apply to us gets "filtered out" as meaningless or nonsense or false or garbage. Those with a narrow Reality Tunnel only know what they know, and reality to them is only what they can perceive with their senses and narrow view. (Such is the case with the two people mentioned above.) These people are also Naive Realists. "This is the way things are." ("The grass is green because that is what I see.") Naive Realists are doomed to never be able to understand anything other than themselves and their own beliefs. They'll always be frustrated with the world and people around them, and will never be able to conceive how anyone else can have a different belief or perception of reality, or thoughts or feelings that depart from their own. (Unless of course they decide to change their outlook, which for them will likely be difficult and a lot of work.) These people are also called Cosmic Schmucks. They'll never know anything but themselves and likely will not contribute anything very useful...
Those who have a Reality Tunnel with less or no "filters" will be able to perceive and understand concepts, theories, beliefs, opinions, etc. that differ from their own. They can accept that what they believe may not be what is, and their view of things can easily be changed. "This is what I perceive." ("The grass seems to be green.") Those who have a broader Reality Tunnel will also realize that they are just looking at the universe in their own way, and will realize others have their own Reality Tunnels which may be vastly different from their own. If you can truly grasp the concept of every person having their own Reality Tunnel, you will have infinite patience, infinate forgiveness, and infinite acceptance of others, and will never be angry with others because you realize they are just feeling, thinking, acting, etc., according to their own perception of reality. (Of course, it's sometimes a challenge to keep that in mind.)
The grass is only green because that is what you perceive it to be.
That's your reality.
But if a dog could speak, the dog would say, "No, the grass is NOT green, it's gray."
And if a moose could speak, the moose would say, "No, the grass is NOT green OR gray, it's red."
If everyone would realize that reality is based on our individual perceptions and that there is no "IS," then perhaps everyone will get along and use their energy for something positive... People have been battling each other for millennia based on what they believe "IS" rather than taking into consideration the possibility that there is no one set reality or truth...
I'm not easily offended, but on two occasions, two different (but very similar) people told me I have no concept of reality and that my brain doesn't function in the real world... For a moment I was quite insulted, but then I realized what Cosmic Schmucks and Naive Realists they were, and then I began to feel sorry for them...
The fact of the matter (or at least how I perceive it) is that there is no one set reality. Robert Anton Wilson speaks best on the subject of Reality Tunnels, which is a theory I've gone by for years before I've even heard of it. What the theory states is that everyone has their own Reality Tunnel which we've created for ourselves and has been influenced by our parents and society and the way we were raised. That which applies to us becomes a part of our Reality Tunnel and that which doesn't apply to us gets "filtered out" as meaningless or nonsense or false or garbage. Those with a narrow Reality Tunnel only know what they know, and reality to them is only what they can perceive with their senses and narrow view. (Such is the case with the two people mentioned above.) These people are also Naive Realists. "This is the way things are." ("The grass is green because that is what I see.") Naive Realists are doomed to never be able to understand anything other than themselves and their own beliefs. They'll always be frustrated with the world and people around them, and will never be able to conceive how anyone else can have a different belief or perception of reality, or thoughts or feelings that depart from their own. (Unless of course they decide to change their outlook, which for them will likely be difficult and a lot of work.) These people are also called Cosmic Schmucks. They'll never know anything but themselves and likely will not contribute anything very useful...
Those who have a Reality Tunnel with less or no "filters" will be able to perceive and understand concepts, theories, beliefs, opinions, etc. that differ from their own. They can accept that what they believe may not be what is, and their view of things can easily be changed. "This is what I perceive." ("The grass seems to be green.") Those who have a broader Reality Tunnel will also realize that they are just looking at the universe in their own way, and will realize others have their own Reality Tunnels which may be vastly different from their own. If you can truly grasp the concept of every person having their own Reality Tunnel, you will have infinite patience, infinate forgiveness, and infinite acceptance of others, and will never be angry with others because you realize they are just feeling, thinking, acting, etc., according to their own perception of reality. (Of course, it's sometimes a challenge to keep that in mind.)
The grass is only green because that is what you perceive it to be.
That's your reality.
But if a dog could speak, the dog would say, "No, the grass is NOT green, it's gray."
And if a moose could speak, the moose would say, "No, the grass is NOT green OR gray, it's red."
If everyone would realize that reality is based on our individual perceptions and that there is no "IS," then perhaps everyone will get along and use their energy for something positive... People have been battling each other for millennia based on what they believe "IS" rather than taking into consideration the possibility that there is no one set reality or truth...
posted by Strange Little Girl at 3:03 PM
