First I want to acknowledge the author, Lewis Carroll, for his extremely entertaining and thought provoking work well known by the same title. It is a common and often written theme, the world of imagination that exists solely in our minds becomes part of the real world when, in reality, it is nothing more than a reflection of our thoughts. It looks real but our thoughts stop behind the mirror. What we see is a mirror image of reality which opens a window between our imaginations and reality. The image is real, though reversed, but the thoughts behind the image are illusions until proven otherwise.
Humankind needs to look upon that reversed image as a huge warning sign. Putting thoughts into actions based on what one sees in the mirror can have grave consequences. History is a record of how grave those consequences can be. Authors like Carroll get caught up in the illusion and it becomes part of the real world for many. The fact is our imaginations should never leave the mirror until they have been proven to be based in reality. That proof is not always easy. Perceived reality can be part of the illusion which is why we must always seek new knowledge about the universe we actually live in
Far too often, humankind grasps the reflected image and sees it as reality because it is the reality the person or persons want it to be. Find enough people who feel the same and it becomes reality for everyone around them and they now have all the proof they need. Of course it is not based on reality so they immediately encounter others who feel otherwise and that usually ends up in some sort of mayhem that has no connection to reality at all. The question we all have to ask ourselves is, no matter which technique is used, "are things getting any better for us all?" The answer is not clear at this current point in human kinds evolution.
One thing is clear, when we apply the scientific approach,which means observe what we can, do the research, compare our thoughts, conduct experiments and put the results into action humankind advances, sometimes dramatically. I defy anyone to produce one case where concepts that have progressed based solely on the illusion of imagination has improved the conditions for our species or any other species. The question now is, "Why in hell don't we use the scientific method for everything?" The simple answer, read "Through the Looking Glass".
There is a "Catch 22" here. Improving things for the species often means sacrifice or deprivation for those who have made a fortune on concepts that are illusional. Wealth is an illusion, poverty is not. I defy anyone who has experienced both to disagree. I enjoy the illusion myself when given the opportunity but it is not the way to run a railroad. Do not justify the illusion and we will see a lot more balance on this planet.
If there is some confusion about what I am trying to say, developing the software that powers most of the worlds computers is not an illusion the wealth it accumulates is. Those that apply the scientific process and end up accumulating wealth because of it tend to be the largest among the philanthropist's. This is not a coincidence. Those that use the scientific method use it for all aspects of their lives.
I could end this page right here because I believe I have made my point but there is a lot more to this which does explain, to some degree, why we are attracted to the illusion more than the reality with the leading cause being simplicity. We even seek simplicity when we apply the scientific method and it is a warning sign. No one can testify to that any more than Stephen Hawking can. We have so much to learn from this man.
His genius is a big part but his very existence tells us even more. The best medical science can do is say his is "an unusual case". The fact he has lived 10 times longer than anyone else with his condition is not "unusual", it approaches miraculous and it is not his concept of spirituality that keeps him going. It is his desire to know made all that more imperative by his belief there is no existence beyond this mortal life we currently live. If someone convinced him there was more, especially reincarnation, one would think he would give his fight up quickly but that is also a simplistic answer.
The man is capable of and has no doubt achieved levels of meditation none of us can comprehend. Those of us who have achieved high levels of meditation all have one thing in common, we become far more spiritual as a result. His ability to meditate, which he may not himself recognize, could give him God like qualities and maybe it has. Here is the difference. Stephen Hawking applies the scientific method to every thought he has. I don't think the man has a choice. He will do nothing that science does not support.
I also believe or to be more accurate, hypothesize, the disease he has, has damaged his ability to connect to his spirit. My hypothesis is our spiritual essence connects (for lack of a better word) to our physical body in the lower hemisphere of our brain which is the part that is affected by ALS.
Those that read this who have a knowledge of science know the simplicity I am addressing, the concept of singularity, which Hawking later proved was overly simplistic. There is nothing simplistic about this universe we live in and our attempts via illusion to make it simplistic lead us all astray even when there is some scientific evidence to support them. All we can do is recognize simplicity when we see it and when we do, an alarm bell should go off.
If you follow any religious belief, new age thought, political belief or other simplistic concept, your alarm bells should be keeping you awake at night. One of the ironies here is the New Agers consider themselves plurality thinkers while they call those of more traditional beliefs, duality thinkers. The only plurality thinkers on this planet are those who apply the scientific method to any thought they originate. Duality thinking, rather than being an insult is a complement. It at least acknowledges there are two distinct possibilities. Duality thinking still falls far short of plurality thinking. There is very little plurality thinking going on, on the current world we live on.
I think I have no doubt managed to insult most of the human beings living on this planet. With all the knowledge there is to be had and the obvious fact the scientific method is the only method that should be used for all original thought, the current conditions we find ourselves in warrant most of you feeling insulted. Do something about it.
a recent encounter with an individual who elevates all life on this planet to the same level is a perfect example of overly simplistic thinking. Like all simplistic thinking it flies in the face of scientific observation and reasoning. The biggest single clue anyone can ever have when dealing with anyone hellbent on turning an illusion into reality, is they close their minds to all new information. The clever ones do analyze other points of view and apply whatever technique they know to discredit the other persons thoughts on the subject.
Stephen Hawking invested every part of his being in the concept of singularity but still had the presence of mind, because he always keeps one foot solidly in reality (hell he couldn't move it if he tried and I am not talking ALS here), to change his research and ultimately his point of view. Everyone of you out there who isn't sure whether you are a singular thinker needs to ask yourself one question, "Would anything change my conclusions?" If you are not sure or are unwilling to even consider the possibility, odds are everything you believe is probably an illusion. You are trapped behind the looking glass.
Illusion over the short term, which could be a complete lifetime, in my belief system, is a mere drop in the bucket. It feels great and fills your ego as you strut about brimming with way too much self confidence. That sure as hell doesn't make it right. Wealth is an illusion, It is an illusion that can improve the reality of so many other people. Simple question, if you are wealthy, "does yours?" Live in your illusion as long as it causes no one else to suffer but please stop calling it reality and expect others to follow suit.
One last point. In an above paragraph I mentioned a person who elevates all life on this planet to the same level. That is not a widely shared point of view but I respect it though I totally disagree. It is simply on the wrong side of the looking glass. No one arrives at that point without putting a lot of thought into getting there and, for that, I applaud them. What it shows is how far astray any of us can be led when we go through the looking glass. Meditation is the easiest path through the looking glass and once through, everything all seems to make sense though there is an alarm bell going off somewhere. Alice could hear that bell and kept one foot grounded in reality just as Stephen Hawking has. We all need to go through the looking glass but please keep a foot firmly planted in reality.
When it comes to the equality of life, I need to define the reality in order to make my point. Evolution of life is blatantly obvious even if your faith dictates removing humankind from the equation. Life is not equal whether that be by design or the result of pure chaos. My hypothesis is evolution happens by design even though what little proof there is does not suggest that. Observation, experimentation, studies, thousands of hours of discussions by scientists and others trained in the field prove life evolves. Lesser life forms lead to more advanced life forms with humankind sitting at the top of the process on this planet.
The sheer size of the universe dictates we are not alone. Hawking agrees but here is where we part ways. He feels we need to be wary of other life forms. My hypothesis, they too are the product of evolution and there is enough evidence to support the conclusion, that as life evolves its tendency to mayhem decreases so I believe we have nothing to fear at all. The very fact we have a growing number of people on this planet who seek to protect all life adds further creditability to my observation. To the person who sparked this study, I agree that all life should be honored as we can, but not because it is equal and it certainly isn't sentient down to the simplest of structures. Science needs to find the point where life becomes sentient for moral reasons.
Science unfortunately pays little attention to the spiritual component of existence. Like we did with the Higgs Boson, we need to put a lot more money and research into it. Discovering a new boson may very well soon give us the ability to synthesize all the food we need from pure energy. That is where all we consume comes from now. All we would be doing is changing the process. That does not make this new boson the "God particle". Our spirits, should they exist, are the "God particle". It is time we prove whether they exist or not. I believe they do but I will accept the fact they don't exist if they don't. Can you?
No comments:
Post a Comment