Our experiences and interactions of the world are shaped by our thoughts. No two people are identical in their experiences, interactions or thoughts, thus the world is unique to each of us. Our reference point for the world is called our outlook or perspective. Perspective, however, is not true reality; it’s just one view point out of the potential many.
Two people look at a flower; one happy, the other sad. The way they see and relate to flower is different. The happy person smiles, seeing joy and vitality, the sad person feels lonely, seeing isolation and previous better times. These external reflections are based on internal conditions and emotions. The flower’s reality is unchanging regardless of perspective.
We live through reflection, rather than the reality of direct experience. Our internal state is mirrored back through the external world when we connect with sense objects. Part of the practice is to see ‘through’ the blinkers of reflection and connect with direct nature. This is seeing things in themselves, removing all thought and concepts, allowing the truth to radiate.
We see this self-reflection or self meeting in our practice and spiritual relations. Talking with another, our perceptions of the other are limited by our own understanding, and abilities. It’s impossible to see beyond our own understanding, others may actually be well beyond us, but we can only see them at our level. To demonstrate, imagine 3 lines, 1 under another; 1 short, 1 medium and 1 long. The short line when it looks below, can not see the true length of the medium or long lines, it can only see to it’s own level;- What it sees is a reflection of itself.
Hindus understand this, when meeting someone, they bow; the idea is in the meeting of two persons, the Self actually meets Itself, it doesn’t meet another. Alan Watts in The Book
In other words, everyone, everything and every activity you undertake, is done in reflection to you, with an out come of 2 values; either like or dislike. All interactions like or dislike, are judged against values, these values are your self.
Look around your world, what do you see? Examine how this relates to your inside world. If you want to change your external world, place and focus your energies on resolving your internal world. Your external world will seemingly change itself, just like a reflection.
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By the same token, shouldn’t there be a reflection of reality within ourselves? Isn’t this essentially a fundamental concept of Buddhism? To be so truly in tune with reality that reality manifests itself in you?
I suppose that’s more of a train of thought to take after you’ve taken care of the internal side of things though… Should you be truly aware of the internalism of affairs and can get them in order, then there should really be no reflection on the outside world, but only vice versa?
Hi Marcus,
You are reality;, intune, outoftune, you’re always reality. You’re never out of it, you can not be out of it, you are apart of it, in the present moment, for now and for ever.
As Thich Nhat Hanh says…”We have to allow the truth to penetrate, because if we have ideas, that might be, an obstacle. And the secret of Buddhism is to remove all ideas, all concepts, in order for the truth to have a chance, to penetrate, to reveal itself”
We are nothing but manifestations of reality; this is Tao.
Peace,
Wade
That is an interesting view. Is it safe to say that we really do live in our own little world, since everything is a reflection of self?
I am in the process of learning or shall I say investingating the Law of Attraction. I know the universe is an endless and timeless resource but to just receive because one has simply asked with no other efforts made???
Do you have any views on this?
Lucid
Hi Lucid,
Thank you for all your comments on the blog, and your question here. I’ve been thinking about it most of today, as well as on and off for a few months…Here’s what I’ve got for you.
We all part of the same big world, We are not our Bodies or Minds, we at the same time live in our own little world and in the greater world. We are both alive internally and externally. There is no “I” to begin with, this is Ego’s delusion. We are taught by society to play a certain role. Reality is so much greater than this. Ego creates the self and other, once it is removed, there is nothing that is not-us left.
LoA does work, but it’s not as catchy as the DVD makes out. Initially what it’s trying to do is make you accept that you manifest your own reality. Knowing you are in control of your life, and then wanting something, and focusing all your time and energy thinking about it, you naturally make it work. If you want a new car so badly, you’ll be on the look out for odd jobs and extra money, eventually the item manifests itself, not through the universe, but your own work.
The LoA, gets you creating your own reality but forgets to tell you that you’re the one who does the work to get the items to manifest, it skips this step, and then points to the fuzzies in the sky.
We all live in the world together, we are all co-creators of the world, no single person controls everything, we are even only able to control our own circumstances to a certain point….
You won’t want to get sick, but it’ll happen regardless….There’s no LoA for such biological process.
My 1 liner with LoA is to do with gambling in any form. You want to win at the races/lottery/poker/black jack, LoA it all you want, however, the odds don’t change, and you don’t go home rich. If LoA was all it took, we’d all be rich and society would be in shambles.
Check out this YouTube Video, for a great take on the LoA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=q__fc7NKwlY
Peace and Love,
Wade
That video has been removed from youtube, for an alleged terms of use violation….
Thanks for that Pereldan. Try below;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNO97wUlKUk
Peace,
Wade