What Is Reality?

"Philosophy is dead," said Stephen Hawking, the renowned theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and mathematician [1]. This famous phrase caused quite a stir and much criticism because of the context in which the statement was being viewed.

As a theoretical physicist, Hawking made use of lots of abstractions, rationalizations, predictions, and explanations, all of which are based on philosophy, and helped advance what we now call science. In fact, science used to be called natural philosophy. Science slowly became a branch separate from philosophy as different methods of study and information organization started to emerge. In the process, what could not be captured or measured by “science” stayed in “philosophy,” while each time science was able to measure or study a new construct, it started to shift slowly from philosophy to science.[2]

As time has passed, we have been able to measure abstract constructs and study them more rigorously in science. This has been made possible by a number of more sophisticated tools in more sophisticated branches of science like string theory, theoretical physics, cosmology, and theoretical mathematics. In other words, what used to belong strictly to philosophy can now be reliably demonstrated in science.

As such, we seem to be going back to how it all started—philosophy and science as one [3]. And Hawking was alluding to this truth when he economized his words and simply said, “Philosophy is dead.” What he really meant was that science is uniting back with philosophy to measure and study some of the most crucial aspects of the universe, of human beings, and of life.

This reunification can be illustrated through the rigorous scientific studies on constructs like empathy, decision-making, mind, consciousness, and yes, the nature of reality itself.

Physics is one of the most fundamental scientific disciplines, whose goal is to understand how the universe behaves [4]. Einstein’s statement, “The Human being is a part of the whole, called by us, universe … He separates himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness,” points to the fact that we are all one with the universe, and he was making this statement as a scientist and only as such. Indeed, we can look at the latest in physics to help us with insight about ourselves, about how we navigate ourselves in the world, and about what reality is and is not.

Seeing means seeing what is real, what’s true, what the truth is, and what reality is. Almost everyone would likely say that “truth,” or “reality,” is relative and subjective, and they would be correct in the sense that everyone’s “truth,” “reality,” or “world” does come from within, from his or her own mind, which is then projected unto the outside, which he or she then observes.

David Bohm, one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century, said, “Thought creates the world and then says, ‘I didn’t do it [5].’” In other words, we have our attack thoughts, we project them on the outside, we inevitably live their effects, and say, “Why me?” “It’s all their fault.” “If only this, or that, or if only they were different.” So, yes, we each live our own “truth,” our own “world,” and our own “reality.” However, it is “truth” with a lowercase “t,” it is “world” with a lowercase “w,” and it is “reality” with a lowercase “r.” Each one of them is the product of our mind being operated from a foundation of illusion.

It is a foundation of illusion because our mind draws from our ordinary or normal blueprint which consists of our genetic make-up, our experiences/environment, and is coupled with our epigenetics. Our ordinary or normal blueprint is based on the past, which, as Einstein says, is a “stubbornly persistent illusion.” This means that each time our brain is using our ordinary or normal blueprint as its foundation, it will be operating from a basis of illusion, and our “world,” our “reality,” and our “truth,” will be but an illusion.

Nonetheless, there is “Reality,” with a capital “R,” there is “Truth,” with a capital “T” and yes, there is a “World” with a capital “W.” Now, this Truth, this Reality, and this World, operate through a different blueprint—the natural blueprint. It operates through a different type of perception, which is not perceiving, but rather, seeing. It is harmony, instead of attack thoughts or defenses. And, it operates through a different mechanism—extension, instead of projection.

Fortunately, our mind has access to this Reality. In fact, it is in our mind, and it is part of our mind. It has simply been overshadowed by our illusion-based thinking. As such, all it takes is a shift. This shift consists of the decision, the determination, the willingness, and the commitment to perceive differently, to perceive reality, and to be in harmony.

Philosophy Essential Reads

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Daniel C. Dennett: Tribute to A Philosophical Giant

Here is the following triad that we are now aware of:

1. We’ve been navigating the world based on an illusory thought system.
2. We can shift to a reality-based thought system.
3. All it takes is a shift.

This is enough to empower us. And this is the tip of the iceberg. For each time we move up to the next level of awareness, we get to see more, we get to be more, and we get to enjoy more.

Nonetheless, it does entail a daily commitment to at least create a habit formation system that allows reality to permeate every single fiber of your body. The results of all of this include and are not limited to:

1. Freedom
2. Peace
3. Joy
4. Aliveness
5. Fulfillment
6. Self-actualization
7. Authentic success

These results will be for you, for your loved ones, and for your clients.

It is time for us to become acquainted with an awareness-based system that is available to everyone and that does not require years of practice before reaping its benefits. It is time for all of us to be committed to master a model that is guaranteed to cease suffering for everyone who is willing to make the shift.

Are you up to It?