Here is a point that crops up now and then in our discussion on happiness. What is our real Self in opposition to the self that appears to be real and yet is not! In Indian Philosophy, the example of rope and snake is very much discussed to bring out the difference between the two. A person who sees a snake in front of him or her realizes on closer inspection that it was actually only a rope. What is real and what is apparent? Rope or snake? The person's first impression that it was a snake may have been due to lack of light or he or she was distracted at the moment etc. Thus, rope is real and snake was only apparent,i.e., it appeared to be real, though it was not. Yet, the person's fright was real though occasioned by an unreal thing. The underlying reality, i.e., the rope was real though it was not perceved as rope, but as a snake. The problem was with the perception of the person and when it was corrected, reality dawned upon him. In the same way, our way of understanding reality has to be examined in order to discern the real from the apparent.
Similarly, are our dreams real? Psychology would see them as the effect of our lived experience in the sense that what could not be manifested or attained in our conscious state is lived through subconsciously in our dreams. In dreams we are on the borderline between the conscious and the unconscious bringing out into the open what had been suppressed in our conscious life and stored in our subconscious level of the mind. As long as we are in dream, they are real to us and they become unreal the moment we wake up. Something similar happens in our spiritual life. When we are steeped in our daily concerns of life, usually we are asleep to the reality to perceive which we have to wake up. Jesus warned his disciples on many occasions to keep awake and at the garden of Gethsemane he cautioned Peter, James and John to keep watching and praying (Matthew 26:40). The reason for this injunction is that unless they do so they would enter into temptation as the flesh is weak though the spirit is willing. They proved him right by running away when Jesus was arrested.
What is the solution, then, for seeing things right in order to perceive reality as against appearances? Let us take another example of a traveller in the desert seeing a mirage. Being very thirsty, the traveller hastens to get some water to the place the mirage was seen. On reaching the spot, the person finds no water and is dismayed. This happens due to lack of scientific knowledge that would have explained what looked like water at a distance (mirage) was the result of heat waves rising up. This is also the case in our perception of the Sun going around the earth when science tells us it is the earth that goes around the Sun. From the above given examples, it is clear that to discern reality from appeance one should have understnding (Intellect that is like light) or awakening (Consciousness) or scientific knowledge (Reason).
When it is a question of attaining perfect happiness, we cannot be satisfied with piecemeal knowledge through understanding, awakening and scientific knowledge.Since the whole person is involved in perfect happiness, our method for discerning reality from appearance also has to be wholesome. This is achieved through a radical transformation of our own personality vis-a-vis our objects of perception. This kind of transformation of our personality is possible only through the action of the Divine Spirit. The only requirement from our part is the willingness to be open to the fulness of reality to invade us. If we are too attached to the attractions of this world, we are chained and are slaves to whatever has a hold on us. To be free from slavery and be masters of our own selves is the result of the action of the Divine Spirit in us. As a result, we would be able to see things as God sees them and in the process transforming our lives.(see next post on "The Ways of God"). As God sees everything as they are and not their appearances, we too would be able to see things as they are as against their appearances. Once this is achieved, perfect happiness is ours for ever inspite of unhappy happenings taking place in our lives. Jesus proclaimed the Gospel (meaning the Good News) saying that the Kingdom of God is at hand and that all must repent (be transformed). The perfect happiness we propose is comprehensively realized in the Kingdom of God that starts in our life here and now to be completed in the life to come.
Similarly, are our dreams real? Psychology would see them as the effect of our lived experience in the sense that what could not be manifested or attained in our conscious state is lived through subconsciously in our dreams. In dreams we are on the borderline between the conscious and the unconscious bringing out into the open what had been suppressed in our conscious life and stored in our subconscious level of the mind. As long as we are in dream, they are real to us and they become unreal the moment we wake up. Something similar happens in our spiritual life. When we are steeped in our daily concerns of life, usually we are asleep to the reality to perceive which we have to wake up. Jesus warned his disciples on many occasions to keep awake and at the garden of Gethsemane he cautioned Peter, James and John to keep watching and praying (Matthew 26:40). The reason for this injunction is that unless they do so they would enter into temptation as the flesh is weak though the spirit is willing. They proved him right by running away when Jesus was arrested.
What is the solution, then, for seeing things right in order to perceive reality as against appearances? Let us take another example of a traveller in the desert seeing a mirage. Being very thirsty, the traveller hastens to get some water to the place the mirage was seen. On reaching the spot, the person finds no water and is dismayed. This happens due to lack of scientific knowledge that would have explained what looked like water at a distance (mirage) was the result of heat waves rising up. This is also the case in our perception of the Sun going around the earth when science tells us it is the earth that goes around the Sun. From the above given examples, it is clear that to discern reality from appeance one should have understnding (Intellect that is like light) or awakening (Consciousness) or scientific knowledge (Reason).
When it is a question of attaining perfect happiness, we cannot be satisfied with piecemeal knowledge through understanding, awakening and scientific knowledge.Since the whole person is involved in perfect happiness, our method for discerning reality from appearance also has to be wholesome. This is achieved through a radical transformation of our own personality vis-a-vis our objects of perception. This kind of transformation of our personality is possible only through the action of the Divine Spirit. The only requirement from our part is the willingness to be open to the fulness of reality to invade us. If we are too attached to the attractions of this world, we are chained and are slaves to whatever has a hold on us. To be free from slavery and be masters of our own selves is the result of the action of the Divine Spirit in us. As a result, we would be able to see things as God sees them and in the process transforming our lives.(see next post on "The Ways of God"). As God sees everything as they are and not their appearances, we too would be able to see things as they are as against their appearances. Once this is achieved, perfect happiness is ours for ever inspite of unhappy happenings taking place in our lives. Jesus proclaimed the Gospel (meaning the Good News) saying that the Kingdom of God is at hand and that all must repent (be transformed). The perfect happiness we propose is comprehensively realized in the Kingdom of God that starts in our life here and now to be completed in the life to come.
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