Contemplation on the nature of Reality

Following are the observations that are formed after referring to the article on ‘perceptions’ and the subsequent interpretations regarding the phenomena that we perceive on a daily basis:

1.       Our static position and cyclic perception of phenomena: Perhaps one of the dimensions for apparent nature of our perception of phenomena is because we remain static to a situation. We are at the same place, so we tend to perceive the cyclic occurrence of days, nights, months, seasons, temperature fluctuations, wind speeds, sea tides and so on. This cyclic tendency of natural phenomena further has impact of agriculture, production cycles and right upto GDP. Thus , perceiving cyclic nature of events is dependent on our static position.

2.       Above (1) observation gives rise to following ideas:

a.       If we experience ‘day’ at a given position of time and place, then some other position of time and place would experience ‘night’. Thus, our own perceptions based on time and place are relative.

b.      Thus, cyclic nature indicates a change of events and a recurrence of a pattern. Night follows day which itself is followed by night again. Philosophically, we are born, we grow up and we die – (and the pattern is supposed to recur again). In terms of experience, we perceive all kinds of emotions at various phases of our lives and those emotions are not static (they may repeat or they may recur). This realization generates a tolerant attitude to ‘change’. We cannot (and need not) cling to any given idea of static or of bonded nature. We won’t be able to freeze moments of happiness throughout our lives and neither would moments of agony last forever. No matter how much we try to remain static or resist any kind of change, we will nevertheless have to face change in our environments. Over the period of time, we may develop the strength to perceive the good and bad as not opposites, but as a composite phenomena.

c.       In any given instant, there are many cycle of events occurring in our particular life. Someone is dying, whereas other is born. Someone fails, whereas other achieves great amount of success. Some trees are cut or reach the end of their life, but some thousand other saplings grow in other areas. If the Universe (as a whole) seems to expand, then It should contract in a foreseeable future. Thus, is there any point in grieving over what is lost and is there any point on rejoicing on what is accomplished? Because what may be lost, is not permanent and need not be regarded as the end of hope. Similarly, what may be accomplished, may not be treated as our sole right over it. And so, when we talk about ‘hope’, we are referring to create that sense of strength that does not rely on these fluctuating patterns of loss and accomplishment.

d.      A given instant may be regarded as a union of opposites. If there is a day somewhere, there has to be night somewhere else. If there is coldness somewhere, there has to be warmth somewhere else. If there is despair, there has to be hope somewhere else. If there is peace, there has to be violence somewhere else. If some parts of the Universe expand, then others are bound to contract. This also means, that our personal adherence to a particular situation (or a tendency or a thought) simultaneously creates an opposite tendency or a situation somewhere else. Therefore, a richer society creates or is sustained or balanced by an economically weaker society. A leader, thus, must generate followers to validate himself. A man, thus, requires a support or complimentary support of feminine qualities and vice versa. And single men will obviously create more single women too.

Summarily, we can condense above observations into two prominent themes: movement (cyclic, recurring, waxing, waning, changing etc.) and balance (of opposites, divergence, multiplicity)

In ancient Indian literature, this seems to have been mentioned as “The Dance of Shiva” . Numerous poems have been written about the “changing nature of the river”, “taking us from one shore to the other” and many countless poems regarding the futility of grieving for the loss and urging us to understand the Universal truth that generates these phenomena.

In Mahabharat, the Hero Keshava demonstrates these concepts through the discourse of Bhagvad Geeta and represents them through the manifestation of “Vishwarup Darshan” (or Divine Experience).

Continuing with above observations, it may be interesting to note, that the realization of above principles comes by wisdom and an inward journey. Method of taking one inward may be an act of individual discovery/ choice.