Great thoughts to consider. Please read the below thoughts of Plato.
Allegory of the Cave
Imagine that some humans have lived inside a cave. They have never seen the light of day but have spent their entire lives inside a cave. Behind them is the large cave opening, bright with sunlight, but the humans are prisoners in this cave and their backs are turned away from the cave opening. The humans are chained by their necks and legs and live constantly with their faces toward the inside wall of the cave.
Behind the human prisoners a fire blazes and between the prisoner and the fire is a small wall. The wall is tall enough to conceal the free people that walk between the fire and the wall, but it does not conceal anything the people are carrying. People, free people, are carrying statues of animals, statues of men, statues of trees etc. The prisoners only see the reflection of the statues on the wall. Those reflections, shadows cast by the statues, is the reality for the prisoners. The prisoners believe that the shadows are real. The only realities the prisoners know are the shadows and the voices of the people from behind the wall, the voices that echo off the wall.
Now suppose one of the prisoners is freed from his chain and turns to see the bright light of the fire. They then see the bright light of the cave opening and walk out of the cave. First the fire would blind their eyes, and then as their eyes adjust and they go outside of the cave, the sun would blind their eyes, but then again, their eyes would adjust. What would that person now believe about reality? Or the deeper question, what would they believe about their original reality?
What would happen to the now freed prisoner who enters back into the cave with this new reality and tries to explain it to the other prisoners? Would they believe him? Could he convince them? How has his life changed in light of the light?
The prisoners in the cave are living out their lives in semi-darkness, their legs and their necks are chained and they believe that the mere shadows on the wall is reality. These prisoners are in bondage but they believe they have life and that the shadows are reality. The prisoners live a life of ignorance about themselves and ignorance about reality.
Plato
What is your reality? Is it real?
Posted by Rachel on July 26, 2008 at 8:50 am
We are natural born explorers, though our heart and soul may feel the restraints of prison, our mind hungers. There are those who are eager to learn, to believe and for those the world is round, and still others who no amount of convincing will change their mind, except for only what they could see, to them the world is flat. I think it is not as important what people will believe, as much as it is what we ourselves believe. If we believe the flames are hot enough to restrain our soul then we are already dead and no amount of fire can kill a spirit that is already dead. In our Christian belief we do not see a God to know that a God exist, but what is the reality of our God?
Posted by Love on July 26, 2008 at 8:45 pm
No, my reality is not real; just a part of it is Truth.
My reality is far beyond the walls of the house I am living in. And I am glad to realize that there is a real Life where the shadows I am experiencing are no more.
I heard this story when I was a child, long ago. I remember the way it impressed me. I could see clearly in my imagination the man trying to explain to the prisioners what was happening out there. I think he was, in the beggining, even a bit desperate because of the incredulity of the people inside the cave. But that was just at the beggining, the free man didn´t return to the cave, thank God.
He must be know enjoying Life, as it must be. I hope he remember I am still in the darkness. But ready to leave …
Posted by Loving Annie on July 27, 2008 at 4:33 am
Perspective is everything… As is experience…
Hope you are having a good weekend, Mark !
Posted by gypsy-heart on July 27, 2008 at 6:58 am
It’s all subjective isn’t it? This is how I felt 18 years ago when I realized what had been my reality my “truth” since birth was living in semi-darkness (which I now believe is a cult). I also, learned for the most part you cannot tell those that are still in that state…until they are ready.
I may be wrong, but I think we are each on our own journey.
If I am wrong about that I am willing to hear why I am…as my heart is wide open now. Thank god!!
Thank you for sharing this, and for BEing. .
Posted by AVC on July 27, 2008 at 3:05 pm
As shown in this piece of writining nothing is “true” in the world of manifestation. Anything can always be seen from a different perspective. But this also goes for the reality of the so called free people.
I believe that truth is found only when all has been divided up, to the extent where it becomes apparent that everything is fundamentally the same thing, and the diversified reality thus coagulates into the truth of unity beyond the parts.
Posted by Love on July 27, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Though sometimes it is better to go back to the cave, to save our fellowmen; to save ourselves from our own darkness. It is better to bring them to a safe place.
Darkness … darkness is that chain around their necks and legs (not neccesary the fact of living into the cave; one can have seen what is going on despite of having to remain into the cave or the enchanted castle or the prision or the enemy´s territory or however we wish to call it).
There are people with enough power to break the chains and turn them to face the Light. They have been for a long time in the darkness and we must experience both. Again.
Because they have been in the Light, it´s just that they don´t remember. They don´t like to move. They are like the sheeps of a dark sheperd. The sheperd is not bad (we are all the same); it´s just the only thing he thinks he must do.
But of course all this is a nonsense. We are all the same and we are all Evolving in diferent levels. It is good if we want to show our people what is going on but maybe, for some reason, Life must be in this way and there is no point on feeling guilty or sad because of the suffering of our people. We can Love them, and Bless them, but we should try to learn to Live knowing that we are not responsible for the suffering of other people.
That feeling of guilt because of the pain of someone else can detroy our Lives. And we are not ourselves; we belong to Someone else and it is to Someone else we should obey.
If we allow our demons (guilt, for example) to take hold of us we are indeed not making a favour to anyone.
As long as we are doing our best, everything is fine. Nothing is real, everything we think we are seeing, is a lie; a dream. When we awake next morning, we will see that everyhting was a strange story created by ourselves. It´s a bit scary. I think maybe that´s why the only relief for us is to embrace our Soul Mate.
We feel better knowing that our Soul Mate is here with us, and will be with us when we awake.
Thank you for writting this story about the cave; I wanted to remind it again.
Posted by jonfeatherstone on July 28, 2008 at 3:52 am
I guess the modern day equivalent of this story is the Matrix. My thought about this cave stroy is that just as those inside the cave are unable to determine if there was a greater reality outside, is the same not true of those outside the cave. How can they know that they in turn are not simply observing reflections of an even greater reality. If that is true, then in fact none of us really know anything about reality, but this does not change our ability to experience the reality in which we find ourselves. Back in my christian days this used to trouble me greatly, but nowadays I simply enjoy that fact that, inside or outside the cave, I can choose to decide and declare Who I Am.
Heady stuff!
Jon
Posted by Harmony on July 29, 2008 at 12:03 am
How many shadows am I watching today I wonder?
Can I be aware at least that and question my circumstances?
Thank you! Good to “see” you again.
Posted by Liara Covert on July 29, 2008 at 2:46 am
Only you have the ability to figure out what is your reality. You have the ability to hear and absorb information from a variety of sources. You have the right to believe or reject what you hear. You decide what you will believe or not. This defines the evolution of your conscious mind and life. Whenever you learn to see through your own condioned programming, you begin to awaken parts of your authentic self. They help you sense and feel what is real.
Posted by Shamelle @ TheEnhanceLife.com on July 29, 2008 at 10:10 am
I think most of us hate to admit the reality. May be its scary and we don’t really want to deal with it.
Posted by Gracie on July 30, 2008 at 6:15 am
Very thought provoking…. reality can be both pleasurable and painful. Dealing with both equally is the challenge!
Posted by enreal on August 4, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I have read of this before… this captures much of the human condition, or shall I say human conditions. We are conditioned to see reality as real, when there is much unknown and left to learn.
Posted by Rabbagast » Blog Archive » Veivisere til det gode liv (juli 2008) on August 8, 2008 at 1:03 pm
[...] Is Your Reality Real? (The Naked Soul) [...]
Posted by Liara Covert on August 9, 2008 at 2:08 am
In modern day, some humans actually do live in caves in places like Cappadocia, Turkey and also in parts of Australia. Human beings make these choices at least in part because they wish to live in environments with constant temperatures and avoid the intense heat. People have practical, historic and personal reasons for living wherever they do.