Dreams vs. Reality
For centuries, writers, poets, and philosophers have commented on the dream-like nature of human existence. On one hand, it is so solid and concrete that it shapes our entire lives; on the other, it is impermanent and fleeting, capable of disappearing in an instant.
Some people become so entangled with material, superficial things that the deeper essence of their existence becomes obscured. Then one day they wake up and ask where it all went—the time that has passed, the things they acquired, the roles and statuses they achieved. After all, you can’t take it with you.
Consciousness
Even in a dream, there must be something that is real; otherwise, the dream wouldn’t be. That “something” is consciousness, the underlying awareness that is the essence of who you really are.
Consciousness is not a material object. Unlike the other things that make up our world, it can only be truly understood by being conscious.
When you are truly conscious, you are able to recognize it in other people, animals, and all other forms of life, even if they can’t fully recognize it for themselves. This is the basis of true compassion: the ability to see oneself in another.
Presence
When you step out of the thinking mind and let go of ruminating on the past and future, what you are left with is this moment. The present moment is the only point in which consciousness can be directly experienced.
Anything done through presence becomes an extension of presence. The energy you put into what you do determines not only its quality, but also the impact those actions will have on your life and the lives of others moving forward.
As you pursue things, create things, and act in the world, if you are not grounded in the present, you may struggle to find fulfillment. On the other hand, when you become fully focused on the task at hand, you not only find satisfaction in the doing, but that experience often carries forward in subtle ways.
Primary Reality
Financial positions, political affiliations, job titles, relationship statuses, nationalities, generational brackets—these are all things people can easily become identified with, as if they define someone on a deeper level.
Although these things have a place in the relative nature of our world, if you are not sufficiently aware of the other side of the coin, you may over-emphasize them and miss the more fundamental nature of life itself.
Finding that primary sense of self can be a powerful way to have a positive impact on yourself and others. It is an impact that can carry on long after you are gone, as one generation evolves into the next. After all, at a deeper level, this is what you’re here to do—whether you realize it or not.
Thank You For Reading
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope you have enjoyed, and I look forward to seeing you on the next one.
