The Illusion We Call Reality
The illusion we call reality is a profound teaching tool – especially when we recognize it for what it is. In this week's Wisdom Dialogues, we explored the liberating understanding that the world we perceive is based on error, not truth.
Cause for Celebration
This understanding is actually cause for celebration. If the world we perceive were truth, we would be stuck with it – with all its suffering, limitations, and death. But since it's merely a projection of our mind's beliefs, we can change our perception and experience.
"The world is an invention, and the invention is based on an erroneous thought, a thought that made you into something that you're not." – Hope Johnson
The Misperception of Separation
Our perception of separate bodies that can die is not reality. We made that up. There is constant conditioning happening all around us to reinforce separation – from casual sayings like "I'm getting too old for this" to deeper beliefs that others' perspectives pose threats to us. This misperception is at the root of all conflict.
Transforming Perception
The transformation begins when we recognize that we're making it all up. Every uncomfortable feeling, every triggering situation, every perception that causes anxiety – these are all projections from our mind that we can bring to the truth.
"That's what always helps dissolve it, bringing it to the truth." – Hope Johnson
Meeting Discomfort with Enthusiasm
One powerful approach is to meet discomfort with enthusiasm rather than resistance. When anxiety arises, we can say:
"Hooray! This is where I bring illusions to the truth. This is where I collapse time. This is holy ground."
Rather than falling into fear patterns, we recognize these moments as opportunities for profound healing.
How We People Our World
The discussion touched on how we "people our world" – placing individuals in our experience who reinforce our beliefs and keep us aligned with the ego's plan. We're actually communicating with each other on a level beneath all manifestation, connecting with each other's truth even when the surface interaction appears conflictual.
Energy, Symptoms, and Thoughts
A fascinating insight emerged about physical symptoms and energy. When we notice ourselves feeling drained by others or experiencing physical symptoms, it's really our thoughts about them having an effect on us – not the people themselves.
Every thought that feels negative and receives emotional energy contributes to making ourselves feel sick, tired, stiff, or burdened.
Truth equals more energy in the illusion. Recognizing delusional thoughts – like someone "sucking our energy" – and simply smiling at them frees us and restores energy.
On Tears and Emotional Performances
The session also explored how tears and emotional expressions are often performances rather than responses to legitimate circumstances. Hope shared a childhood memory of burning her leg on a tailpipe and observing her own crying with the clear recognition:
"This is a show. I'm acting."
This perspective allows us to see past the apparent justification for sadness or suffering.
Guidance from the Holy Spirit
Perhaps most importantly, we discussed how to connect with the Holy Spirit's guidance. The Holy Spirit speaks for God, and God's will for us is perfect happiness. We can sense this guidance through inspiration and joy that arises beneath the ego's noisy thoughts.
Ego thoughts feel rushed, tired, controlling, manipulative, and focused on evaluation – while the Holy Spirit's guidance is always uplifting and connects us with our brothers.
The Pathway Home
As we practice bringing our illusions to the truth, we discover the peace that comes from recognizing our eternal nature. We are still as God created us – we haven't changed. The pathway home is through willingness to see everything differently, to recognize that nothing has gone wrong, and to extend gratitude even in the midst of apparent chaos.
🎧 Listen to This Talk via Podcast