The instinct for self preservation and survival.

[weareunity]

Hello Golcup7 and all.

StarTrek has taken many of us to places, circumstances, dilemmas, adventures etc to which we may not have ventured before. In my case not particularly boldly however---mostly leaning back on the sofa.

What such programmes can do is offer glimpses of realities which differ from the perception of reality to which we have become accustomed maybe?

We might also suggest that some teachings may also have a tendency to do likewise?

Further,--we could also suggest that some states of mind are either bought about or are the result of our minds translating through lenses offering differing perspectives to what is considered "normal". ---and we also know that certain conditions/conditioning and certain chemicals can alter our perception of reality.

So it seems fair to say that we know that our perceptions of reality can change/can be changed ?

If we believe that such change is possible, then yet further questions which we may like to ponder arise. Amongst them :---can we ourselves independently choose to change our personal perception of reality, and for what purpose might we decide to do so, what deters us from doing so?

This sort of discussion/exploration may seem abstract, airy fairy, removed from reality---there's that word again--reality. Hey ho.

Cheers.X

[weareunity]

Hello all.

We might like to feel that the process of discovering/uncovering whatever perception of reality fits in satisfactorily with our personal knowledge and experience is a process which we personally begin/control/conclude.

However-- our individual motivations which drive us to engage with this process will/do imo play a role in deciding what conclusion proves satisfactory,---what perception answers the need/s ?--Need/s that we may not be consciously aware of ?

This not a criticism--just acknowledgement of a possibility.

Further, our knowledge and experience may be of finding that there are ready made perceptions of reality to which we can subscribe if we do not feel inclined or able to discover/uncover ourselves.

Again, this is not a criticism.

Further still, we may find ourselves in a situation whereby there is pressure for us to accept a perception of reality which is in agreement with the perception prevailing within the society in which we live.

And again, this is not a criticism of the individual/s finding themselves in such circumstances--though it is an observation regarding one of the characteristics of societies within which this happens.

All in all, arriving at---or indeed exploring/forming a personal perception of reality is not easy. Imo.

It seems logical that a "good" place to start is with the examination of ourselves.
What am I ?

Am"I"a "thing" ?

And what is a "thing"?

As a "living" "thing" then am "I" the embodiment of a myriad processes perhaps ?

And what does this "thing" do? What are the principal characteristics of the "living" "thing"?

Perhaps the defining characteristic of a "living" "thing" is the ability to itself choose to instigate process--or not, and by such mechanisms of choice available to that "thing".

In that respect being inextricably part of the complete process which we call existence.

This could be considered as a possibility of little consequence--until it becomes appreciated that the smallest change/input into this whole process has consequence for the whole.

Cheers. X