This article requires a sequel that will probably never be written. As it happens with most of my articles, the sequel too has been shelved before it could take off. Somehow, this one survived my scrutiny and resistance, and flowed out.
Let me begin with a question!
How do you authenticate a “fact”? How do you come to believe in something?
Is your belief based on your sensory perceptions? Perhaps, Yes!
Most people often say that they believe what they see with their own eyes. Now, this statement is arguable as it is. But even if we take it to be the case, then how can we justify things we see but doesn’t exist. The fact that you have seen it doesn’t confirm that it exists.
Why is it that in spite of being forewarned about mirages, your mind expects water when it sees one in a desert? What happens to you when a magician creates an illusion and you tend to believe in it for that moment at least? And how do you explain cases of hallucinations.
The Eye has a tendency to be deceived. Can it then be trusted? And Eye is supposed to be the most powerful of all our senses. If you are blindfolded than all your senses can betray you. A perfume can give out smell of a rose; a mimic artist can make you believe he is someone else; and you can touch a fish and feel it’s a jelly. None of our senses can guarantee authenticity of our belief, neither individually nor as a whole.
How then, do you come to believe in something?
In Reality, You don’t believe in the sensory perceptions, you believe in the stories that go around them. You believe in the Theories. These Theories form Concepts that you believe in.
Now, if you were to buy my concept about your belief being merely a Concept than you will definitely argue. ;)
There are lots of instances where things are as you see, or hear or smell or feel. But then these sensory elements only help to build perception; and perception is built around theories; and theories are what we get hooked to.
Whether you have seen it or not, you will believe in UFOs because as a Concept it is interesting. You will believe in Godmen and Reincarnations, in Past-Life and Karma, in Seeking and Enlightenment. All these are nothing but Concepts that has been bought and sold for ages.
Who amongst us can guarantee a reincarnation? Just because someone somewhere remembered some events that didn’t happen in the supposed current lifespan, it is assumed that the person has reincarnated. If at all that is true than how are we different than the recycled bottles. Our body primarily is constitutes of Energy and Energy by nature is Eternal. It never dies; just changes form. So it’s quite possible we are changing forms and not actually dying or being born again. But you want to believe in Reincarnation because it’s fascinating. It engages your mind that has a phobia of Inactivity.
You indulge in these fantasies because if not for these concepts your mind will be left with nothing but Emptiness and that is scary. You probably would prefer to believe in Astrology than to accept the fact that what we call “the future” is unpredictable. Your mind is paralyzed by the fear of Uncertainty. So in its bid to comfort self, it weaves a Concept. And just so that the Concept is believable you try to sell that concept to others. The more the others believe in it, the more your belief is strengthened. And your mind is relieved of the undeniable state of Existence. Since mind cannot deal with it, it chooses to escape it, and the only way mind can do this is by engaging in some or other thoughts. Concepts fuel thoughts and mind is kept busy.
But eventually, when the mind gets tired and settles down and your left in a state of thoughtlessness your begin to realize that all Concepts that you have believed since the beginning is meaningless and worthless.
That moment of thoughtlessness also rids your mind of thoughts associated with the fear of uncertainty. In the absence of fear, there is no need for the mind to escape and to indulge in fantasy. You are then left on your own to relax and enjoy your state of being as it is without any Concept attached to it!
If that ever happens to you, you will realize…
All that your mind has ever conceived is merely a Concept including the ones that you refer has God, Love and Life!
And that’s where the sequel begins. So I will stop here!
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