“We see people and things not as they are, but as we are. That is why when two people look at something or someone, you get two different reactions. We see things and people not as they are, but as we are.” ~ Anthony de Mello
One of the first courses I took at Brandeis University was for a science requirement. Back then I thought my path to a career was via science, particularly something in the realm of biology. Upon promptly failing the first (of only four) exams, I soon realized science was not going to be my calling. Fortunately, when handing out that first exam the professor explained that those of us who did not do as well as we would have liked [sheepishly raised hand before realizing it wasn’t a question] still had a chance to do well in the course, as the final grade was also based heavily on improvement.
The class was titled ‘The Brain: From Molecules to Perception’ and went from the molecular level of brain functions to how we actually perceived all these messages we were getting. After my initial freak-out at the first failure, I refocused and stayed for extra help in the next few weeks, raising my next effort to a ‘B+’. By the last two exams, I was getting perfect scores, and my final grade ended up being a solid ‘A’ thanks to the trajectory of improvement. (There was really nowhere else to go.)
The point of that trip down memory lane was that perception of most messages may begin on a molecular level, but somewhere along the way it gets muddled by myriad influences – experience and history and assumptions – and the end result is not a literal, factual interpretation of things as they are, but as how things seem to be. And it’s different- often wildly different – from person to person.
So much of what we perceive of the world is filtered through our own prisms, and though we may transform them into pretty rainbows or shattered dreams, they are only our perceptions – and in most cases they are misperceptions. It’s hard to think about such an idea, because it means rethinking about almost everything. It’s worth the effort though, because once you begin to do that, all future perceptions become easier to process -and what seems difficult and painful isn’t as bad as you think. Again, this takes a major shift in how to deal with everything that comes at us, but if someone as stubborn and self-righteous as me can make the attempt, then anybody can. And it’s already making my life easier, and much more enjoyable.
“Happiness is our natural state, Happiness is the natural state of little children, to whom the kingdom belongs until they have been polluted and contaminated by the stupidity of society and culture. To acquire happiness you don’t have to do anything, because happiness cannot be acquired. Does anybody know why? Because we have it already. How can you acquire what you already have? Then why don’t you experience it? Because you’ve got to drop something. You’ve got to drop illusions. You don’t have to add anything in order to be happy; you’ve got to drop something. Life is easy, life is delightful. It’s only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your greed, your cravings. Do you know where these things come from? From having identified with all kinds of labels!” ~ Anthony de Mello
{See also Awakening to Awareness: Part One.}
