The Quest for Primordial Truth: Beyond Altered Perceptions of Reality
Throughout our lives, we are constantly collecting and altering our perceptions of reality—be it an event, a person, an action, thoughts, or beliefs. Is life all about the collection of these altered perceptions? Or is there an underlying, unchanging truth or reality that remains constant amidst the flux of our experiences?
The Transience of Perception
Our perceptions about ourselves are inherently temporary. What we believed about ourselves just a decade ago has shifted, and will continue to do so in the future. Even our self-images can change dramatically based on a single comment from someone else. Therefore, relying on perception alone to understand truth is highly unreliable.
Similarly, the taste of sugar can only be experienced and not described accurately. This brings us to the central question: rather than grasping at fleeting perceptions, we ought to strive to experience truth directly, without needing further proof.
The Nature of Truth
When we reflect, we see that during deep sleep, our concepts of the world, god, and even our own self do not exist. What remains is the power that propels us from one state of consciousness to another, a cycle that continues indefinitely. Can this be called true?
Furthermore, this power also vanishes when the life force departs. So, we question: what is truth then?
I was not aware of myself 100 years ago, indicating a background state. Eventually, my consciousness will return to this state after a period. During this time, I had no problems, no perception of a god, or a world, nor the concept of truth. However, something changed, and I became aware of my existence, which then led to all my problems. Thus, the idea of truth seems deeply intertwined with my awareness of my self.
The Relativity of Human Opinions
Human opinions and conclusions are indeed a collection of altered perceptions of reality. Alok's version of this concept is compelling. He asserts that reality has an independent existence and essence, and the meanings and perceptions we attribute to it are just our labels to aid in understanding and participation.
Because our understanding of reality is subjective and varies, the truth becomes an ocean of uncertainties. It needs to be tested and accepted collectively before it is established as an indispensable truth by the community. For instance, we might all admire success because it brings happiness, constructs images of individual talent, and patronizes the best. We could conclude that success is the ultimate goal of life as it is a race, with the top spot reserved for those who perform their tasks efficiently.
However, failure, which often triggers pain, can be more useful in driving progress. Failures make us search for alternatives and, ultimately, the wheel of progress turns. But the actual reality or truth might be something altogether different. The process we adopt in pursuit of our goals could have deeper interpretations, but these remain unknown to us. This mystery drives us to act and continue moving forward.
Even if someone told you that the essence of life is something specific, it's unlikely you would agree unconditionally. You would critically analyze, test, and form your own argument. In essence, the essence of reality or life is what we make out of what is naturally given to us.
Conclusion
The search for truth is an ongoing journey, one that requires continuous reflection and experience. Is life all about the collection of altered perceptions? The answer, in my humble understanding, is that while our perceptions evolve, the quest for primordial truth remains a vital pursuit. It is through this quest that we can hope to uncover the deeper meanings and truths within ourselves and the world around us.