What is reality?

**gsoldi** · 08-31-2009 03:20 AM

What's your definition of reality?

It's a pretty random question but I think it's a really interesting question, specially among lucid dreamers and since many people define it in different ways...so...what do you understand by "reality"?

**legonut4** · 08-31-2009 05:32 AM

well i guess when your awake

i never really thought of it lol

**JamesLD** · 08-31-2009 05:48 AM

that is a very deep question, just like What is consciousness?

**LucidFlanders** · 08-31-2009 06:03 AM

What is a kitchen sink.

**JamesLD** · 08-31-2009 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by LucidFlanders

What is a kitchen sink.

touche. haha

**dee-bunkt** · 08-31-2009 09:01 AM

You create your own reality.

**JamesLD** · 08-31-2009 09:20 AM

everyone sees reality differently.

**Desert Claw** · 08-31-2009 09:32 AM

reality is something we are incapable of perceiving. A lot of japanese RPGs I've played explore reality and say stuff like, "what you see is not reality, but a version of reality" lol. random.

**Arutad** · 08-31-2009 05:52 PM

DCs are unable to give consistent answers to questions if you decide to question them what kind of world it is, what kind of place it is, etc. But in reality you and others know such things, and you agree on them with others.

Another difference is physical laws: reality is solid, dreams keep changing either fully or in details.

So reality is a solid place where you and others agree on where you are.

**44CalibreSunlight** · 08-31-2009 06:09 PM

The reality as we know it is as it's percieved by our brain. But in our 3d physical universe we have space and matter and energy and electromagnetic waves. So what is consciousness? Something so non living as matter creates something as immaterial as an experience. We can't figure out this world we live in becuase we use our outside tools and senses to try and do so. But if theres dimensions we coudln't possibly comprehend, and things totally undefineable to us, how can we do such a thing? That's why I think the mind itself and our path on mental evolution will eventually unlock the secrets of the reality we know and beyond.

Lucid dreaming is like a blank, dimensional canvas that's manipulated by the ego to add significance. What is this canvas, and what is consciousness, it's as if this canvas exists somewhere weather our minds exist or not. And life's sole purpose through evolution is to access this canas and manipulate it in new ways. just that the first goal is to get to a point where survival is no longer a difficult task.

I kinda see the dimensions we'e in as just a small segment of "reality" according to the 11 dimensional theory. it's as if reality surves some purpose, and where we are just happens to support matter and creates conditions where living things can be made.

**44CalibreSunlight** · 08-31-2009 06:17 PM

The reality as we know it is as it's percieved by our brain. But in our 3d physical universe we have space and matter and energy and electromagnetic waves. So what is consciousness? Something so non living as matter creates something as immaterial as an experience. We can't figure out this world we live in becuase we use our outside tools and senses to try and do so. But if theres dimensions we coudln't possibly comprehend, and things totally undefineable to us, how can we do such a thing? That's why I think the mind itself and our path on mental evolution will eventually unlock the secrets of the reality we know and beyond.

Lucid dreaming is like a blank, dimensional canvas that's manipulated by the ego to add significance. What is this canvas, and what is consciousness, it's as if this canvas exists somewhere weather our minds exist or not. And life's sole purpose through evolution is to access this canas and manipulate it in new ways. just that the first goal is to get to a point where survival is no longer a difficult task.

I kinda see the dimensions we'e in as just a small segment of "reality" according to the 11 dimensional theory. it's as if reality surves some purpose, and where we are just happens to support matter and creates conditions where living things can be made.

**Eegabooga** · 08-31-2009 06:33 PM

I sometimes wonder what reality is to. I've never came up with an answer but I have thought about another question. Technically reality is all in our head. Reality uses the five sences to put together a scene in our mind which is what we see. So whos to say this whole world isn't in our head? That everything is fake?

**Metaphyz1k** · 09-01-2009 04:07 AM

Reality as it applies to human beings cannot be fully understood. This is because we perceive reality through consciousness, and we don't even understand consciousness. Not even close. So how can we expect to begin to comprehend something (reality) if we don't even understand the means by which this something is to become known to us (consciousness)? It's like trying to screw a nail into a hole without knowing how to use the screwdriver.

So, the only way I think we can approach this question is through the insight gained when we are experiencing profoundly altered states. By inducing these states, (through dreaming, meditation, psychedelics, etc.) it is possible that we can "go out of body" or transcend the limits of normal human understanding. The nature of reality should become more clear to us if we properly employ these methods, thus we will be closer to our answer.

For now, reality is but an enigma, a term used in a useless attempt to explain the inexplicable; reality might as well be an illusion.

**JamesLD** · 09-01-2009 07:33 AM

that was freakin transcendental 44CalibreSunlight. you just blew my mind

**StrangeDreamsGuy** · 09-01-2009 08:45 AM

Whatever the electric reactions in your brain make you see. We think that we're controlling what we do, but really we're just observing as reactions in our brains take place and trigger nerves. (Mentioned in Waking Life since everyone here has seen it).
Sometimes I wonder if I'm just going to wake up and this whole life was in my head.

Bit of a tangent but along the same lines.

**44CalibreSunlight** · 09-01-2009 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by JamesLD

that was freakin transcendental 44CalibreSunlight. you just blew my mind

;D;D
cool!

also wtf I didn't know I double posted.

**44CalibreSunlight** · 09-01-2009 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by Metaphyz1k

Reality as it applies to human beings cannot be fully understood. This is because we perceive reality through consciousness, and we don't even understand consciousness. Not even close. So how can we expect to begin to comprehend something (reality) if we don't even understand the means by which this something is to become known to us (consciousness)? It's like trying to screw a nail into a hole without knowing how to use the screwdriver.

So, the only way I think we can approach this question is through the insight gained when we are experiencing profoundly altered states. By inducing these states, (through dreaming, meditation, psychedelics, etc.) it is possible that we can "go out of body" or transcend the limits of normal human understanding. The nature of reality should become more clear to us if we properly employ these methods, thus we will be closer to our answer.

For now, reality is but an enigma, a term used in a useless attempt to explain the inexplicable; reality might as well be an illusion.

I agree with this 100%.

**Banana** · 09-02-2009 02:13 AM

there is no reality

its all in your mind

you cant prove the existence of anything/anyone but yourself

HAS YOUR MIND NOT EXPLODED YET??

**no-Name** · 09-02-2009 02:31 AM

Philosophy~

**Metaphyz1k** · 09-02-2009 02:32 AM

Originally Posted by 44CalibreSunlight

The reality as we know it is as it's percieved by our brain. But in our 3d physical universe we have space and matter and energy and electromagnetic waves. So what is consciousness? Something so non living as matter creates something as immaterial as an experience. We can't figure out this world we live in becuase we use our outside tools and senses to try and do so. But if theres dimensions we coudln't possibly comprehend, and things totally undefineable to us, how can we do such a thing? That's why I think the mind itself and our path on mental evolution will eventually unlock the secrets of the reality we know and beyond.

Lucid dreaming is like a blank, dimensional canvas that's manipulated by the ego to add significance. What is this canvas, and what is consciousness, it's as if this canvas exists somewhere weather our minds exist or not. And life's sole purpose through evolution is to access this canas and manipulate it in new ways. just that the first goal is to get to a point where survival is no longer a difficult task.

I kinda see the dimensions we'e in as just a small segment of "reality" according to the 11 dimensional theory. it's as if reality surves some purpose, and where we are just happens to support matter and creates conditions where living things can be made.

Inspired by this.