Merits of Illusion

This is something of a response to Dom's post from last week, in which he discusses the question of why or how we can create change when reality is an illusion. His thought, as I understood it, was that persons' experiences and actions within the illusion can have parallel effects in Reality on their Selves. My initial response was to suggest, in addition, that the fact that our actions can affect or change the illusion of reality is part of the reason that the illusion is so convincing.

That, however, got me thinking further about why it is necessary for the illusion to be convincing. I would theorize that, in Hindu philosophy, it is actually vital for one to accept and embrace reality despite its illusory nature, at least for a certain period of time. If a person were to reject it as an illusion right off the bat, it could engender the idea that their actions do not actually matter, and thereby lead them in a direction opposite the ideal.

Perceptions of God

Some of the discussions we've had in class today and last Thursday concerning the way humans perceive aspects of an incomprehensible god makes me wonder if the familiar metaphor of the three blind men in a room with an elephant might be insufficient.

I suggest we replace it, at least while considering the Hindu concept of god/s, with three blind deaf mutes in a room with an entire rainforest.