Is it true that our perceptions are often inaccurate and cause us suffering? The answer is yes. Our inaccurate perceptions result in pain and suffering. As humans, we see everything from our perspective. If we all see the world through our own eyes, how do we know whose viewpoint is right? Is one view, right? Are all views, right or wrong? Is it true that our point of view comes from our own experiences? How do we know if we are right?
According to Tich Nhat Hanh, “the source of our perceptions, our way of seeing, lies in our stored consciousness.” Therefore, it would follow that if 10 psychologists were watching a couple have an argument there would be ten different perceptions of how it started, and who was at fault. Can there be ten different truths? Yes, the truth is in accord with your experience. This is why perceptions are not reliable. Our perceptions carry all the errors of subjectivity. Given the former statement, it would only follow that our reactions would emanate from our perceptions whether positive or negative. Anger, ignorance, addictions, and prejudice are the negative afflictions that influence our perceptions. So, it would only follow that whether we are happy, or suffering our perceptions would be influenced by our state of mind. Consequently, it is important to deeply look within through mindfulness meditation at the source of our perceptions.
Do you remember that saying, the ego speaks loudest and first? According to A Course in Miracles (ACIM), our abilities are only shadows of who we are. Buddhism would say something similar, asking us to question our perceptions. It is said that the Buddha would ask his disciples the following question, “Are you sure of your perceptions?” All humans are subject to wrong perceptions, and we have them every day. These misguided perceptions show up as cognitive distortions that serve to convince us that what we are thinking is true. After all, we are the authors of our reality. Instead of observing the thought distortions, we water the seeds of suffering thus encouraging them to intensify and grow. Moreover, we justify and support these thoughts with more stories to prove that our story is true.
Believe it or not, we are very fearful of our perceived stories? Why would we be fearful of a perception? Because we have perceived it but have not accepted it. We have difficulty fully accepting our perceptions/stories because we believe that there is a loss of control over the thought. Hence, the stories appear in our waking and sleeping dreams/nightmares. When we refuse to accept our perceptions, we cannot bring them to consciousness. The whole process becomes very consuming and tiring for us and our ability to find peace and happiness is not present.
Perception is none other than judgment in disguise. According to ACIM, “Projection makes perception.” When we look at the outside world our perceptions of what we see give us all the meaning it has for each of us. However, the Course reminds us it is not less than that. Buddhism too reminds us that our perceptions are inaccurate and result in suffering. For example, what if we think our partner is trying to intentionally harm us? How would we know that someone is intentionally trying to harm us? People act out of their own painful experiences, and they are not thinking of us at all. It is in these circumstances that we need to look deeply into our minds. Looking deeply into “self” allows us to blur the lines of distinction and the perceptions we make of self and others. What we begin to see according to Tich Nhat Hanh, is the inter-are or inter-relatedness between us. When we can blur those lines of discrimination there is no longer the distinction between birth and death, self and other, being and non-being, friend, and enemy. It is this division that brings about discrimination. This is what spawns’ hatred and fear. Therefore, it is important to look at these perceptions and overcome them.
Additionally, to each of us, our perception/thought/story is very important. We have attachments to these perceptions. The perception/story justifies our authorship. This is what makes our perceptions/judgments/viewpoints/opinions so powerful. Our perceptions become our witnesses to our state of mind. It is an outside picture of an inward condition. You have heard me say this before what we see in the outside world is nothing more than our internal state of mind. According to the Course, it is an outward picture of an internal condition. “As a man thinketh so shall he be,” (proverb 23:7). ACIM changes that just a little by stating, “As a man thinketh, so does he perceive.” According to ACIM, we should not be looking to change the world but instead changing our minds about the world is imperative. The Course states, “perception is a result, not a cause.” Anything that we perceive without love, kindness, compassion, loses the connection to the “All”. The “All” is referred to here as that which is greater than human and for each of us, this may be different.
Most of us find that judgment is a heavy burden and quite intolerable. Given that it brings us pain and suffering it is questionable as to why we so deeply cherish it and hold it so dear. However, when we consider how much we all want to be the author of our story/reality it becomes clearer as to why we cherish it so much. Even though we cherish judgment we also fear that one day it will be used against us. How it is used against us is dependent on what our spiritual beliefs are regarding, life, death, and beyond. None of us are sure what this is Heaven/Hell, nothingness, or death to rebirth. This unknown is fearful to most beings. The Buddhists believe in no birth no death they practice the concept of impermanence. ACIM is very similar to this stating, “Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists herein lies the peace of God.”
The world we see is nothing more than a mirror image of how much joy we allow ourselves to see and accept. Thus, joy is innately within each of us, and it is our commitment to uncover it by using mindful breathing and awareness to assist us in changing our minds. There is a saying in ACIM, “would you rather be right or happy.” It is your ultimate decision how you want to perceive the world negatively or positively. Which do you want in your life?