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Enigma of ‘What-reality-is?

Every one of us would want to lead a healthy life which means that our mind, body, and soul must work together as interconnected aspects towards our well-being. Often, we wonder what relationship exists between our mind, body and soul. Is our mind or consciousness separate from the physical body as Dualism suggests? Is it a fundamental unity or oneness between all the three as Monism suggests? Is there an interdependence and integration of the mind, body, and soul as holism suggests? Or as Science would have it, is it reducible to physical matter and its interactions? To know the exact nature of this relationship between the three is always fascinating.

Are our views due to our social, cultural, and personal frameworks? Do we actively construct our reality through our language, knowledge, and social interactions? Is our reality completely bounded by our consciousness? While our consciousness is a state of awareness, subjective experience, and the ability to perceive and comprehend the world, ‘Reality’ is the ability to think, and feel the world and ourselves. Does consciousness follow dualism? It is the ‘hard problem’ of consciousness that challenges us to explain how and why subjective experience arises from the physical processes of the brain. It raises questions about the nature of consciousness and the relationship between the mind and the body. Does it operate on a continuum? No one knows.

Actually, our reality is a state of existence, independent of perception or interpretation. It is complex and multi-faceted. Whereas ‘Objective-Reality’ is the external, ‘Subjective-Reality’ emphasizes the role of individual perception. While ‘Objective-Reality’ exists regardless of individual perceptions or beliefs, suggesting there is an external world with its own properties and laws, ‘Subjective-Reality’ shapes our experience in understanding reality through our unique perspectives, emotions, and cognitive processes. Whatever that may be, there is a reality beyond the physical world too that is based on the metaphysical perspectives that is beyond the observable or measurable aspects of reality.

How do we prove or disprove such realities of our existence? Can science be used? Science needs empirical and evidence-based data to understanding reality. It seeks to uncover objective truths about the natural world through systematic observation, experimentation, and the formulation of theories and laws. One needs to study the physical properties of matter, energy, and the laws that govern their interactions and understand the fundamental forces of nature, the behaviour of particles, the structure of the universe, and the functioning of biological systems to understand ‘Reality’. While that may be difficult, realising our consciousness that involves investigating its neural correlates, the underlying brain mechanisms and processes associated with conscious experience is doubly difficult. Research does indicate that certain brain regions and neural activities are closely linked to conscious perception and awareness. All said and done the enigma of ‘what-reality-is’ still remains. Does Hinduism and Hindu scriptures offer us some solace?

Whereas the ‘Mandukya Upanishad’ has some answers on the nature of reality, consciousness, and the significance of “Om” (AUM), the ‘Chandogya Upanishad’ explores metaphysics, cosmology, ethics, meditation, and the nature of the self or ‘Atman’ and the ‘Supreme-Reality’ the ‘Brahman’. While ‘Mandukya Upanishad’ speaks of four levels of consciousness, the waking state ‘jagrat’, dream state ‘svapna’, deep sleep state ‘susupti’, and ‘turiya’ the ultimate state, ‘Om’ too represents the waking state, ‘A’, the dream state, ‘U’ and the deep sleep state ‘M’. Though ‘Om’ does not go beyond ‘turiya’, it acts as a bridge in the realisation of the ultimate. ‘Turiya’ is not a state that can be grasped by the senses or the mind but is unseen, incomprehensible and indescribable. ‘Tat-Tvam-Asi’ or ‘You-Are-That’, as said in ‘Chandogya Upanishad’ expresses the identity between the individual self ‘Atman’ and the ‘Supreme-Reality Brahman’, highlighting the non-dual nature of existence. Realisation of ‘Atman’ is the realisation of ‘Brahman’ or reaching the state of ‘turiya’. Such realisation depends on the physical body, vital energy, mind, intellect, and bliss. All of them derive energy from meditation and contemplation. Various meditative practices and techniques, including breath control, mantra repetition, ethical practices and contemplation on the nature of the Self and the ‘Supreme-Reality’ help in the pursuit of a synergetic mind, body and soul. So, how do we reach there? Use the concept of ‘Neti Neti’ ‘not this, not this’ or the principle of ‘Reductio ad absurdum’ to negate the limitations attributed to the ‘Supreme-Reality’ as ‘Chandogya Upanishad’ tells us.

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