1.4.8 spirituality in practice

Tonight, I will discuss the relationship between subjective and objective reality. I will discuss how the subjective view and the objective view are most related. Now, in the subjective view of reality, the unit mind, the individual, looks within to subjectively determine what is real and what is not real. In the subjective view of reality, the individual will rely on their own resources. They will not rely on books, they will not listen to the lecturer, they will not rely on the authority. They will determine for themselves what is the reality.

Now, in the objective approach, a person may not emphasize their internal perspective. They may emphasize external information. What the authority has said is the fact in the matter. What the journal has reported, what the scientific community has to say, what is commonly accepted, this is what will be accepted as the reality when the objective approach is taken.

So there are two approaches to determining what is ones' reality, what are ones beliefs and the condition of ones' existence, the subjective approach and the objective approach. They are both utilized by human beings.

Now, there are those who say that if one bases ones' views on a subjective approach, one may lose contact with the reality as it is seen by others. So, there is some warning, "Don't determine from a subjective approach alone what you think, what you believe. You must look around you and see what is commonly accepted, what is commonly believed. When you have done this, when you have looked around and noticed what is most commonly accepted, then you should believe what you see is the most common, the most proper, the most popular belief." Now, it is a fact that the average person thinks like this. They will develop their individual approach, their beliefs, their understanding of themselves, of the world around them, through this objective approach, looking always to others, to the authority, to the surrounding individuals for what is in fact correct.

But there are some people who will think that they are not so much interested in what others think as in determining for themselves what is real, what is unreal, what is truth, and what is illusion. Now, these people who take the subjective approach, they may think "I will determine what is real by my intellect. I am a very bright person. I know this from that, so I will take the information and I will determine for myself what I think, what I believe". Those taking the subjective approach often think like this. But they do not realize that this intellect is not at all its own master. So, the thoughts, the feelings, the beliefs, that come from this approach, they are no more independent than those that come from the objective approach, listening to the authorities, looking to others. Those who look to their own intellect are in a similar position to those who look outside of themselves in that the intellect is governed by the sam'ska'ra of the person. So, it is often unable to perceive reality due to this overlay of samskara.

So this approach also will not lead to viewing the world, the reality, in a truly clear fashion. If the objective approach is taken and the reality is determined by others, then it is determined by the sam'ska'ra, the reactions and actions of others and there can be no clarity in this approach. But if the intellect is thought to be the authority, to decide what is correct, what is incorrect, what is real, what is unreal, again there will be the same problem.

If you want to know what is real and what is illusion, you will have to go beyond the opinions of others and you will have to go beyond your own opinions based on your actions and reactions. You will have to find a deeper source, a wiser source to be the controller, the objective viewer of reality. So, what to do? It cannot be found in the opinions of others. It cannot be found in the intellect. What to do?

If a person is very wise and quite sincere, if they truly wish to know the real from the unreal, if they wish to understand themselves and their environment, they will become discontent with both of these approaches and they will seek a third method. That method is to find one who is wise, who may look with a piercing intellect, who may look through the eyes of God to see the true manifestations, the true reality. So the person will seek a sagely individual or they may seek the God within. And they will pray "Oh Lord, oh Lord, I do not think I know what is real from what is unreal. I think that I am like the young child, I do not know. Please, oh Lord, you teach me". Like this the wise person will approach the Guru, the Master, whether it be internally or externally, and they will humble themselves acknowledging their lack of wisdom so that they may become like the innocent child and learn the truth from one who is wise in these matters.

In this way, the true nature of reality beyond the limitations of sam'ska'ric influences, of mental reactions, may be known. Through the grace of Parama Purus'a, a truly wise person may be able to say some small gems of wisdom, impart some teaching, some spiritual practice, so that you will be able to glimpse the supreme reality within you. When this glimpse comes, then you will know, "What a fool I was to follow all those authorities, what a fool I was to follow the arrogant intellect that thought 'I am so great, I know so much', what a fool, what a fool". And you will realize that only that Supreme Entity is the knower of truth, and that if you want to know truth, you must come into contact with that Divine Entity, that all knowing Entity, from which all knowledge has come. That Entity alone will be able to show you the true wisdom. That Entity alone will be able to create for you the perception of reality. From that you will culture your beliefs, your opinions, and they will be founded in truth.

Never think that you are great, that your intellect is so brilliant that you will know the truth without looking inward very deeply to the God who dwells within you or to the one who has realized that God within. Only from that God, that Divinity, from Parama Purus'a may be gotten real truths and wisdom. So, if you want to know truth, to know wisdom, if you want your opinions to be based upon reality, if you want to glimpse what is real, you will have to go to one who is knowing what is real and what is illusion. Neither the objective nor the subjective approach to discovering reality will do unless there comes contact with one who knows the essence of Divinity.

Now this contact may be within you or it may be in an external setting. So it may be subjective, found within, or objective found outside, it does not matter. It does not matter if it is objective or subjective, but if you seek the answers from the correct authority, that is the determining factor in your success.