Thursday Thoughts: The illusion

As often with illusions, you don't really realize its effect except when you've already been deluded. However, you often emerge with some greater knowledge and a cursor or two so as not to fall for it again. It is often annoying when you first realize it, and you always go over the events and desperately try to figure how you have come to fall under its spell. The problem with illusions is that they are often really nice when you're in them; you bask in whatever world they create and the nostalgia they generate is quite intoxicating. Whilst living in such phantasmagorical world, life seems a lot better, existence happier and you start to believe in notions that you have discredited in the past. It quite the experience and although I do not encourage living in an illusion, I do recommend that you try one if ever so briefly. Well, I bet you will actually fall for a couple of them in your lifetime. So, when you do, take it for what it is, enjoy it, savor it and then simply let it go when you realize you have been tricked. Don't lament it or feel stupid because you have fallen victim for it, but instead be proud that it was you who came out victorious. For an illusion is only successful if it lasts.

She was reluctant to own up to the fact that she was disillusioned; that for almost two years of her life she had bought into a concept that was false. Her pride wanted her to believe in its authenticity, but try as she might, her mind refused to give way to illogical conclusions based on unsubstantiated concepts and flimsy evidence. What made her even more reluctant was that she was the one who created this illusion all by herself, unaided or egged on by any one or any circumstance. For the first time in her life she felt vulnerable and stupid; such a sucky notion, she thought. However, one day she read a line that made it all come clear "If something fades from existence without any real remnants then it is possible that it had never really existed."

However, she was incapable of surrendering completely to that notion, since others, more knowing, have acknowledged the existence of that which does not remains. The complete annihlation of one thing doesn't automatically imply its nonexistence. The possibility of its existence remains as the possibility of its none-existence. As she had come to realize, life is not mutually exclusive; the negation of one doesn't mean the affirmation of the other. Conflicting thoughts came to her on intervals, everytime she would convince herself of one notion; someone or something comes to destroy her newborn conviction, forcing her to start from the utmost beginning.

Controversial issues are often delightful to discuss and think about in the abstract sense, but when these issues become personal, it's often hard to view them in an objective light. Yet, some question the significance of objectivity. They say objectivity, in pure form, contradicts human nature. Objectivity can not be achieved as long as we remain human; and since transcending the human state is impossible, then objectivity in its pure form is deemed impossible. So, maybe subjectivity is the holy grail; maybe through applying subjectivity to an unidentified concept, we can reach not only some form of the truth, but some form of an inner[more personal] truth. Indeed, through this method, the generalization of the findings will not be feasable, but a probable solution to one's specific problem is possible.

So, she thought, by applying the concept of subjectivity to her current situation, the illusion is threatened. In fact, through subjectivity the illusion dissipates and instead becomes an inherent reality incapable of being refuted. Her own individual experience becomes the only kind of evidence that is needed to confirm, not only the death of the illusion, but also the rebirth of reality. The situation ceases to be distant and incomprehensible, but relevant and encompassing.

Yet, if the concept is applied to any illusion, we risk living in an illusioned world, whose existence is supported by our own rationalization. However, this is negated from the first instance through one's own realization of the possibility of the existence of an illusion. It is safe to say that someone who's self aware and self questioning will find it easy to realize an illusion from the start. Others who won't will not even realize that they live in an illusion, making the point moot.

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