RE: Hallucinations, dreams and visions.
The theater of the mind can be so incredibly convincing, that even the most rational of persons may believe that their mental experiences are real.
The problem is repeatability. If I see the Eiffel Tower in Paris one day. I can return the next day and see it again and again - and bring witnesses. However, if I believe that God has revealed a mission to me in a dream, I cannot return to the dream nor can I bring witnesses. It becomes a matter of occult faith. The failure of repeatability is just one of many measures by which we can deem an experience a mental experience.
Science explains many physical phenomenon. However, it offers little insight to the nature of consciousness itself. We know that very small insects are aware enough to run away from attackers and to feed, shelter themselves and reproduce. We know that all animials possess a sophisticated understanding of their enivonrment which allows them to perpetuate generation after generation. But we cannot grasp the workings of consciousness except to know that it is very much influenced by the operation of the brain. So science is an excellent guide to the physical and mechanical aspects of the universe but we must look elsewhere for guidance in other matters.
The brain is many things. Among its many skills are pattern recognition and prediction. But it has many other functions less exploited by the general public. The brain is also a remarkable pattern generator. It can generate endless patterns and visions useing geometric or cultural symbols. It can generate entirely believable alternate realities, as in dreams. Under the influence of certain drugs it can generate convincing alterantive realities that lead an individual to serious delusion or even death. Artists, visionaries, religious zealots, extremists, poets etc. have all pushed the brain to produce patterns and alternate realities. At the secular end of this parade the artists and visionaries use the results to create new forms and practices in society. At the religious end, zealots use the results to create religious societies and even religious totalitarian states. So what is to be done about it? Nothing. An Asist is free to explore their mind and to exploit their findings. They accept that many others doing the same thing will mistake their experiences for reality and go on to great influence. They can react to life in any way they see fit. Understanding that good and evil flow from any and all actions liberates them. They live without the pretense of innate goodness or superiority to others.
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