how can i be sure my entire life is not just a brief hallucination that im about to wake uip from?

Answer 1

I don't think that is the case.

This is more easily understandable if one considers the actual scale of the components of an atom. If one takes into account the fact that the neutrons, protons and electrons of an atom actually have huge spaces between them it becomes clear that the atoms that make up seemingly solid objects are made up of 99+ percent empty space.

This alone does not seem too important till you add the idea that the atoms that make up seemingly solid objects are more of a loose conglomeration that share a similar attraction but never really touch each other.

At first glance this does not really seem relevant, but closer analysis reveals that this adds a tremendous amount of empty space to solid objects that are already made up of atoms that are 99 percent space. When so-called solid objects are seen in this light it becomes apparent that they can in no way be the seemingly solid objects they appear to be.

We ourselves are not exceptions to this phenomenon.

These seemingly solid objects are more like ghostly images that we interpret as solid objects based on our perceptual conclusions.

From this we must conclude that Perception is some sort of a trick that helps us to take these ghostly images and turn them into a world we can associate and interact with. This clever device seems to be a creation of our intellect that enables us to interact with each other in what appears to be a three dimensional reality.

I hope that helps to answered your question.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 2

Yes, life in this material existence is God's little dream. It is therefore in one sense, real, but, in another sense it is all just a dream. A hallucination might as well be a dream.

Obviously, we are all destined to give up this material body at the time of death. Is there an identity within that lasts even after the body dies? This is the daunting question.

What will we be doing after death?

The belief of Bhakti Yoga is that when we have an intelligent body like a human being, we could utilize our intelligence ot understand our eternal self and even our relationship with the the Supreme God. Conversely, we could use our human intelligence to act worse than animals. Which would you prefer?

Answer 3

When a person is dreaming, the dream appears to be the real thing. So just as you suggest, there is no way EXCEPT to WAKE UP.

All the great religions started with this idea of BRINGING IN THE LIGHT to wake up from the misery of mortal life... to have "eternal life." Even Christianity started with this idea of "light coming into the world." It was the Original Kingdom Gospel.

So you are asking an excellent question. This resource explains the process by which we wake up from a long sleep... "Gospel Enigma: and the Young Heretics" It is the first book on the page at New Free Books.

Answer 4

Great answer, Don. Let's again simplify. Your entire life IS just a brief hallucination (I think a better word is illusion) from which you will awaken. Your question, or the wording thereof,, implies that this is something to be afraid of, when in fact, if seen from the correct perspective, it is something to be gloriously joyful about. When you awaken, whether during this life or after it (your choice), all the fear and pain that you have created for yourself will magically disappear.

Answer 5

As if your whole life you'd been living in a Matrix?

Well I suppose you can't, because since hallucinations originate within the brain, by definition they seem very real.

But if your present life is just a brief illusion, then you may as well enjoy it as if it were real. And when it ends, who knows? You may just wake up to a better, longer life. New chances, new joys, new life to enjoy and experience.

Answer 6

.... or a brief reality from which you will eventually awaken?

(1) You can't be sure, but you might as well act as though it's real because you have no evidence it's not.

(2) You've just offered a metaphorical description of death. But if you actually experience "waking up" from life, that would imply some type of afterlife. Welcome to one of the most widespread and widely-varied realms of philosophical and religious speculation!

Answer 7

Worse yet, how can i be sure my entire life is not just a brief dream someone else is about to wake up from?

Answer 8

You can't. Nothing is certain.

There is no way for anyone to know anything for absolute certain. We are all wading through a mire of ignorance and uncertainty.

Your life may be a dream of some kind- I exhort you to enjoy it, even if it does turn out to be only that.

Memento Mori.

Answer 9

You can't. But unless you're willing to just do nothing on that pretext and in so doing experience one of those never ending moments, I'd suggest you live within your hallucination.

Answer 10

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