Is This World the Absolute Reality?

When questioning if this world is reality, it sounds ridiculous to most, but few would know that this is not reality. It's obvious that anyone could easily say that this is reality because there is nothing else that we know, and that this world seems so real because our senses transmit undeniable feelings. When we have a strong headache, we know it real for sure. But really, what is real to you is whatever you identify as being real. But isn't there a reality that exists without our input?

Our thoughts make up our world. Thoughts change, and so does the world. The change comes from separation, which produces degrees, aspects and intervals. This is the reality we identify with. But, since it changes, we are making up every moment. For example, the reality is that I'm listenting to music. But, who put the music there? I did! So, this world only exists with our input! It is not there without us, so it must not be the reality.

We say that we are made of three things: body, mind, and spirit. These have been interpreted differently by different people. Whoever came up with this idea of body, mind, and spirit must have listed them in the order that were the most important or undeniable. So, most of us think that we are a body. We also have a mind, but some say that our mind is our brain, so we are only everything in our physical body. This is a very self-limiting opinion, but go ahead and believe it if you must. However, a large group of people don't even consider the spirit to be part of that list! And the people that do say that we have a spirit claim it changes as our mind and body do.

If one of these things is to be our permanent reality that exists without our input, it is most likely to be the spirit. Maybe we should list it backwards: spirit, mind, and body. Even better: we are only spirit. This is where most people scoff at the idea. "Of course that's not it! Look! I have a body, and I'm thinking as well!" Great statement! But what happens when you die? No more body. The mind changes as the body does, so its not permanent and absolute either. And we are the ones who are making it up because we are the ones who are thinking.

Some people actually declare that we are only spirit. The rest is illusory. And this isn't an opinion to them or a philosophical statement. It is reality. They feel it even stronger than the feeling of your arm being stabbed by a kitchen knife. It is so strong that, as was the case with Lieh-Tzu, the body is no longer seen or felt and thinking is unnecessary. Lieh-Tzu, however, was still more productive than we are everyday. It is the life of someone who identifies with spirit, and no longer has any struggles. The body and mind is basically a dream to them- waves surfacing the deep ocean. So, it's up to you to identify with whatever you want; what are you? Body, mind, spirit?