*/Actuality and Reality /*

by Robert E Dreier

These two concepts may be the most important philosophic ideas presented
to students of the Rosicrucian discipline for they both concern people
and their understanding of the Cosmic. It involves Cosmic Consciousness.
In this introduction certain ideas will be presented which will be
amplified as this discussion proceeds. Probably the best road to take is
the initial cursory definition of both concepts. So let us proceed.

Some students define ACTUALITY as the laws of vibrational energy and
REALITY as the laws pertaining to consciousness of the former. That is a
so-called nutshell definition. That which is real to the human is that
which one can realize, regardless of its vibrational energy content and
octave(s). Sound to one who is deaf has no realization since the sense
of hearing is dormant, and the same can be said of the other four senses
of perception where there is a deficiency. Remember the old question: If
a tree falls in the forest, is there a sound? The usual answer is no
unless there is someone in the vicinity to HEAR it. But from a purely
technical or actual sound (for human sense detection) is present since
the sound of the falling tree in all likely-hood creates vibrational
energy within the spectrum of human hearing. It is the vibrational
energy caused by the falling tree which activates the air and the ear
drum that causes the possible perception notwithstanding a person in the
vicinity to perceive the REALIZATION of the ACTUALITY. Our 'physical'
realizations of actuality are limited to a spectrum of frequencies
within the limitations of our five senses. These objective realizations
of the physical senses are translated into a subjective reality which
may be different for each person. One cannot depend solely on the
realization of actuality in ascertaining TRUTH since the perception of
that 'truth' may vary from individual to individual. This is why
eye-witness testimony may not always be reliable; not every witness will
'see' (realize) the incident in the same manner. All of this, and mystic
realization, and more will be brought to light as we proceed.

At first notice, these two words would seem to have the same meaning and
the dictionary would be of little assistance to us because it gives
practically the same definition for the two words. This is a great
mistake, however, and the differences easily become apparent as we
appreciate the meaning and values of the word REALITY. An ACTUALITY is
that which involves action or exists in motion and can never be
considered static - REALITY is that which is perceived with a subjective
consciousness and interpretation, meaning or value.

Please compare and associate these two sets of words: ACTUALITY and
action, motion; REALITY perception, realization. ACTUALITY is the law
and order of vibrations; REALITY is the law and order of consciousness.
The one is the phenomenon, manifestation, or law and truth of vibrations
of Spirit energy; the other represents the degree of individual
appreciation of actualities or manifested vibration. In other words,
reality is the product of the individual's reception and assimilation of
vibrations of Spirit energy. Without realization, nothing would be real
to the observer as an individual.

Herein lies the fundamental point of difference - entirely in
consciousness. Each of us realizes certain sensations and emotions
independent of his fellow beings and it is well that so important a
matter be studied and analyzed carefully. The starting point of all
thought and investigation with every human being is in his own internal
consciousness; this, to everyone, is the most absolutely fixed of all
facts - the most positively certain of all certainties. It is hence the
position from which all other certainties and uncertainties,
probabilities and improbabilities, possibilities, and impossibilities
are estimated. However, as from our individual centers of consciousness
and intellect we open our eyes and look without us, we find ourselves
surrounded by appearances of various forms and conditions, near and
remote, which act upon our physical, intellectual, and moral natures and
reacted upon by us. These active and reactive influences are, in some
sense, at a constant equipoise. There is, thus, a universe without and a
universe within each of us: a universe of cognizable forms, principles,
and corresponding with the other. It is the legitimate object and
privilege of every inquiring mind to understand, in some degree, both of
these universes. In order to do this to the fullest extent one must
investigate each with constant regard to its analogies with, and
relation to, the other.

ACTUALITY is universal, but REALITY is that which is independent. People
realize actuality in different ways. Much of realization may depend upon
the five senses, some realization is intuitive. One person's reality may
be the opposite of another's. That which one person realizes does not
depend upon another person's understanding or comprehension. This is one
reason why eye witness testimony may not always be reliable since two
witnesses may have different realizations of the same event. I may look
at one accident scene, which you may also be observing, and I may see it
in a different 'light' than you. Realization may be affected in many
ways, by interpretation. From childhood through maturity to old age our
realizations change according to life's experiences which affect our
interpretations of the same event or thing. In an assembly of people
show them an artist's rendition and you may receive a number of
different interpretations based on the experiences and realizations of
those who examine the artwork. Of course the true answer will be that
which the artist had in mind when the painting was created. And this is
all the more true when realizing the Cosmic. Everyone will have his/her
own realization whether it be anthropomorphic or pantheistic.

When the first astronauts landed on the moon, their reality of the
actuality was changed when they witnessed with sense perception what
other scientists had imagined by using a telescope. At one time in our
history, scientists thought the world was flat, the realization of its
spherical shape changed the Ptolemaic idea forever.

Six blind people sensing with touch an elephant will realize the animal
according to the areas which they perceived through the sense of touch.
One who is color blind to certain colors will see the light rays
reflected and refracted in a different manner. Music and noise are
realized differently. Therefore one might say that the realization of an
actuality depends upon the acuity of the senses and psyche.

Man has certain standards by which he judges realities from actualities.
That which is real to the human consciousness is that which the
consciousness can realize regardless of its actuality. Actuality exists
but can not become made known to man's consciousness until he realizes
them. If someone stands in front of you, what is your realization? You
see the realization of the persons actuality - you see the reflected
vibrational energy impinged on the retina of the eye which is then
carried to the brain through the nervous system as impulses. With two
eyes separated by a few inches one sees a stereoptic vision in three
dimensions. It is then when these vibrational impulses are registered in
the brain that initial realization occurs. The mind is therefore
conscious of the physical realizations of the reflected vibrational
energy of light frequencies and waves. The other five senses involved
with realization operate in a similar manner - hearing by energy
impinging on the ear drum and transmitted, smell, taste and feeling in
similar manner by those receptors which are sensitive to the frequencies
which affect these particular senses. Which is the real person you see
in front of you? It is only the person which you realize by reflection.
The actual you will not perceive. Some one else who sees the same person
may have a different realization, there again depending upon that
person's retina, nerve transmission, and brain interpretation. Now you
can see why "eye witness" testimony may not always be reliable in a
court case. Two witnesses may not see the scene with the same
realization to the actuality.

Now try this. Realize something that does not exist. Picture in front of
you a shoe box, wrapping paper and string. I take the wrapping paper and
place it around the shoe box, fold the paper so it fits snugly around
the box. Next I take the string and wrap it around the length and then
the width of the box and tie a knot. You saw a mental image or
'realized' a non-actuality. You have seen a box, made of cardboard, with
a particular color, a box-top, paper etc. All these items were
imaginary. But you could visualize them clearly as if they really did
exist. Now, when you can see a thing so clearly that you can recognize
it, distinguish it from other articles, and tell just how it is made, it
must be a reality to your consciousness as though you had actually seen
such an article. But there is no such article as was described above. It
was a product of your own mental visualization. It would have no use or
purpose. You could not pack a pair of shoes in this 'mental' box.

Again which is the 'real' thing to your consciousness a physically
realized shoe box or one that is imagined?

A very important factor to consider regarding Actuality and Reality is
the reliability of the five senses. This is the area of 'self
deception'. If our realization depends primarily on our five senses then
we can SEE OBJECTIVELY only what the eyes as physical organs can detect
through reflected vibrational energy, and in a similar manner HEAR
TASTE, SMELL and FEEL only what those sense organs will permit us to
detect, and then transmit by the nervous system to the brain where it is
evaluated SUBJECTIVELY. Our senses are limited in their objective
functions. Objectively we have limitations of time and space. We can
hear at only a limited distance and sight is limited in similar manner;
but smell, taste, and feel are limited more by space than time. These
limitations on our perceptions have an important bearing upon our
realization. Man has partially overcome these natural limitations of the
senses by resorting to mechanical and electrical appliances to extend
the sensitivity of the senses, witness the magnifying glass, telescope,
stethoscope, radio, television, hearing aid, etc. Therefore it is safe
to say that: The five senses are limited by physical conditions and
functional conditions. So we see man has improved and enlarged his
ability to sense using in many respects artificial means other then
those which are provided by nature. The functions remain the same but
the sensitivity is enhanced. The five objective senses are, therefore,
affected by functional conditions. What is important to note here is the
next phase of importance and that is the INTERPRETATION of our senses.
To one who is blind, a beautiful scene of nature is meaningless, and to
one who is deaf, the music of Beethoven makes no impression. But to one
who has command of all of the senses interpretation will vary with the
brain's interpretation and the meanings assigned by the person depending
upon individual sensitivity, and life experience. A beautiful sonata
will have a different realization than a hard rock band blasting away.
When vibrational energy strikes the retina of the eye the image of sight
is reversed or upside down. It is similar to looking through a camera
lens and ground glass view finder all images are reversed from the
print. The lens of the eye carries the picture to the retina, and then
is transferred through the fine filaments to the brain where the image
is processed. It is during this process where the objective
consciousness is transferred to the subjective where interpretation
takes place. We realize the picture as individuals according to our own
faculties and experience.

Your interpretation of an actuality gives you a reality to that
particular actuality. Whereas, the fact remains, in actuality it may be
something different. If in your childhood you were taught that a table
was a chair and every time you saw a 'chair' you would have realized it
as a 'table'. Therefore one cannot depend upon the actuality of
realities. One cannot depend upon the interpretations of realities. For
man to know the truth in all things he must develop his Cosmic
Consciousness and not learn completely through the material mind or
earthly consciousness. The realization of pain is, after all, the
realization of the mind and consciousness and not the actuality, which
we may think that it is. Some people still 'feel' pain from what they
believe to be an amputated limb. We are on occasion deceived by pain,
first as to its cause and second to its location, and third as to the
true nature--all because we have given sensations (the five senses) and
acquired interpretation. Pain need not be a material phenomenon, we all
are aware to a certain extent of mental and spiritual 'pain'. We must
develop our minds to detect and interpret these sensations. All psychic
products of the mind result from the transformation in the brain and
nervous system of the energies, within and without, into component or
collective parts of which the intellect and emotions may be considered
the synthesized unification. All psychic products have a tendency toward
manifestation and resolution into action or motion. We can perceive that
the brain is veritable transformer of cosmic energies between the
intellect and emotions, and that the pure or higher forms of creative
imagination involves a harmony, a blending, a coordination between these
two psychic principles. On one hand, the ideas of the intellect have a
tendency toward speech, while, the emotions give color and are in fact,
the power back of our actions. Our intellect may build up a product that
requires action, but this is only accomplished through its appeal to the
emotions; for action, of whatever nature it may be, is more spontaneous
and efficacious when aroused by that functioning of the emotions which
we call interest. When interest is absent, or too feeble, action fails
and remains in the consciousness as a simple tendency, rudimentary and
inefficacious.

SUMMARY:

The words ACTUALITY and REALITY are often confused and interchanged by
the general public. ACTUALITY - the law and order of vibrational energy.
REALITY - the law and order of consciousness. One is the phenomenon,
manifestation, or law and truth of vibrations of Spirit, and Spirit
energy; the other represents the degree of individual appreciation of
actualities or the manifested vibration. In other words reality is the
PRODUCT of the individual reception and assimilation of the vibrations
of Spirit. Without REALIZATION nothing would be real to you as an
individual. Herein lies the fundamental point of difference - entirely
in the CONSCIOUSNESS of the recipient.