The Real

To the question, "What is real? What is reality?" we often talk about facts and history and what is proven to be true? We want to know "what really happened" as opposed to what is unproven or a mere figment of our imagination. The issue of illusion and becoming delusional often comes up in common discussions about the issues and people around us.

Our spiritual ancestors also discussed this in relationship to things of spirit. They spoke about ignorance and sleep, about dreaming and awakening into Reality. Let's imagine, then, that there are layers of reality and illusion all around us and even inside of us.

Let's think, then, that at the heart of existence (and at our own hearts), there lies the most Real Thing--like a treasure, like a secret, hidden pearl around which there are less real things. We live in these outer layers of "the less real," which mirror and image the Most Real. But because there exists the Most Real Thing at the heart of All, and at our own deepest core, we can wake up and go there into that place, and as Yeshua said in his teaching, begin to do business in the outer world based upon its supreme value and availability to us. Notice this:

The divine Realm is like a man who owned a field with treasure hidden away in it. Unaware of it he died leaving it to his son who also knew nothing about it. After taking possession of the land, the son practically gave it away for nothing. But the one who bought it began plowing and discovered the treasure, and immediately started lending money at interest to whomever he pleased. (Thomas 109).