What if Animal House Was On To Something?
“Perception of objects depends on the concept of the seer.”
”The One who resides in the human heart is Reality, and that alone is real. ”
Perception is like water. It is a lens that conforms to the container that holds it. That container is formed by beliefs. Change your beliefs and the perception or lens changes — the way you then see and respond to life changes. Let’s look through two mutually exclusive lenses.
Perception 1: Imagine you are a small, separate entity among other separate entities, all vying to survive in a cold, lifeless, mechanistic Universe where random events constantly happen and can “happen” to you. Notice what that feels like. This is the way most people perceive themselves and their relationship to the Universe.
Perception 2: Imagine, instead, that you are a unique being, intricately woven into the fabric of existence, with a purpose you are optimally created for, with a particular role to play as an integral and essential part of a living, conscious, loving Being that is the Universe. Imagine being fully embraced, nurtured, and guided by this Being. What does this feel like?
“I think I would say that the universe has a purpose, it’s not somehow just there by chance … some people, I think, take the view that the universe is just there and it runs along—it’s a bit like it just sort of computes, and we happen somehow by accident to find ourselves in this thing. But I don’t think that’s a very fruitful or helpful way of looking at the universe, I think that there is something much deeper about it.”
I’ve experienced life through both lenses. The choice of which lens we adopt profoundly shapes our experience of life. In my journey, one lens evoked background feelings of isolation and fear, while the other brings forth a sense of connection, purpose, security, and tranquility.
Our beliefs dictate our perception, and our perception shapes our reality.
Which lens do you choose? For me, this is a no brainer.
I could end this blog post right here but let’s delve a bit deeper.
One fascinating observation I've made is the recursive nature of Nature itself — as below, so above — as above, so below. This intrinsic quality is a fundamental property of Nature. The Universe is a reflection of Itself. It expresses an elegant design that I marvel at. This recursive pattern is evident in various forms, from the mesmerizing intricacy of fractals to the intricate dance of DNA, from the harmonious interplay of ecosystems to the miraculous process of cell division that underpins our very existence.
Recursiveness spans complexity, as evidenced by the Fibonacci series, the mathematical basis for spirals. This principle is evident in the elegant curvature of a Nautilus shell on a minuscule scale, as well as in the vast expanse of a galaxy on a cosmic scale. It is a phenomenal phenomenon.
Now with all that said, enter this classic scene from the 1978 movie Animal House:
(If you can’t see the embedded video then click here.)
Being stoned notwithstanding, I posit that Harold Ramis, a person of spiritual awareness, writer of the movie Groundhog Day, and one of the writers of Animal House, was playfully introducing something profound here. What if the individual we think we are is really a beautifully complex component or “cell” within a larger Being — not a biological cell but an energetic cell that spans the physical and non-physical dimensions?
We are.
The Universe is conscious and alive — all of it — and we are integrally and essentially one with This.
There is no separation.
Not only are we in the Universe, the Universe is in us.
As I came to experience this, I discovered apparently this was old news:
Buddhism: In Mahayana Buddhism, the concept of "Buddha Nature" (Tathagatagarbha) suggests that all sentient beings possess an inherent potential for enlightenment. This implies a shared essence or beingness that transcends individual identities.
Within Buddhism is the idea of Indra’s Net, which describes a vast and infinite net, where at each intersection of the net, there is a jewel that reflects all the other jewels in the net. This metaphor is used to illustrate the interconnectedness and interdependence of all phenomena in the universe. It suggests a holographic nature of creation; that all points contain information of the Whole. If this is true then it is impossible for us to be separate from anything.
Indra’s Net
Hinduism: Besides Advaita Vedanta, other schools of Hindu philosophy, such as Vishishtadvaita Vedanta and Dvaita Vedanta, also discuss the idea of a shared being. For example, Vishishtadvaita Vedanta teaches that all individual beings are part of the ultimate reality, Brahman, and are interconnected through this shared essence.
Christianity: Some Christian mystics and theologians, such as Meister Eckhart and Teilhard de Chardin, have discussed the concept of a shared or collective being. They often speak of the "body of Christ" as a metaphor for the interconnectedness of all humanity.
Sufism: In Islamic mysticism, Sufis often speak of the concept of "wahdat al-wujud," or the "Unity of Being." This idea suggests that all beings are manifestations of the same divine reality and are interconnected through this shared essence.
Indigenous Traditions: Many indigenous traditions around the world have concepts that imply a shared or collective being. For example, some Native American traditions speak of the interconnectedness of all living beings and the idea that humans are part of a larger web of life.
Esoteric Traditions: Various esoteric traditions also discuss the concept of a shared or collective being. For example, the idea of a "collective consciousness" or a "global mind" is often discussed in these traditions.
We are each a beautifully evolving being within a larger shared Being. Embracing this reality alters our relationship with the Whole. To welcome this concept is to invite Infinite Intelligence to flow through us, guiding and aligning every aspect of our existence, down to the very cells of our body. Expanding this notion, our very existence plays an essential role in informing the Universe itself. How is this for a profoundly symbiotic relationship?
Rejecting this truth (a habit of the ego) also alters our relationship with the Whole, but for the worse. It is the basis for all the problems we see in the world.
Which perspective do you choose?
Don’t simply accept this as a dogmatic belief. Invite this in. Begin your day contemplating the following idea for a month and notice what happens in your experience:
I am an integral and essential part of our shared Being. Our shared Being is an infinite flow of Love. As I open to this idea and allow this truth of the Whole to inform my mind, perceptions, and body, my entire being (this manifestation I call “me”) is brought into harmonic realignment and relationship with our Being.
Welcome to Reality. Welcome Home.
🙏🕉