personal reality个人实相

In The Early Sessions Book 4, the discussion of "personal reality" (here mainly manifested as the unique reality that the individual creates and experiences, as well as the reality constitution of the human individual) unfolds along the following core dimensions:

First, personal reality arises from the perception and "distorting" creation of basic reality. Seth points out that the individual perceives basic reality primarily from his own reference point and through the outer senses. Although this perception does not change the nature of basic reality or action that exists independently of the individual's reference point, the "distortions" produced when the individual attempts to perceive basic reality precisely lead to the emergence of a "new reality." Therefore, what the individual perceives is entirely legitimate, because his perception itself is the basis for the existence of that reality ^[1]. Any individual reacts to the reality he perceives, and he is able to perceive this reality because he himself has created it from basic reality. It is precisely these distortions that form many differences in characteristics, thereby giving the individual's reality its unique nature. For example, those who are considered mentally unbalanced in the physical system because of strange behavior are often urged to establish a clearer connection with "objectively existing reality"; but Seth points out that this is not their problem, because they, like everyone else, are perceiving the reality they have created. Their problem lies in the "distortions" themselves, which have nothing to do with their attitude toward overall reality, but are closely related to the reality they themselves have created; in fact, they are connected very well with the reality they have created ^[1].

Second, the reality of the human individual is constituted by the interaction of multiple systems. The personality exists in the physical system in a diffuse manner, composed most basically of biological heredity and of hereditary attributes that belonged to the cellular structure long before multicellular existence. The interrelated action among the biological system, the electrical system, and the personality structure actually constitutes the reality of the human individual ^[2]. These systems are indivisible; if one system is investigated, the other systems will inevitably be affected. In addition, the personality likewise possesses reality in the dream universe ^[2].

Finally, personal reality is transcendent in the temporal dimension. On the most basic and practical level, the personality as a whole actually does not participate in physical time at all; only the ego participates in it. Therefore, the personality system responds to stimuli that appear to the ego to be far apart in time (for example, the personality may respond in the present to a stimulus that, in the ego's understanding, occurred twenty years ago), which shows that the operation of personal reality is not limited by linear physical time ^[2].

In The Early Sessions Book 6, Seth explores several core dimensions of personal reality (especially the relationship between psychological reality and physical reality, the limitations of perception, and the operating mechanisms of the ego within it): First, there is no essential difference between psychological reality and physical reality. Seth points out that, in essence, there is no real difference between psychological reality and physical reality. This distinction is artificially manufactured by the "physically-oriented ego" out of the necessity of survival and operation. For the "survival personality" freed from physical limitations, all realities are psychological realities; in their view, a thought is as real as a chair, and even more real than a chair ^[1]. Second, the self-protective mechanism of perception and the dilution of reality. The individual cannot perceive the nature of his own reality in any direct way, and cannot even perceive himself directly, but can only perceive through the sense mechanisms adopted by the ego. Although what humans directly perceive are "psychological experiences," these experiences are not presented in their undiluted, original form. The ego possesses an automatic protective mechanism that spontaneously filters out impressions that appear too vivid or intense at any particular time, so as to prevent itself from being overwhelmed because it cannot bear them. If the outer senses were used without reservation and to the fullest extent, even an insecure ego would be shattered into pieces ^[2]. Third, the multidimensional operation and indirect manifestation of the complete personality in physical reality. The complete personality or the complete self does not directly manifest itself fully in physical reality. The personality is multidimensional and operates simultaneously within many systems. Although certain portions of the self do not manifest directly in physical reality, sufficient hints and signs still appear in physical reality to prove the existence of the other portions of the self. In addition, certain portions of the personality are, within their own perspective, learning to become involved with physical reality, just as humans are learning to become involved with nonphysical reality. To truly understand the psychology of the personality, reincarnation and the simultaneous operation of the personality in multiple systems must be taken into account ^[3].

In The Early Sessions Book 7, Seth provides an in-depth exploration of the nature of personal reality and multidimensional reality. The core discussion at this stage centers mainly on "root agreements/assumptions," the "camouflage system," and "probable realities."

First, the physical reality experienced by the individual is not absolutely objective, but is constructed on the basis of specific "root agreements." Seth points out that no two people's physical experiences are completely identical. People agree to accept certain data in the physical universe, combine them into specific patterns, and completely ignore other data. These "root agreements" constitute the main basis for the apparent permanence and coherence of the physical system. For example, one of the root agreements is that physical objects possess a reality completely independent of any subjective cause, and are permanent within certain limits ^[1]. These root agreements constitute the framework of our "camouflage system," allowing us to observe and interpret existence only in a highly specialized manner ^[2].

Second, when the individual attempts to explore inner reality or other systems, the root agreements of physical reality become an obstacle. Seth emphasizes that the coherence of the inner universe is based on a completely different set of root assumptions. If one measures inner experience by the root agreements of the physical world (for example, thinking that dream objects are unreal because they appear and disappear), misleading conclusions will result ^[1]. People tend to automatically and unconsciously interpret inner data by means of the root assumptions of the physical system, which greatly distorts the data and makes inner experience appear chaotic or meaningless. The inner senses are not bound by these physical assumptions, and for inner experience to rise to the conscious level, it must be translated into terms that the ego can handle, and this translation inevitably distorts the original experience to a certain extent ^[2].

In addition, the individual's reality also extends into "probable realities." The self we know is only a part of the whole; other "yous" exist in probable universes, and they are closely connected psychologically. Seth points out that a feeling charged with strong emotion immediately establishes a "tangent" and expresses itself in some reality system. Those inner thoughts, desires, and impulses that are not realized on the physical level will be realized in other systems. The inner self is psychologically influenced by these probable personalities, which together represent a complete personality structure or personality gestalt ^[3].

Finally, the individual is actually surrounded by other realities that are not consciously perceived. The inner self has the ability to penetrate beneath all camouflage data to perceive these other reality systems. However, in order to achieve the fullest development, these perceptions must be brought to the conscious level, and even the ego must become aware of them ^[4].