The I and Reality

Who Am I?

Such a basic question, we might think, but its meaning is fraught with implications. Because when you ask yourself who you are, you ask yourself about the entirety of your being, that which makes yourself you, and not somebody else.

Am I my mind? Am I the thoughts I think, the insights I harbor?

Am I my body? Am I what I do, how I look like? Is the body actually an indirect manifestation of the intricate state of the soul, its sickness and wellbeing?

In that moment I disintegrate and cease to exist in this reality, what form do I take on? Is it not as much a matter of who I am, than what I am?

Who am I? What am I?

And the scary thing is, do I really want to know?

***

Schizophrenia is a condition characterized by hallucinations, which may commonly be auditory and visual.

Hallucinations, as defined by our books, are sensory perceptions that do not actually exist in reality.

That caught my attention: In reality.

But this is just one reality. The objects and people in our direct lines of sight and hearing are only one reality, and it is not the only one. Tell me I’ve been reading C.S. Lewis’ books too much. Sure. But I strongly believe that simply to live in this very tangible reality, the one we are explicitly used to, does not necessarily negate the possibility of the existence of other realities.

What about death? What about dreams? And on a whole other level, what about God?

Schizophrenics may see or hear or feel, but on a different plane…an entirely other dimension.

And I’ve gotten to thinking: Are the mentally ill really ill, if we base their conditions on what is acceptable in just this reality? What if, by some crazy notion, the people we call crazy are really those that know something we don’t?

If you think I’m losing it, then you’re probably right. It’s just I’ve given these things quite some thought lately. Will blog again if I get any new insights.

Explore posts in the same categories: Opinion, Overthought

Tags: body, c.s. lewis, dreams, i, mind, reality, schizophrenia, soul

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