Fantasy versus Reality

Love and Imagination are the Breath of Creation.
(Quote from Spiritual Networks)

"Reality can connect you with God, fantasy can send you on a wild goose's chase." This was my response to a question someone asked in the Spiritual Networks community on the "Fantasy versus Reality" theme. Actually, it took me even a little bit of editing to get to this version. Instinctively, I wrote that reality is of God, while fantasy is of the ego. But then it occurred to me that our so called reality too can be tainted by the human touch. Sometimes one really has to look hard to find God in some of the man-created mess.

The expression "fantasy" is a problematic one for the reason that it already has the notion of being artificial embedded in it. What if we took "imagination, anticipation, entrepreneurial spirit, creative powers" instead, we would think very differently, wouldn't we? In conclusion, we shouldn't look down on a world that is created by the mind. Isn't it also true that reality is sometimes so brutal that only with the help of our imagined world we can keep going? I once read the story of a Prisoner of War, who more likely than not would have died given the conditions he found himself in over many years. He found a mental crutch though and played every day a round of 18 hole golf on his favorite golf course. Stroke by stroke, round by round, manifesting the imagined reality in his head. It is said that when he finally returned to America, despite his weakened body, he played the best round of golf ever, in honor of the course and the game that saved his life. 

God gave us a big heart and a beautiful mind to be Her co-creator. Let's celebrate both of our God-given institutions. We are God's Co-Creator with the mission to bring the utopia "Heaven on earth" a little closer to reality.  

Mental Biases

No one with a personal investment is a reliable witness, for the truth to him has become what he wants it to be.
A Course in Miracles

I have seen people who have done remarkably well for themselves despite the fact that they live in a world of their own. Mistakes by definition must be the fault of others; they can only see situations from their vantage point. When you first meet these people you will be surprised how pleasant they are. Yet, please keep your distance and especially, never go on a collision course with them.

The ego has a one-sided view and since we all have ego, we all tend to be biased. So should we just all throw our arms up in the air and say that since no one can be objective, we might just have it our way anyway? I don't think the situation is quite as bleak. Very much as there are some who cannot admit mistakes to themselves, there are others who tend to be pretty realistic about what is going on. More than that, I have observed that impartiality can be acquired if you hand over the steering wheel to the Tao.

The Tao teaches you to look at everything as is. Sure, you still favor the outcomes, but the Tao shows you again and again that you don't even know what you should be rooting for. The ego is not kind to you. You can observe that fact in yourself and others. Follow the Tao step by step and your ego will be absorbed in the process. Along the Tao you have no expectations, no agenda and no action plan. Impressions and choices hit you so fast that there is simply no time to think and scheme. With nothing to root for, you will see reality as is.