Is 'reality' as we know it a dream?

12-10-2013, 08:43 AM

Ill start this by quoting Zhuangzi;
"Once Zhuangzi dreamt he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering around, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't know he was Zhuangzi. Suddenly he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable Zhuangzi. But he didn't know if he was Zhuangzi who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuangzi."

My question is, if this life as we know it is perception of our own reality and our reality is simply our central nervous system sending electrical signals throughout our body, how do we that any of this is real? Like Zhuangzi, I could be living my life as a dream, not really existing, just being in-between an alternate reality. Just because I can experience physical pain does not necessarily make me 'real'.

I am dumbfounded. I know there is no right or wrong answer here but please share your thoughts as this will torment my mind until I can make any kind of sense of it, which I don't think is entirely possible...

Wise Wiggles · 12-10-2013, 08:46 AM

Roll roll roll your boat bro

12-10-2013, 08:46 AM

I asked the same question on a different website

http://forums.philosophyforums.com/t...eam-64278.html

it will be interesting to compare answers

i have mind fucked myself

Dr Expert · 12-10-2013, 09:16 AM

Paging Dr. Rawn. Paging Dr. Namix. Dr. Namix we’re going to need a metaphysical discussion on the nature of duality and the transcendence of space-time through spiritual evolution STAT. Dr. Rawn were going to need you to come out of hiding ASAP to provide a second opinion and extensive wikipedia research.

(I think I am an expert therefore I am an expert).

Ryan 12 · 12-10-2013, 09:17 AM

i wish this was a dream so i could kill everyone and live like an animal

Ryan 12 · 12-10-2013, 09:19 AM

nah but

dreams are a subset of reality, specifically brain functions & neuron activity. assuming this is a dream opens doors to a whole lot of shit, not specifically good either

and not to mention if this is a dream, everything is an illusion including all the pussies you've fucked

so basically, you're a virgin

step ya virtual game up, br0

veritas · 12-10-2013, 09:21 AM

next watch a movie "a waking life". Get back to me.

dead man · 12-10-2013, 09:35 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_in_a_vat

Witty · 12-10-2013, 09:35 AM

My problem with things like this is it is all just pure speculation, which is ok, but when people start believing things like this as factual it becomes a problem.

The same issue I have with religion, really.

dead man · 12-10-2013, 09:36 AM

WE R NOT HERE WITTY STOP

U R MY DREAM FRIEND

Witty · 12-10-2013, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dead man

WE R NOT HERE WITTY STOP

U R MY DREAM FRIEND

I am honoured, Sir.

Wise Wiggles · 12-10-2013, 09:41 AM

YOU ARE MY ONE GAY FRIEND WITTY

namix · 12-10-2013, 09:42 AM

the only difference is your brain frequency, which allows you to perceive time in a waken state and not in a dream state as you move through alpha into delta.

and because of our perception of time, our perception of 'manifestation' is slower.

That's why what ever we think in a dream happens instantaneously, but we believe we do not have the same influence in our waken state due to the latency between imagination and reality.

woof.

Witty · 12-10-2013, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wise Ways

YOU ARE MY ONE GAY FRIEND WITTY

I am honoured, Sir.

Ryan 12 · 12-10-2013, 09:43 AM

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

good grief

PancakeBrah · 12-10-2013, 09:46 AM

Had a dream a couple nights ago wherein a I could do a back flip. Ergo, dreams are not reality.

Nice try fagboys

Witty · 12-10-2013, 09:47 AM

I can backflip on a trampoline and land on my feet.

True Story.

I can't do it on solid ground though, I'm not Asian.

Ryan 12 · 12-10-2013, 09:48 AM

kill yourself, seriously. then you'll know for sure if you're dreaming or not

12-10-2013, 09:53 AM

Okay then, ill add in Astral projection to the mix.

What if when one masters this, they are traveling to the 'true' world where the soul exists. I have astral projected once momentarily before I returned. It was an amazing experience.

@Veritas didn't you say I came to you in a dream once? (no rawnmo)

Just C · 12-10-2013, 09:54 AM

We don't know. We just live. All the proof points to it being real. We feel it, we hear it, we smell it, we see it. What proof it isn't real is strong enough to counter the above proof?

You waste your time trying to figure this out you'll drive yourself nuts. Take it for what it is, go with it and enjoy the ride I say.

12-10-2013, 08:43 AM	#1
Masaii Guest Posts: n/a	Is 'reality' as we know it a dream? Ill start this by quoting Zhuangzi; "Once Zhuangzi dreamt he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering around, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't know he was Zhuangzi. Suddenly he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable Zhuangzi. But he didn't know if he was Zhuangzi who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuangzi." My question is, if this life as we know it is perception of our own reality and our reality is simply our central nervous system sending electrical signals throughout our body, how do we that any of this is real? Like Zhuangzi, I could be living my life as a dream, not really existing, just being in-between an alternate reality. Just because I can experience physical pain does not necessarily make me 'real'. I am dumbfounded. I know there is no right or wrong answer here but please share your thoughts as this will torment my mind until I can make any kind of sense of it, which I don't think is entirely possible...

12-10-2013, 08:46 AM	#2
Wise Wiggles nok Su kow Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 4,507 Battle Record: 1-1 Rep Power: 51788019	Roll roll roll your boat bro __________________ "black as midnight..black as pitch blacker than the soul of the foulest witch"

12-10-2013, 09:35 AM	#8
dead man living Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 3,465 Battle Record: 33-18 Accomplishments - Hall of Fame Champed - AOWL Season 1 - Art of Writing League - AOWL Season 4 - Write Week V - GWL Season 1 Rep Power: 77606676	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_in_a_vat __________________ Zack Wicks for president

12-10-2013, 09:35 AM	#9
Witty Lime Life Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 16,794 Battle Record: 30-41 Accomplishments - Only Slightly Retarded Champed - Lyric Olympics - Summer Classic Rep Power: 82986458	My problem with things like this is it is all just pure speculation, which is ok, but when people start believing things like this as factual it becomes a problem. The same issue I have with religion, really. __________________ He listens to voices inside of his mind Explicit and poisonous violent crime.

12-10-2013, 09:36 AM	#10
dead man living Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 3,465 Battle Record: 33-18 Accomplishments - Hall of Fame Champed - AOWL Season 1 - Art of Writing League - AOWL Season 4 - Write Week V - GWL Season 1 Rep Power: 77606676	WE R NOT HERE WITTY STOP U R MY DREAM FRIEND __________________ Zack Wicks for president

12-10-2013, 09:16 AM	#4
Dr Expert Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 13 Rep Power: 34	Paging Dr. Rawn. Paging Dr. Namix. Dr. Namix we’re going to need a metaphysical discussion on the nature of duality and the transcendence of space-time through spiritual evolution STAT. Dr. Rawn were going to need you to come out of hiding ASAP to provide a second opinion and extensive wikipedia research. (I think I am an expert therefore I am an expert).

12-10-2013, 09:17 AM	#5
Ryan 12 Worst of the worst Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 1,014 Battle Record: 6-1 Rep Power: 7022	i wish this was a dream so i could kill everyone and live like an animal

12-10-2013, 09:19 AM	#6
Ryan 12 Worst of the worst Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 1,014 Battle Record: 6-1 Rep Power: 7022	nah but dreams are a subset of reality, specifically brain functions & neuron activity. assuming this is a dream opens doors to a whole lot of shit, not specifically good either and not to mention if this is a dream, everything is an illusion including all the pussies you've fucked so basically, you're a virgin step ya virtual game up, br0

12-10-2013, 09:41 AM	#12
Wise Wiggles nok Su kow Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 4,507 Battle Record: 1-1 Rep Power: 51788019	YOU ARE MY ONE GAY FRIEND WITTY __________________ "black as midnight..black as pitch blacker than the soul of the foulest witch"

12-10-2013, 09:42 AM	#13
namix been that, done there. Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 2,260 Battle Record: 2-1 Accomplishments - OM HOF Rep Power: 85246652	the only difference is your brain frequency, which allows you to perceive time in a waken state and not in a dream state as you move through alpha into delta. and because of our perception of time, our perception of 'manifestation' is slower. That's why what ever we think in a dream happens instantaneously, but we believe we do not have the same influence in our waken state due to the latency between imagination and reality. woof. __________________ well fed.

12-10-2013, 09:43 AM	#15
Ryan 12 Worst of the worst Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 1,014 Battle Record: 6-1 Rep Power: 7022	LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL good grief

12-10-2013, 09:46 AM	#16
PancakeBrah SOBER Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 13,052 Battle Record: 2-5 Champed - AOWL Season 2 Rep Power: 85899406	Had a dream a couple nights ago wherein a I could do a back flip. Ergo, dreams are not reality. Nice try fagboys

12-10-2013, 09:47 AM	#17
Witty Lime Life Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 16,794 Battle Record: 30-41 Accomplishments - Only Slightly Retarded Champed - Lyric Olympics - Summer Classic Rep Power: 82986458	I can backflip on a trampoline and land on my feet. True Story. I can't do it on solid ground though, I'm not Asian. __________________ He listens to voices inside of his mind Explicit and poisonous violent crime.

12-10-2013, 09:48 AM	#18
Ryan 12 Worst of the worst Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 1,014 Battle Record: 6-1 Rep Power: 7022	kill yourself, seriously. then you'll know for sure if you're dreaming or not

12-10-2013, 09:53 AM	#19
Masaii Guest Posts: n/a	Okay then, ill add in Astral projection to the mix. What if when one masters this, they are traveling to the 'true' world where the soul exists. I have astral projected once momentarily before I returned. It was an amazing experience. @Veritas didn't you say I came to you in a dream once? (no rawnmo)

12-10-2013, 09:54 AM	#20
Just C Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 769 Rep Power: 0	We don't know. We just live. All the proof points to it being real. We feel it, we hear it, we smell it, we see it. What proof it isn't real is strong enough to counter the above proof? You waste your time trying to figure this out you'll drive yourself nuts. Take it for what it is, go with it and enjoy the ride I say.