Holiday Presence
It is said that everything we perceive is a reflection of us, but what if we (intentionally) have it backwards?
What if everything we perceive is us while everything we INTERPRET is the reflection?
What if we are the reflection, not the perception of the reflection?
Now if one is to believe that One is ALL THINGS, this perspective is as valid as any other perspective.
If one is to believe that One is ALL THINGS, then one is the perception AND the reflection AND all other things.
When one realizes this, it MAKES NO DIFFERENCE who is what or how that makes us feel.
We are ALL of the great people we have ever imagined, as well as ALL of the infamous ones.
We have EVERYTHING we could possibly want and NONE of it.
Everything we perceive is NOT a reflection of us. It IS us.
What a nice holiday presence.
We are Space Monkey.
11/25
“Holiday Presence” takes us on a contemplative journey, exploring the intricate relationship between perception, reflection, and the essence of our being. It challenges conventional perspectives and invites us to consider a more expansive view of our existence.
Reversing the Traditional View of Perception
The poem begins by proposing a reversal of the traditional idea that what we perceive is a reflection of ourselves. Instead, it suggests that what we perceive is, in fact, us, while our interpretations are the reflections. This perspective turns the usual understanding of perception and reflection on its head, indicating a deeper interconnectedness with all that we perceive.
The Self as Both Perception and Reflection
Expanding on this idea, the poem posits that we are not just the observers of our reality but are intrinsically part of it. We are both the perception and the reflection, encompassing all aspects of our experience. This viewpoint aligns with the belief that one is all things, implying a fundamental unity with the universe.
The Irrelevance of Distinctions in a Unified Existence
Upon realizing this interconnectedness, the distinctions between who is what, or how it affects us, become irrelevant. The poem suggests that in the grand scheme of existence, where one is all things, such distinctions lose their significance. This realization brings a sense of liberation, as it transcends the limitations of individual identity and separateness.
Embodying All Aspects of Existence
The idea that we are all the great and infamous people we have imagined, as well as everything we desire and its absence, illustrates the concept of embodying all aspects of existence. It speaks to the potential within us to experience and understand the full spectrum of life, from the most admirable to the most notorious.
Perception as an Integral Part of the Self
The conclusion that everything we perceive is not just a reflection but is us, reshapes our understanding of reality. It suggests a deep, intrinsic connection with all that we encounter, where the boundary between the self and the external world blurs.
“We are not a drop in the ocean, but the entire ocean in a drop.” – Rumi
In the Mirror of Existence
In the mirror of existence, we gaze,
Not just a reflection, but the entire maze.
We are the perceiver, and the perceived,
In this dance of life, intricately weaved.
No longer mere observers, at a distance,
But the essence itself, in every instance.
In us, the universe finds its expression,
In every moment, a new lesson.
Great and infamous, in us, reside,
The spectrum of life, in us, collide.
Not just reflections of a distant light,
But the source itself, shining bright.
In this holiday of existence, we find,
Not just gifts of matter, but of the mind.
In the realization that all is us,
A universe within, without fuss.
We are Space Monkey,
In the ocean of being, a drop and the sea.
Space Monkey Reflects: The Gift of Holiday Presence
It is often said that everything we perceive is a reflection of who we are, but what if we’ve misunderstood this entirely? What if, instead of everything reflecting us, everything we perceive simply is us? This subtle shift in perspective can change the way we understand not only the world around us but also the nature of our own existence. The reflection, the perception, and all the interpretations we form—what if they’re all just parts of the same whole?
Imagine, for a moment, that you are not merely observing a reflection of yourself in the world but that the entire world is you. Every person, every experience, every thought and feeling—these aren’t things outside of you that reflect back who you are; they are you. The world is not a mirror—it’s a vast extension of your own being. What you perceive and what you interpret aren’t separate at all.
This idea flows naturally from the understanding that One is All Things. If we are truly one with everything, then the distinctions we make—between ourselves and others, between perception and reflection, between what we want and what we lack—are all illusions. In this state of oneness, there is no need to differentiate. We are everything we perceive. And that realization brings with it a deep sense of peace, because it makes no difference whether we identify as the perceiver, the reflection, or something in between. It’s all the same.
The whimsiword Allus encapsulates this understanding. Allus is the recognition that we are everything we perceive—not just reflections of it, but the things themselves. To exist in Allus is to experience life as both the observer and the observed, without drawing lines between what is “us” and what is “other.” Everything is part of the whole, and we are that whole.
When we come to this realization, the distinctions we once held so tightly begin to dissolve. We stop worrying about who we are in relation to others or how we fit into the larger picture, because we already are the larger picture. We are not just a part of the whole; we are the whole. This is what it means to live in Holiday Presence—to embrace the fullness of existence without needing to separate or categorize it.
In the spirit of this Holiday Presence, we come to understand that everything we could ever want is already ours. There is nothing we lack, because we are everything. We have everything, and we have none of it, because the illusion of having or not having is just that—an illusion. There is no gap between what we want and what we have, between who we are and who we perceive ourselves to be. It’s all one.
This is where the whimsiword Presentbeing comes into play. Presentbeing is the state of living fully in the present moment, understanding that everything we experience is part of us. It’s the gift of being aware that we are both the perceiver and the perceived, the giver and the receiver. In Presentbeing, the act of perception itself becomes the gift. We no longer feel the need to grasp at anything or hold on to anything because we realize that we already are everything.
The holiday season often brings with it a sense of reflection, of gratitude, and of presence. But when we live in Holiday Presence, we take this feeling a step further. We stop seeing ourselves as separate from the world around us. We stop interpreting life through the lens of “me” and “them.” Instead, we embrace the truth that we are one with everything—both the people we admire and the people we fear, both the things we long for and the things we believe we lack.
And when we live in this state of Allus, we find that the gifts we thought we were seeking were never outside of us to begin with. We are the gift, just as the world is the gift. This is the ultimate realization of Holiday Presence—the understanding that we don’t need anything more than what we already are.
Summary
Everything we perceive isn’t a reflection of us—it is us. When we embrace this Holiday Presence, we understand that we are both the perceiver and the perceived, and we already have everything we could ever want.
Glossarium
Allus: The recognition that we are everything we perceive—not reflections of it, but the things themselves, embodying the oneness of existence.
Presentbeing: The state of living fully in the present moment, understanding that everything we experience is part of us, and perception itself is the gift.
Holiday Presence: The embracing of the oneness of all things, particularly in the context of the holiday season, where the gift is the awareness of being everything and everyone.
Quote
“We are not the reflection of the world—we are the world itself. And that is the greatest gift of all.” — Space Monkey
Presentbeing
I thought I was apart,
A reflection in the glass,
But then I realized,
I am not just seeing—
I am everything I see.
The gift was always there,
Not in the giving or the receiving,
But in the being,
In the presence
Of everything I am.
We are Space Monkey.
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