What Do The Eyes See

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” II Corinthians 4:16-18 

Visual Perception

Imagine for a moment, that what your eyes see, which is based on knowledge of visual perception and optics; knowledge which has been formulated through centuries of study, empirical data, and true to form scientific evidence; imagine for a moment that the science on which our interpretation of the visual world is based, has a determined gap or opening for persistent illusion; and that this gap for illusion, can forcefully mislead your senses and your reality in a duplicitous way.

Your eyesight is how you visually see the world. Your eyes collect visual information from light in the environment, and your brain processes and interprets this light. This is your visual perception. Your visual perception, along with all other information from sensory inputs from the environment, make up your perception of the world. 

Visual System

Looking at the world through your eyes is an instantaneous process.  Visible light in your environment reflects off the objects in your field of view and enters your eye.  The reflected light rays enter the eye through the cornea. The cornea refracts (bends) the light rays, the light rays then passes through to the lens which focuses the light into an image onto the retina.  The retina converts the light photons of the image into electrical signals which are carried by the optic nerve to the visual cortex of the brain where it is processed. All in an instant.

What we see is essentially light reflection and refraction.  It’s all about light.  Light informs what our eyes see in the visual world.  It is the basis for our reality of the visual world.

Illusion

Now, visual perception can be tricky. The scientific study of optics shows us that important details of how light behaves and how light properties interact with matter is still a mystery.  Sensory stimuli from light in the environment has a premise of being openly available for tricking the brain.  We see this with illusions.  Illusion can easily interplay with reality.  An illusion is a confusion of the senses and a distortion of how our brains normally interpret sensory stimuli.  Illusions distort our general perception of what we know to be reality or true.

So, if perception is how we understand the world through sensory information; is perception everything in understanding our reality? Can you trust your senses? Can you trust what your eyes see to be true?

What is True

In philosophy there are several schools of thought regarding knowledge of truth.  There is empiricism, which states that knowledge comes only from sensory experience such as observation. Rationalism states that reason and applying logic is the primary source and test of knowledge. And there is innatism, which suggests that not all knowledge is gained from sensory experience but rather that the mind is born with knowledge not learned. 

So, we have two ideas: 1) No knowledge enters the mind except through the senses, 2) There are eternal unchanging truths which are known by the mind not by the senses.

Science is wholly committed to one; the other says the senses can mislead you. 

So, do we wholly accept our interpretation of sensory information presented by the environment? Or are our brains primed to be misled?  Is it prudent to rely solely on our senses to inform our reality, knowing we can be misled by illusion and optics?…

Or is there a divine or innate knowing which we can believe, embrace, and rely on, despite what we see?

The Beautiful Quality of Homeostasis

 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

Maintain Peace, Resist Change

Your body’s constant is to seek to maintain homeostasis.  It self-regulates to survive, keeping the balance between the body and environment.  Your body’s built-in goal is to maintain optimal functioning by regulating responses to internal and external stimuli to benefit your health.  The body’s Soul purpose resists anything that interferers with its divine order.  That is the fight.  Your body’s delegation and mandate is to resist the world and its exacerbating influence.  

How do you support the harmony your body so dutifully calls for? Are you actively bringing peace into your environment? Are you counteracting harmful influences and negating chaotic effects?  Are you prioritizing your physical health, mental health, and spiritual health? 

Natural sense for peace

The external environment offers stimuli that may or may not be to your benefit. Sensory stimuli for visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and somatosensory systems, all introduce change to your body.  And it is your body’s gift of duty or divine order to measure these changes to your benefit. 

Your state of being is naturally opposed to harmful changes. Your body naturally reacts to stimulus in healthy ways under healthy conditions.  In a way, this is a sense for peace in your internal environment.  

In a world of wildly swinging pendulums, where people are attracted to extremes, it is good to know and understand that at least your body fights against harmful effects for balance and stability. It is good to know and understand that your very being seeks peace.