But if what we think of as real, is an illusion, where or what is the real part to it? I mean, hologram or illusion or reflection, it has to have some sort of real thing behind the chicanery.

Yes. I have asked this same question.

What if this is just a dream? What then, is "real?"

People are real.

Other conscious individuals with unique points of view, different from ours. They are the only "real" things.

YOU are real.

At this point you have to start examining what it is you mean by "real".

If you look at a hologram, is the 3d image "real"?

Well, if you say that the 3D image is real, the analogy indicates that anything at all that you observer "in the physical universe" is real.

On the other hand, if you say that the 3D image is not "real" and only the plate itself is real, then the analogy would indicate that we have absolutely no idea what is real. Science cannot help us because the scientific method is itself based on things that are not real.

Quite a conundrum.

Yes, "self" appears to be the only thing left. It is the one thing that can be known to be real.

But then, that's even true in the "mainstream scientific universe".

here's a better question. do my actions that affect other people in my view of the universe, really affect those people in their own views of the universe, or is everyone that isn't me just a convincing illusion in my own unique reality tunnel?

There's some intersting irony in asking that question at all: If eveyone else is simply an illusion, then the question is being addressed to an illusion.

And it also points to an interesting answer: If everyone else is not an illusion, then the easiest way to get an answer is to ask them.

So here's my answer: those actions of yours that affect me, do in fact affect me.

but on at least one of the levels of reality, all people are connected to each other as one. so in a way, each of us is everywhere. So, say for example, we were so far in the future from where we thought we were in time, that there were completely immersive and immensely detailed video games that were basically seemingly long dreams that took place in a short time. And if what we consider to be life and reality was all taking place in that video game, how could we figure out if that was the case? If the universe is indeed structured the way it looks like it is, it lends itself to holography. If everything is a hologram, then new ones could be created with a little smoke and mirrors. Holograms don't have thoughts though. What if they were programmed to think they did though? I guess if life is really a giant holographic future video game, then kudos to who or whatever wrote the program.

Good question. I think your actions do affect other people.

The key is to become aware of how they affect others and why they affect others. That is consciousness.

Holograms don't have thoughts they are thoughts.

You created them. You are the thinking center.

This reality or dream can be whatever we manifest it to be once we learn lucid living.

Lucid dreaming gives you some control over your dream. Lucid living gives you some control over your reality.

We are here to learn to be lucid. Do you know what a matrix is? It is an incubator for life forms. We are barely conscious. Babes in the universe. Every day is a spiritual awakening.

Awaken. That is your purpose.

</end of sermon>

I'm not just here to awaken, I'm here to spread awakening across the planet, like a match tossed into gasoline soaked firecrackers.

My first responsibility is to awaken.
I am not sure how effective I can be in awakening others.

You woke me up.

(Granted, I was only half-asleep. Lots of folks are in a deep, coma-like sleep )

Really? Glad I could help! Now someone needs to wake me up. LOL

I guess I better be careful what I wish for.

Yep. Once you wake up, you can't go back to sleep. So, do you want the blue pill or do you want the red pill?

I can't remember which one is which. I'll take the one that wakes me up.

it's the red one. that one wakes one up.

Oh yeh!

I think they call the BLUE pill: "IGNORANT BLISS"
and the red pill they call: "RUDE AWAKENING."

Usually, I miss the blue pill.