“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

I am speaking now of the basic nature of reality, and not of any particular action, for particular actions can indeed be altered by other actions, and no given action occurs in a solitary manner.

This last is extremely important. Actions are perceived as realities according to the nature, not of a given action, but according to the nature of the perceiver. His viewpoint and his field of reference will at all times color to some extent or another the nature of the reality which he perceives.

This may sound contradictory. We have stated that a reality remains as it is, unchanged even though the perceiver, because of his sense apparatus, may perceive it in a limited or distorted fashion. While this is to some extent true, we can now delve into the matter somewhat more fully. In our later sessions for example, we have mentioned that the desire for duplication must always result in a distortion, but this distortion is also the basis therefore for a new reality.

Now, putting these two statements together, you see that an individual will perceive basic reality, in the main, only from his own reference point, and through his outer sense apparatus. His perception of basic reality in one way does not change the nature of that reality or of that action, as it exists independently of his field of reference. However, the very distortions that occur in his attempt to perceive this reality results in a new reality. What he perceives then is legitimate, for his very perception of it is the basis for its existence.

Any individual reacts to a reality as he perceives it to be, and he perceives it to be since he has himself created it from basic reality. The very distortions therefore form many of the characteristic differences which for him gives his reality its peculiar nature. Those whose actions set them apart drastically from others within your system, and who seem in one way or another mentally unbalanced, are often told that they must relate themselves more clearly with reality as it exists.

This however is not their problem, for like all other individuals they perceive a reality that they have created. Their problem therefore is a distortive one. It is not related to their attitude toward reality as a whole, but it is intimately connected with the reality which they have created. They are indeed relating to that reality very well. The reality, however, is much more distorted than usual, and this is one of the main problems.

It is only because their realities are so distorted that the difficulty is discovered. I mentioned many sessions back that your physical universe, so taken for granted, is actually at least as diverse and multitudinous as the dream system. Within the physical universe you merely focus upon similarities and ignore the vast differences that exist. Each reality is completely unique for every individual, and through his own actions he attempts therefore to communicate the nature of this reality of his to his fellows.

We have discussed the ways in which telepathy operates in this respect, and we have to some extent discussed the ways in which the appearance of cohesiveness is maintained. In many cases the individual who is called mentally unbalanced is simply one whose individual reality is so composed that it is impossible for others to find in his expression of it any similarity with their own. The error is one of inadequate idea construction.

The quest is a good one. You have simply concentrated upon it too deeply. You have learned much, both in relating yourself to inner reality and to outer relationships, and the error is understandable. The outer relationships are serving you well, for you are already storing up many ideas for your work, for your painting, that have at least partially come as a result of your perception of others.

Enough cannot be said along these lines regarding the nature of your expectations, for according to the manner in which you expect your reality to behave, in that manner shall it be.

The ego, for reasons of its own, does not want to accept an action which has already occurred, and does not want to admit it within the framework of its own reality. The point of resistance becomes woven into the personality framework, the problem being not of the subconscious, but again of the ego’s denial or attempt to deny a portion of its own reality.