Life is JUST a Shadow

Life is just a shadow?

Centuries ago, a philosopher compared life and the search for truth to living in a cave. Imagine the darkness, the emptiness and all you see of reality are shadows cast on to the cave wall. 

There is a fire, but you live life with the fire behind you. As people pass behind you, hold up objects, and more … all you see are the shadows on the cave wall.

The shadows are what we come to believe as reality. The moves, the shapes, the interactions between shapes are all we see. So we think that is the truth, that what we are seeing is reality. 

But then, you walk out of the cave into the light. What you see, the true reality, is overwhelming, confusing. Yet, as you continue, you grasp the shadows were mere reflections, copies.

Interestingly, the cave dwellers are called ‘prisoners.’ Why?Maybe because we are prisoners if we don’t have the truth and rely in perception.

The point of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave …

• Perception is not necessarily reality. Maybe rarely.
• Ignorance, naivety is blinding. We have to be open to grow, learn, seek the truth.
• Education/Learning is freeing, just like prisoners set free into the light of truth.

Lastly, when we do find the truth, we have a responsibility to share it.

There is a line from the movie Rudy. The priest is sharing with young Rudy as Rudy is trying to answer the question, “Why?”

The priest says has learned two truths … 

– There is a God
– I’m not Him

In the next few posts, I want to share some truths I’ve gleaned as I have walked out of the cave. I’ve come a long way in the many decades I have lived through … but these two by the priest really hit home.

There is a God (He has a plan and He doesn’t have to tell me squat)!
I am not Him!