In Defense of “Making It Up As You Go Along.”

Stop looking all over the place for "the answers" - whatever they are - and start looking for the questions - the inquiries which are most important in your life, and give them answers. You do not live each day to discover what it holds for you, but to create it. – Neal Donald Walsch

To what extent is the world given to us as a static, solid object for us investigate and discover; and to what extent is this world an unfolding evolutionary creation of which we are not just part and parcel but co-emergent “facilitators”?  Twentieth century discoveries in quantum physics suggested that there is an “observer-effect” to reality on the most fundamental physical level.  As an article in Discover puts it:

“According to the rules of quantum mechanics, our observations influence the universe at the most fundamental levels. The boundary between an objective "world out there" and our own subjective consciousness that seemed so clearly defined in physics before the eerie discoveries of the 20th century blurs in quantum mechanics. When physicists look at the basic constituents of reality— atoms and their innards, or the particles of light called photons— what they see depends on how they have set up their experiment. A physicist's observations determine whether an atom, say, behaves like a fluid wave or a hard particle, or which path it follows in traveling from one point to another. From the quantum perspective the universe is an extremely interactive place.”  (http://discovermagazine.com/2002/jun/featuniverse)

John Wheeler coined the term “participatory universe” in his interpretation of the meaning of these experimental outcomes.  The “eerie” results in these experiments have been overlooked to a large extent by the dominant scientific community.  Mostly it seems, because they threaten to dismantle the convenient compartmentalization of the Newtonian-Cartesian paradigm upon which modern science is based.  It threatens us with a new world-view which is anxiety-provoking on a number of levels.  This emerging paradigm threatens all of us to some degree.  We have all been conditioned to accept reality a given, as “out there” and apart from us.  What if it isn’t? 

Spiritual traditions have long taught us that it is the inner aspect of ourselves – consciousness – which determines our experience.  When we are at peace inwardly, we promote world peace.  When we feel love and compassion we actually contribute to healing.  And, as Buddha boldly stated, “Our thoughts create our reality.”  Please consider this.  Realize that the world is as you are.  If we let ourselves become caught up in reactive thoughts of anger, revenge and retribution, self and group-righteousness, or depression and self-recrimination, we continue to create a world of suffering. 

On the other hand, we can create a new reality if we are willing; if we are courageous enough.  There is no compelling reason that we have to live in past patterns; we can make a new choice in this very moment.  It means taking responsibility for the creative aspect of our minds; becoming conscious or “waking up.”  Right here and now is where we make the decision to become free or to remain in bondage.  There is no putting it off.  There can be no dependence on the past.  It is up to us right here and right now to create our world anew.