This is a bold statement. But it is a correct statement. There are many shortcomings, errors, faults, and incomplete answers in the perception process taught by science. The focus of this essay is to highlight some of these shortcomings and then explain how the perception process actually works.

Perception Process Taught by Science

Let us try and understand the process taught by science. There is a universe “out there” with an unlimited number of objects. Let us call these objects “Object 1.” Now, there must be a light source. The light from this source falls on these objects, and the reflected light from these objects travels toward our eyes. This reflected light, using photons, gathers all the required information about the objects—information like the shape and greenness of the tree, the blueness of the sky, the shape and yellowness of the orange, etc. From this, it does seem that this reflected light is our only connection to the world “out there.” If there is no reflected light, we will not be able to perceive the universe. All perception depends upon this reflected light.

When the reflected light with the required information reaches the retina in the eye, the retina converts the reflected light into an optical signal. The optical signal is sent to the brain for processing. What happens in the brain is a big mystery. Science has very little understanding about how the brain processes the optical signal—but somehow an object image is created for perception. We can call the object image created by the brain “Object 2.” It seems there are two sets of the same object: Object 1 “out there” and Object 2 in the brain. We do not experience these two sets; we experience only one set of objects. But which one? A good question.

A good way to understand this is to see what happens when we watch TV. A live sports match is being played at the stadium, and we watch the image of this match on our TV. Here again, there are two sets of the same objects. A live match played in the stadium and another set on TV. We can draw a parallel with our earlier discussion; the live match in the stadium is Object 1 and what we see on TV is Object 2. Here too, there are two sets of objects: Object 1 and Object 2. In this case there is no confusion; we are clear that we are watching Object 2 on the TV. We can never watch a live match (Object 1) by sitting at home; we must be at the stadium.

If we apply the above reasoning, it is correct to conclude that we experience the object image created by the brain—we perceive Object 2. This is logical because the observer within us can only perceive what is created by the brain; it can only perceive Object 2. The observer within us can never perceive Object 1. Why? It is at the other end of the reflected light. There is no direct connection between the observer within us and Object 1. Just like we cannot perceive the live sports match by sitting at home, in the same way the observer within us cannot perceive Object 1 “out there.”

It does seem that we perceive Object 2, which is reproduced by our brain, and not Object 1. If we do perceive Object 2, then a simple question arises: where is Object 1? How do we justify the existence of Object 1? I guess there is no proper answer. Does it feel like we perceive Object 2? No, it does not seem like that. It seems like we are always perceiving Object 1. See the confusion. Logically we perceive Object 2, but we think we perceive Object 1. So how do we justify the existence of two sets of the same object? This confusion is there because the perception process taught by science is incorrect. It is unable to resolve the dilemma between Object 1 and Object 2. So, what is the correct perception process? We will discuss this later on.

Shortcoming of Photons in the Perception Process

Our perception of the external world is solely based on the reflected photons traveling from the object to the retina. This overdependence on the reflected photons has many shortcomings. Let us discuss some of the key issues:

1. Around 120 million photons hit the retina every moment. That is a huge number of photons. Each moment, a new set of photons reaches the human eye. Each of these millions of photons must maintain its purity and accuracy to the highest level. If they don’t, we will have a distortion of the image being created by the brain. Is this 100% accuracy possible? Science teaches us that these photons interact with atoms, molecules, and even virtual particles. When they interact, the photons can be absorbed, deflected, or reinvented as different photons. The longer the distance the photons travel, the higher the chances of distortion. All this will reduce the accuracy of the photons reaching the retina. Distortion of the image created by the brain is a distinct possibility.

2. Another critical question is—how can a photon accurately represent the distance and time it has traveled? The object could be close by (like a tree) or a distant star. There is no way to know which photon has traveled how far to reach the human eye. As of now, there is no indication that the photon has some sort of memory to know from which object it has come from and the distance it has traveled. There are millions of photons hitting the retina, but there is no way to know which photon comes from which object and how much distance it has traveled. If this critical information is lacking, it is impossible for the brain to reproduce the image we are trying to perceive.

3. You could say that this is perhaps unknown to science—the photon does have memory to know the distance it has traveled. If so, how does it transfer this distance data to the retina? The retina in turn must enter data regarding distance into the optical signal being sent to the brain. Only in this way can the brain accurately reconstruct the visual image. We don’t know if this is happening or even possible.

4. There is a lack of understanding of how a photon really functions. We see the photons zipping around at the speed of light, but from the perspective of the photons, they do not really travel; they exist outside space and time. If you properly understand Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity, you will find this conclusion to be correct.

Without going into any technical details, the key point of this theory is that whenever there is motion, time slows down and space contracts. Yes, time and space are not a fixed entity but are dependent upon the speed of motion. This theory is a proven fact. The faster the motion, the slower the time and the greater the contraction of space. And, finally, if you reach the speed of light, there is NO time and NO space. Time comes to a standstill and space disappears. This fact is known to science.

So, what travels at the speed of light? The only thing which travels at the speed of light is photons. Nothing else can. Since photons travel at the speed of light, from their perspective there is no space and no time. They exist outside space and time. This is a fact, which must be understood and appreciated. Nature is creating an amazing illusion: we think that photons are zipping around at the speed of light, but in reality, the photons do not travel. If this idea is understood, it will shatter the idea that perception is dependent upon photons.

All the above arguments show that it is just not very clear how we really perceive. What science teaches us is full of problems and shortcomings.

Projection—The Correct Perception Process

So, what is the correct perception process? Vedanta is very clear on this topic. It teaches that our mind projects the universe we see around us. The mind is like a projector, projecting all the objects around us. The gross objects we see around us are the projection of the mind. Each mind is its own projector, and each mind projects its own content.

What is this content? The content is the subtle universe in the cosmic mind. There is a fully functioning subtle universe made up of waveforms. Each object in the universe has a subtle version made up of waveforms. The features, attributes, qualities, and makeup of objects are present in this waveform. Even quantum physics confirms that every object has a particle property and a wave property. This wave property taught by quantum physics is what makes up the subtle universe. Amazing that both quantum physics and Vedanta are talking the same language. Even you and I and all living beings have a subtle version. This subtle version of objects makes up the subtle universe. These subtle objects interact with each other; they update and modify each other. It will be surprising to know that everything happens first in this fully functioning subtle universe. Please read Chapter 13—“Life Is a Living Wave”—in my book, Science Meets Vedanta. In this chapter, I have presented an analysis of the subtle universe and how it functions. There is no doubt that a complete understanding of how the subtle universe functions is beyond human intellect. However, knowing the unlimited intelligence present in Nature, the subtle universe must be organized efficiently and effectively.

As earlier mentioned, this subtle universe exists in the cosmic mind. A portion or subset of the subtle universe is sent to each individual mind. This is the portion which covers our current surroundings and all the objects currently around us. As we have discussed in many different essays, Awareness is also present within the mind. So, the individual mind has two components—Awareness and object waveforms. When object waveforms are superimposed on Awareness, we have the experience of the objects.

Awareness is the substratum of all objects. When the object waveforms in the mind enter the presence of Awareness, magic happens. Awareness fills the object waveforms with awareness. The Power of Awareness then projects this content “out there” as gross objects in the gross universe. This is how we perceive the gross world “out there.” I have covered this subject in detail in my book, Science Meets Vedanta. Please read Chapter 18, “Projection—The Only Truth.” A step-by-step process is given on how the projection of the universe works. Please read this to be convinced.

You may notice that in the projection process too, there are two sets of the same objects—one in the mind and the other “out there.” But in this case, there is no confusion. The set in the mind is the subtle version, while the other set which is projected by the mind is the gross version. The subtle version in the mind becomes the gross version. We experience and perceive the gross version “out there.” There is clarity in this process, with no confusion.

Conclusion

We have shown that the perception process taught by science is incorrect. It has many fallacies, shortcomings, and errors. The projection of the universe by the individual mind is the only truth.