Post 5 – A Truth That Cannot Be Shaken

Two Selves in One

We are always within the Truth. We embody our true being, yet in time, we perceive it only in fragments—one fleeting moment at a time. This fractured perception obscures the whole. Unconsciously, we know the Truth because we are it; however, consciously, we perceive only its fleeting fragments: the present moment.

This fragmented view fosters a sense of separation from the totality of our being, veiling even its eternity. It appears as though we exist as two distinct entities: the empirical self, navigating time and perceiving change, growth, and decay; and the eternal, unchanging self, encompassing the totality of all our moments, where time’s contradictions are resolved.

We might call these two aspects the empirical “I” and the transcendental “I.” Though they coexist, the empirical self is merely the appearance in time of the transcendental self. The transcendental “I” gradually unfolds in time, manifesting through the errors and contradictions of the empirical self, which it resolves and integrates into itself. Like roots to a tree, the empirical self is a necessary aspect of the transcendental self. It couldn’t exist without this grounding in time, and it sows in time because it is. Whatever exists appears in time, and whatever appears in time is eternal too.

Truth, eternal and unchanging, mirrors the transcendental self. Errors, temporary and mutable, correspond to the empirical self. Truth resolves error, making errors an essential, albeit transient, part of its unfolding. Similarly, the transcendental self integrates and transcends the empirical self.

The empirical self of time is also eternal. Seen from eternity, it is always and already the transcendental self, but it does not recognize this while confined to time. Thus, it develops a separate sense of identity: the empirical self. While in time, this empirical self is marked by error, suffering, fragmentation, and partiality. However, in eternity, it is complete, unchanging, and lacking nothing—the transcendental self.

Because of its separate sense of identity, when the empirical self catches glimpses of its transcendental self, it often perceives it as someone else: a guardian angel, a divinity, or some other supernatural entity. In some cases, it might even identify itself as a god. Most accurately, while in time, it recognizes the oneness of two identities: “The Father and I are One.”

An Unfolding Structure

The metaphysical structure in which this dynamic occurs is complex and not fully understood. Yet, its fundamental path—the unassailable truth of being—is clear. In spite of this, the path remains obscured by nihilism, which, based on supposed evidence, believes that being emerges from and returns to nothingness, which is to say it is not.

The interconnectedness and eternity of being are unshakable, but few grasp its basic structure. Because time makes it counterintuitive, the vast majority adhere to the seemingly “obvious” but absurd assumption of nihilism. This belief will persist until its inherent contradictions become obvious to all. Then, it will pass like other unfounded assumptions.

In the meantime, whether we understand the structure of reality or not, life will continue to unfold toward its final realization. As contradictions in prior assumptions are exposed and resolved, new insights will emerge. This process reveals a clear sense of direction, as is evident in both personal growth and the broader arc of history.

We are always truth and in the truth, and yet we learn truth as we grow. For instance, in our historical understanding of the Earth, early observers saw it accurately but assumed it was flat. They studied the sun, moon, and stars with precision, measuring their cycles, creating calendars, and predicting eclipses. While these observations were empirically accurate, they were incomplete, constrained by the assumption of a flat Earth, which led to fears of “falling off” its edge.

By the 5th century BCE, Greek philosophers challenged this view, measuring the Earth’s curvature and calculating its circumference with remarkable accuracy. Yet, the assumption that Earth was the center of the cosmos persisted.

Heliocentric theories—proposing the sun, not the Earth, as the center of the solar system—existed earlier but gained prominence in the 16th century through Copernicus. His model revolutionized our understanding of the universe, sparking a profound shift in perspective.

At each stage, humanity observed the truth but interpreted it through flawed assumptions. As these errors were corrected, observable truths—like the cycles of the sun and moon—remained valid, while new contexts revealed a more accurate understanding of reality.

Correcting Our Assumptions

We all observe the same truths—the sky, the sun, the moon, and the stars. Yet interpretations differ, shaped by assumptions about what lies beyond direct observation. Mistaken assumptions then alter our understanding of the observable. In the end, we may gaze at the truth yet believe a lie about it—such as the nihilistic claim that things arise from nothing, return to nothing, or transform from one state to another.

Returning to the train analogy: imagine that someone was born on the train and never stepped outside. They might assume the scenery passing by the window is an illusion, like images on a screen. To them, the objects visible through the window might seem transient, ceasing to exist once out of view—or perhaps just transforming from one image to another, one state to another.

Similarly, we are born into the “train” of life. Many assume that existence begins with our appearance in it, ends with our disappearance from it, and is marked by intermediate transformations that lead to death. Such beliefs cast a shadow of anxiety over our journey through life, influenced by how we perceive ourselves and the world.

On this train of life, we experience reality in fleeting, fragmented moments. This limited perspective makes existence seem absurd, prompting questions about its meaning. The nihilistic view becomes a natural default, but this false assumption, because it is untrue and contradictory, is destined for exposure and disappearance. History demonstrates that as contradictions arise, outdated paradigms collapse, paving the way for new insights.

Throughout life’s or history’s procession of mistaken assumptions, Truth remains untouched. It is ever-present, within us and as us, patiently waiting for errors to be resolved so it may be more fully realized, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

The Truth That Cannot Be Shaken

This is the process through which humanity sheds flawed assumptions and paves the way for new questions and fresh exploration. There first came a time when the metaphors of religion revealed their contradictions. As happened in the axial age, the reason that sought firmer ground stumbled upon the nihilism that had undergirded all Western systems of thought. Nihilism, which is also a faith and a self-contradictory one at that, is now nearing collapse. In light of this, we are once again launching out to find a Truth that cannot be shaken.

Religion had historically offered symbolic glimpses of that Truth, but entwined with the nihilistic elements it had inherited from earlier philosophies, which had also seen the Truth but then lost sight of it. Nihilism, the real winner who pretends to be the one and only who pragmatically and empirically sees the truth, actually denies it altogether.

Humanity now faces the challenge of resolving not only religious questions but also the nihilistic contradictions underlying much of modern thought. We are approaching the proverbial “end of the line,” compelling us to anticipate how Truth might re-emerge.

The uncovering of unshakable Truth will likely involve a return to its earliest glimpses, at least to their clarity, and then advance from there—”Being is, and it cannot not be.” While our journey away from that clear path has been complex, we can hope that the next time we encounter it, we will hold it closer and resist the allure of a false faith, nihilism.

Let us take solace in knowing that we are always the embodiment of Truth. We recognize that it may require unlearning old assumptions, but just as we moved from believing in a flat Earth to understanding a spherical, orbiting planet, we can look forward to taking another step.

By seeing nihilism for what it is, we can discard its fallacies. No, we will not “fall off the edge” when our time to die comes, for we have always been and will never cease to be.

“Eternal are all our feelings and thoughts.” — Emanuele Severino