This is not an edited or photoshopped image. But what you see at first glance is also not entirely true. The picture is an illusion. No rock is floating in the air here. Instead, part of the rock is submerged in water.
The truth is—what we see with our eyes is not always reality. Similarly, what we touch with our hands can sometimes be an illusion.
We see the sky above and the Earth below, so we perceive the sky as being above and the Earth as being below. But in reality, there is no "up" or "down." The sky surrounds the Earth from all directions.
What we consider the freezing cold of Antarctica is, in fact, a blazing fire compared to the deep coldness of space.
Every day, we see the sun moving across the sky. Yet, the truth is the exact opposite—the Earth revolves around the sun.
Similarly, we perceive the Moon as the largest celestial body in the sky. But in reality, it is one of the smallest celestial bodies.
When we touch iron, we feel it as a solid object. However, in reality, it is nothing more than a cluster of tiny particles. These particles simply occupy space, and the distance between each particle is nearly as vast as the gaps between stars in the sky. This is what scientists believe.
What we perceive as solid and unified is actually the result of electromagnetic attraction between particles. In truth, when we touch iron, we are merely feeling the force of attraction between these tiny particles, not the iron itself.
The world of colors is an even greater illusion. The entire spectrum of colors we see is just the reflection of light. Without light, there is no color. To a blind eye, color does not exist.
The kiss, which we consider a symbol of love, is merely the result of bodily hormones at play.
History is even more complex and full of illusions. The reality of history is that historians write about those who were in power at any given time. That is why an African proverb says, "Until the lion learns to write, history will always glorify the hunter."
In British history books, Lord Clive is their greatest hero. In the Umayyad era, Yazid was considered the greatest warrior. Queen Victoria became "Great" after colonizing and looting the wealth of many nations.
The Indigenous Americans discovered Columbus floating in the ocean. Yet, Columbus killed them, looted their lands, enslaved them, and still made his name in history as the "discoverer" of America. How strange is history! How much of it is an illusion!
A person whom newspapers portray as a hero may actually be a coward. A lover may turn out to be the greatest deceiver. The most generous philanthropist may, in reality, be someone who has plundered his relatives' wealth.
At the end of this writing, I learn that a loving child has killed their own mother. Or perhaps, someone else was behind it. Beneath the surface of an event, hidden conspiracies may lie.
And behind fame, illusion, and power, there may exist an unfortunate soul, an orphan, a destitute, or a sufferer who serves as a beacon of hope for the helpless.
Thus, the truth is complex. Knowing the absolute truth is even more difficult. That is why making judgments based solely on appearances is childish.
What resonates in the brain is often left unspoken because the language of thoughts and the language of words are not the same. Understanding the silent, profound emotions buried in a heart is far harder than reaching a distant star in the cosmos.
Who can claim that they have understood all truths?
Who dares to say, "I know myself completely"?
The only truth is—we do not know everything. Not even what our ears hear and our eyes see.
Because of our ignorance, every group remains proud of its own beliefs and assumes that its views alone are correct.
When will we realize that what we think we know is, in fact, nothing?
If only we could recognize our ignorance and accept our limitations, the doors of kindness and love would open in our hearts. And every human being on Earth could then live in harmony, resonating with the symphony of compassion, the vibration of love, and the bond of brotherhood.
— Written by Arif Mahmud