What is Reality?

In New Thought, Reality is fundamentally understood as the absolute, spiritual, and perfect nature of the Divine Mind, or God. This Reality is considered to be the ultimate truth, eternal, unchanging, and the source of all existence. It is distinct from the phenomenal world, which is perceived through the senses and is subject to change, imperfection, and illusion. New Thought teachings emphasize that true Reality is always good, harmonious, and abundant, and that any experience of lack, illness, or discord is a deviation from this inherent spiritual truth. Thomas Troward, in "The Edinburgh Lectures on Mental Science," posits that the Absolute is the originating Spirit, and that the physical universe is merely the manifestation of this underlying spiritual Reality. Ernest Holmes, in "The Science of Mind," further elaborates that Reality is the "Principle of Life, Love, Truth, Beauty, and Intelligence," which is always whole, perfect, and complete. The goal of New Thought practice is to align one's consciousness with this absolute Reality, thereby transforming one's perceived experience to reflect the inherent perfection of the Divine. This involves recognizing the spiritual nature of existence and understanding that the external world is a reflection of internal mental and spiritual states. The concept of Reality is thus central to understanding the power of thought and consciousness in shaping one's life experience.

The New Thought concept of Reality posits that there is an ultimate, spiritual truth that underpins all existence, often equated with God or Divine Mind. This Reality is characterized by perfection, harmony, abundance, and wholeness. It is considered to be the true nature of being, from which all manifest forms emerge. The physical world, with its apparent imperfections and limitations, is viewed as a secondary or phenomenal reality, a reflection or projection of consciousness that may not always align with the absolute spiritual Reality. New Thought practitioners strive to perceive and align with this higher Reality, believing that such alignment leads to a transformation of their personal experience, bringing it into harmony with the inherent perfection of the Divine. This perspective is foundational to understanding the power of affirmative prayer, visualization, and the Law of Attraction within New Thought.

The term "reality" derives from the Latin "realitas," meaning "actuality," from "res," meaning "thing." In philosophical contexts, it refers to the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or imaginary view.

Practically, understanding Reality in New Thought involves a conscious shift in perception. Instead of accepting external circumstances as ultimate truth, practitioners are encouraged to look beyond appearances to the underlying spiritual perfection. This means affirming the presence of health, abundance, and harmony, even when physical evidence suggests otherwise. Through practices like affirmation, visualization, and meditation, individuals seek to impress upon their subconscious mind the truth of this higher Reality. By consistently dwelling on the perfect, spiritual nature of all things, one aims to manifest experiences that reflect this perfection, thereby demonstrating the power of consciousness to shape perceived reality in accordance with the absolute spiritual truth.

A common misconception is that New Thought denies the existence of physical challenges or suffering. Instead, it distinguishes between the perceived, phenomenal reality and the absolute, spiritual Reality. It does not suggest that problems don't exist in the human experience, but rather that they are not the ultimate truth of being. Another misconception is that New Thought promotes a naive optimism that ignores difficulties. Rather, it encourages a deeper understanding of the spiritual principles that govern existence, providing tools to transcend perceived limitations by aligning with the inherent perfection of the Divine Mind.