Let’s invent a language. Let’s keep it as simple as possible.
Strawberry, air. That seems simple enough. But perhaps there is something even simpler.
Strawberry, not-strawberry.
I am strawberry. What is around me? Not-strawberry.
But there is a problem here. It’s called perspective.
There is a boundary that divides strawberry from not-strawberry. Which side is strawberry, and which side is not? Who gets to claim the shape as “self”—the inside or the outside? The “not-self” is as much a self as the self, is it not?
Instead of strawberry, let’s look at the boundary—light?—that separates energy and matter.
Something looks like matter to you … is it because you are energy? Something looks like energy to you … is it because you are matter?
To put it another way: When you look at light, it looks dense. Is it because you are diffuse? When you look at light, it looks diffuse. Is it because you are dense? “You” being the pineal gland.
Something tastes salty. Is it because I am watery? Something tastes watery. Is it because I am salty?
If I am the consciousness in charge of maintaining my body’s pH, my job is trickier than it looks. Because “sodium” and “potassium” (acidity and alkalinity) may vary, depending on the acidity or alkalinity of the observer.
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To an observer who is imploding, the universe might appear to be exploding—even if it is standing still. To an observer who is exploding, the universe might appear to be imploding—even if it is standing still.
Is the universe accelerating? Or is it anti-decelerating? One requires force; the other requires release. Acceleration is applying the gas. Anti-deceleration is gently lifting your foot from the brake.
