Alan Watts once mused about how far human technology would progress toward a perfectly replicated reality, instead of humanity striving to achieve a full perception—appreciation and understanding—of reality. I heard this—his lecture and this point he pondered—on some audio tape I borrowed from some library many decades ago. I think it was Alan Watts. To be honest, I’m not sure about that. But the point has never left me: how far, how rapidly human technology progresses toward a perfectly replicated reality, instead of learning, educating, training our minds, honing our senses to fully perceive, interpret, and evaluate our own subjective realities.

I think about that every time someone tells me how crispy, sharp, and clear their television picture is. It’s like staring out the window! they say. Amazing! And I wonder, sometimes out loud—tactless: When was the last time you actually did that? No, seriously. When was the last time you just stared out the window for a few hours, actually looked at, listened to, the world your television/computer screens monitor, mimic, and mime? It’s been a very long time, hasn’t it?

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