Is this Real?

Neo: This...this isn't real?
Morpheus: What is real? How do you define real? If you're talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then real is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain.

Based on what we have been contemplating until now, how do you define real? If you look around you right now and see the objects around, the sounds, the smells, do any of them have an inherent existence? If you weren't there at this moment, would they still be recognized in such context? If they weren't there at this very moment, what would give you base to affirm you exist? Can you think, elaborate, or reason, about anything that you haven't experienced with your senses?

When we look at an object, when are we actually seeing? Is it at the moment the lights enter our eyes? Or is it when the light is decoded by the brain? If that's the case so is seeing (and the other senses) a mental activity? If so, what makes us capable to recognize things in common, and what makes us perceive different things in the same objects?

I guess this posting has been more of an encouragement to further contemplation than anything else!!!!

Have a great one everyone!!!

Cris