Learn to see things as they really are, not as we imagine they

The spiritual teacher Vernon Howard, whose words pierce like a blade through illusion, once said: “Learn to see things as they really are, not as we imagine they are.” In this simple yet profound command lies the eternal struggle of the human soul—the battle between truth and illusion, between the real and the imagined. Howard, a man devoted to awakening consciousness, reminds us that most people live not in the world itself, but in a dream of their own making. We do not see life as it is; we see it as we want it to be, or as we fear it to be. The mind, clouded by emotion and expectation, becomes like a mirror stained by fantasy—it reflects not reality, but our own distortions.

To see things as they really are is to look upon life with the eyes of wisdom, stripped of vanity, prejudice, and desire. It is to see beyond the masks that people wear, beyond the glitter of appearances, beyond the stories the ego tells to keep itself alive. Most of us, said Howard, are prisoners in a theater of our own imagination, mistaking shadows for substance. We imagine enemies where there are none, friends where there is flattery, and happiness where there is only distraction. To awaken—to truly see—is to step outside this dream and confront life in its raw, unpainted truth. It is the beginning of freedom, but also the end of many comforting lies.

Consider the tale of Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha. He was born a prince, surrounded by beauty, music, and pleasure. His father built for him a palace of illusion, hiding from him all suffering and decay. But one day, Siddhartha saw with his own eyes the truths his father had concealed: an old man, a sick man, and a corpse. The veil shattered, and he saw things as they really are—that all life is marked by impermanence, and that peace cannot be found in illusions of comfort. That moment of seeing changed him forever; it set him upon the path to enlightenment. Thus, Howard’s teaching echoes that same ancient awakening: to open one’s eyes to reality, no matter how painful, is the first step toward liberation.

And yet, humanity has always preferred the imagined to the real. Nations fall to ruin because their leaders live in dreams of glory. Lovers destroy themselves because they imagine passion where there is only need. The merchant, the artist, the ruler—all alike are seduced by what they wish were true. This is why Howard’s words are both a warning and a mercy. To see clearly is not to become cold or cynical—it is to love truth more than illusion. The wise man does not curse the darkness; he learns to see within it. He does not cling to false hope; he builds his life upon what endures.

But make no mistake—the act of seeing reality is not an easy one. It demands courage to tear away the veils that protect our comfort. The truth may humble us; it may even wound us. Yet it is a sacred wound, for only by it do we heal from the sickness of self-deception. Howard’s teaching is the call of the inner warrior—the one who fights not against others, but against the falsehoods within his own mind. For every illusion we shed, the world grows clearer, simpler, and strangely more beautiful. To live without illusion is not despair; it is clarity, and in clarity there is peace.

Think of Socrates, who wandered the streets of Athens asking men to define their virtues and beliefs. He found that most could not, for they mistook opinion for knowledge. “The unexamined life,” he said, “is not worth living.” Like Howard, Socrates understood that wisdom begins with seeing truly, not with imagining rightly. He was condemned for his questioning, but he remained unshaken, for he had already learned to see beyond fear and pride. The vision of truth, once gained, cannot be lost.

So, my listener, heed this timeless counsel: learn to see. When you look at another person, do not see what you want them to be—see what they are. When you judge a situation, do not fill it with your hopes or fears—see it in the still light of understanding. When you look at yourself, do not hide behind excuses—see your thoughts and motives without mask or ornament. Practice this daily, like a monk polishing a mirror. Each act of honest perception is a victory over illusion.

And remember this final truth: only the one who sees clearly can act wisely. The rest stumble through life as dreamers, led by shadows of their own making. But the one who wakes, who learns to look at the world as it truly is, becomes free—not from life, but within it. For to see things as they really are is to see the face of reality itself—and in that face, if you are brave enough to look, you will find not despair, but peace.