Many thanks for the interesting read @arbitrarykitten. The takeaway to some extent seems to be that one is usually mislead by the brain/mind/ego complex (or whatever the engine of misinformation is labelled as :)...... in other words, who then can I trust?
Ok, so this generally applies to the trusting or not of sensory data as it comes in and interacts internally with one's emotions and past experiences (thereby causing unique and different instances of memory around the same event!?). This data is filtered in, and as such must exclude a lot of info which is not presented to the conscious mind. This state-of-affairs leaves me confused and adrift. I might turn to someone (or some 'thing' or concept) for help, but the same thing applies - what basis do I have for trusting what's coming in?
Is there then no solution? Are we enslaved by these limitations of perception? Is there no state of being/consciousness that might be able to perceive and react with reality directly and not rely on 'interpretations'?
And even more enigmatically....could it be that the confusion is akin to setting up the game of life? When we untangle this confusion, we have the prospect of true freedom......perhaps! But it rather depends on us and our willingness to face our own stuff with honesty and integrity and non-judgement, IMHO.
...... just wondering and throwing it up there :D