What Is Real Now

This wide-ranging talk by Barry centres on the transformation of human consciousness through the giving up of negative emotions and the return to a more direct, sensation-based and truthful way of living. Barry says that most of what people call “feelings”—such as anger, resentment, or even excitement—are self-generated emotional states that poison the individual and disconnect them from reality. In contrast, he distinguishes true states of being like well-being, love, and beauty as universal, unselfish, and rooted in the body’s natural knowledge, not in mental interpretation. He draws a sharp line between feelings (which are psychological and self-centered) and sensations (which are rooted in the present and real), asserting that knowledge, not thought or emotion, is the basis of truth.

Later, Barry talks about practical and societal matters – personal responsibility, relationships, materialism, and societal myths such as poverty and charity. He critiques modern society's dependency on external support systems, advocating instead for self-reliance and conscious living. He underscores the importance of making intelligent, non-emotional decisions, particularly in love and family life. Through stories and direct exchanges with the audience, he continues to strip away illusions—about love, science, and social norms—encouraging a life of surrender to the real, the present, and the universal intelligence that lies beyond the mind.