What is reality?

What is reality?

Isn't funny that as advanced as we think we are, as a civilization, we still aren't able to answer that simple question?
But, to be fair the twist is that it's really not a simple question, let's dive into it ...
If we want to define reality, we have to sort of find the opposite of reality (of what is).
Defining by contrast is usually an efficient method.
What is the opposite of "a reality"?
Fiction, fictitious stories or Universes aren't real – right?
An illusion is also usually defined as the opposite of reality too.
Although many are saying that reality is an illusion.
Who or what decide what is real or not?
who's the beholder, who's the reference point ... consciousness?!
What if this is just the "continuity" – I was about to say the brain, but research have proven that the brain can't really perceive the difference between what is real, imagined or dreamed … the reaction will be the same.
Continuity on the other hand, is the one that will prevail in the assurance that we are dealing with a reality, because reality is persistent. That's one of the many quality of reality.
Like Philip K. Dick astutely wrote : "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away" -
Why it doesn't go away?
Is it because reality is co-created, or is it because of a bigger "creator" that can provide that reality even when everybody has turned away from it?
What is an illusion (a non-reality)?
An illusionist will project an alternate vision to the viewer that will then see something that isn't real but a crafted version of the illusionist's reality. An illusion is real to the viewer until the viewer realize it was an illusion, that is .. when at a particular moment, the viewer see the truth and wake up from the illusion. He then see something else, he sees his own version of reality.
This can happen in dreams, when the dreamer is so into the story that he can participate in a situation that would be in his awaken life completely unrealistic (doesn't follow the usual reality rules – might they be morals, physic, common sense …)
the illusion won't stand if it is questioned though .. that's why people are getting lucid in their dreams, if questioning is part of your daily routine – chances are you will wake up during the dream or become lucid.