How can we possess the ability to see realities the way they are?

The ability of the recognition between right and wrong and seeing the reality of things is a knowledge given by Allah, and it does not merely depend on the ability of reading and writing or necessarily on the standard of knowledge. Imam Ali says:

'Knowledge cannot be developed and purified without piety.' 1

The Qur’an states:

“Be God wary and God will teach you.”2

The ability of the recognition between right and wrong and seeing the reality of things is a knowledge given by Allah, and it does not merely depend on the ability of reading and writing or necessarily on the standard of knowledge

In another verse the Qur'an says:

"O you who have believed, if you are wary of Allah, He will grant you a discrimination (between right and wrong) and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you…"3

If a mirror is polished, it will reflect perfectly what is in front of it. The mirror of the heart also needs to be polished in order to be able to reflect and understand realities. A heart with a grudge is like a dirty bowl, in which if clean water is poured into it, the water too becomes polluted. Sins are like the dirt and dust that does not allow mankind to see realities and truths.

“Taqwa”, God Wariness, means to be conscious of God and to consider God in all aspects of one's life and consequently distance oneself from bad and ugly actions and put aside the mental desires and when one does so, they will be able to recognize the truth, and their piety causes a proper insight to come forth in them and a great virtue and reward to be obtained.
Those who have polluted their heart are prevented from seeing many of the realities. If one is fanatic about their culture, tribal connections, sectarianism, race etc. they cannot understand realities, just like one who is wearing red tinted glasses in which everything they see will be tinted red, they will see turnips as beet. Likewise, one wearing green tinted glasses will see hay as green grass.
If a mirror is polished, it will reflect perfectly what is in front of it. The mirror of the heart also needs to be polished in order to be able to reflect and understand realities. A heart with a grudge is like a dirty bowl, in which if clean water is poured in to it, the water too becomes polluted. Sins are like the dirt and dust that does not allow mankind to see realities and truths.
 

1.ghurar al-hikam,842.
لا يَزكو العِلمُ بغَيرِ وَرَعٍ .
2. Baqarah 2:282
وَ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَ يُعَلِّمُكُمُ الله
3.8:29.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّـهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ