How The Matrix Captures Illusion and Reality
Like many people, I thought the first Matrix movie was excellent, while the others didn’t really work for me. There is a very beautiful reason why.
Various religions, each in their own way, have stated that all knowledge exists hidden deep within every individual. As stated in the Bible, “the Kingdom of Heaven dwells within.” Ancient Sanskrit texts state, “I am the totality,” and “I am that, you are that, all this is nothing but that.” Now, modern scientists too believe that you, like everything else in creation, are one with the unified field — the one thing that is the source of everything. In other words, the source of all knowledge dwells within you.
The problem is that people’s awareness of this truth is hidden deep within them, obscured by their identity with the surface of life. Ancient Shamans called the surface of life a dream. Similarly, ancient Indian sages refer to identity with the surface of life as “Maya,” (illusion). Or as Swami Muktandanda said, “the world is a play of divine consciousness.”
The Matrix also presents worldly life as an illusion. Though few people are aware that it is an illusion, people know it deep inside where all knowledge dwells. The Matrix resonates with that deep inner knowing. For that reason, people relate to the fundamental premise of the movie in a very profound way. It is as if the movie reminds people of their true nature and the nature of this world.
In the movie, Morpheus represents a knower of Truth, someone who has awakened, or is enlightened. His mission involves awakening the hero of the movie, Neo, to that Truth. At one point, Morpheus offers Neo a choice between a blue pill and a red pill. If he takes one pill, he returns to the illusion, forgetting he ever met Morpheus. If he takes the other pill, his eyes will open enough so he will never be able to turn his back on his path to Truth or, as Morpheus put it, “seeing how deep the rabbit hole goes.”
At one stage in Neo’s training, Morpheus asks him a question, “You think that’s air you’re breathing?” According to the ancient Seers, it is, of course, not air. It doesn’t really exist. It’s part of the dream called Maya.
At another point, the Oracle tells Neo that either he or Morpheus must die. For Neo, this ‘death’ means becoming free of his identity with the surface of life. That identity (who it is he thinks he is) must die. In other words, he must awaken from the dream.
The struggles that ensue represent the struggles that all individuals go through on the path to enlightenment. Neo must overcome the grip of illusion (the matrix).
What really made this movie work is not just that the movie parallels the path to realization. It works because deep inside everybody knows, or at least senses (albeit obscurely), that this is the nature of life. The movie reminds people of this deep inner knowing. It helps people, at least for a time, to remember the ultimate purpose and secret of life.
I think like most people, the sequels to The Matrix left me flat. I couldn’t even get through them. Why? Because they deviated from the fundamental premise that made the first Matrix movie so compelling.
I can’t help but wonder if the creators of The Matrix (the Wachowskis) intentionally likened the plot to the hidden nature of life, what is called Vedanta. That would be exciting enough. What would be even more exciting is if it had not been done by intent, but instead because the insight into the nature of life welled up from deep within them. We could even say that all genius comes from the place deep within an individual where they already know Truth, even though these Truths are hidden and obscured by Maya, the dream. The Matrix beautifully illustrates this. But it is up to you, the reader, to choose between the blue pill and the red pill.
Note: You may be interested in my “What is Genius” YouTube Series which includes three videos about The Matrix.
Dr. Michael Mamas is the founder of The Center of Rational Spirituality, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the betterment of humanity through the integration of ancient spiritual wisdom with modern rational thought. From personal issues to global trends, Dr. Michael Mamas helps individuals and organizations develop a deeper understanding and more comprehensive outlook by providing a ‘bridge’ between the abstract and concrete, the Eastern and Western, and the ancient and modern. Dr. Michael Mamas has been teaching for 35 years (including in the U.S., India, Europe, and Canada) and writes on a variety of subjects on his blogs, MichaelMamas.net and RationalSpirituality.org. He is also a frequent contributor to HuffingtonPost.com and Entrepreneur.com.
