Meditation and Virtual Reality
Perception != Truth
The wisdom of the Vedic ancients that reality is non-dual and the perceived universe is an illusion (māyā) is such a difficult concept for the mind to process because the mind functions exactly in the opposite way. Mind is dualistic by always creating a subject/object split in every perception and action. And it treats the perceived universe as a reality because it functions within the field of perception. This illusion has served us well so far in terms of evolution, scientific progress, technology etc. But now we have come to a point both in terms of culture and science where these assumptions are turning out be huge stumbling blocks and need to be transcended.
Those interested in physics know of Schrodinger’s wave equation that is a fundamental description of the quantum nature of the universe. What’s most interesting is that this fundamental equation has what’s known as the imaginary number i (√-1) baked into it. There is no real square root of -1, it is an abstraction. And it turns out the universe can only be described using this imaginary abstraction and therefore itself a giant abstraction. Also, it turns out that the wave function that describes the universe ‘collapses’ into what we perceive as particles and objects only when there is measurement. This is known as the quantum measurement problem — a deep mystery in physics till today.
It is no coincidence that the word māyā literally means measurement in addition to illusion. It is measurement that seems to manifest what we perceive as the universe of space and time and objects. And still, there is great resistance to this idea in our mind because it is so foundationally against our intuition. The resistance is so great that even the greatest of physicists like Einstein reportedly wondered “Do you really think the moon doesn’t exist when nobody looks at it?”. Or even with many spiritual teachers who ascribe fundamental reality to chronological time, nature, causality etc.
Anyway now it seems like the collective human consciousness is slowly opening up to the possibility that truth is fundamentally beyond space, time and all constructs perceived. And this awakening is happening with great logical formalism and rigor in the scientific community. It is not surprising that it is so because true science (as opposed to most pseudo science that passes off as research) is about critical thinking without any bias and being open to where the inquiry leads.
The seeds of this inquiry may have been laid by the discovery of quantum physics and therefore it was no wonder when I came across this remarkable quote by Max Planck who is considered the father of quantum physics which sums it all up quite well:
“As a man who has devoted his whole life to the most clear headed science, to the study of matter, I can tell you as a result of my research about atoms this much: There is no matter as such. All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent spirit. This spirit is the matrix of all matter.”
Now, many wonder what it means to say time, nature and causality are all only an illusion. It goes totally against our experience of living. Obviously there is the inexorable march of time every moment. There is nature manifesting as the wilderness of forests, mountains and oceans covering much of this beautiful planet. And there seems to be causality built into every action — if we jump out of a high rise building, it will cause death or severe injury. So what does it even mean to say that time, nature and causality are a mere illusion?
The problem is one of frame of reference. The one who perceives time, nature and causality is within the same frame of reference as these perceptions. And the perceiver and the perceptions are both valid within that frame. The perceiver cannot violate the laws of physics in dealing with the perceived — whether it be time, space, causality. They are all equally true within that frame of reference. But the key point is that they are equally false when we step out of that frame of reference.
This can be best understood by the analogy of a VR (Virtual Reality) metaverse. When we step into a VR metaverse by wearing a headset, we assume a certain avatar within the metaverse. That avatar is firmly established within the linear time, space and environment of the metaverse. The avatar cannot ignore any of the laws of the metaverse or he will simply not survive there. However once we remove the headset and step outside the metaverse, everything experienced within the metaverse — its narrative of time, space, environment, cause and effect as defined by the author of the metaverse — are all seen clearly as not valid outside the metaverse. Once the VR headset is removed, none of them exist. We are back to the ‘real’ world and experience a different narrative of time, space, environment, laws of physics etc that correspond to this world.
What some of the latest research in theoretical physics and evolutionary biology point to is that this ‘real’ world of space and time is simply another metaverse and the VR headset for this metaverse is the mind. And the one wearing the headset is pure consciousness that is free of all content. This is exactly the insight of non-duality (advaita).
How can this insight be brought into a living reality? It is by the process of meditation which is to dissociate from the headset called the mind.
To dissociate from or remove the headset of the mind is to be still, free of thoughts and images. It’s important to note that this is exactly what we do during deep dreamless sleep. We switch off the headset of the mind and thereby we are free of any sense of space, time or body, and we take complete rest. Without such restful sleep, we simply cannot even function effectively through the day. Now if we can consciously do the same — switch off the headset of the mind when it’s not necessary — then we are free of all the mental chatter, anxieties, worries and concerns. We can then wear the headset to employ thinking in a very precise manner when necessary such as to solve technological problems, to communicate clearly, to go about the transactional needs of this metaverse called the world. And when it starts dragging us into unhelpful chatter, speculation, comparison and all the other activities which are the tricks of the metaverse to keep us addicted to the game, we are able to switch off the headset instantly. And simply rest in our Being.
