The Greek philosopher Plato, around 300 BC, discussed the idea that we are living in a simulation by using his cave analogy. He describes how people raised in a cave can only see the shadows of others on a wall, and take it as their reality. One day when one of them goes outside of the cave, and sees how real people actually live. He tries to return and tell the others inside the cave but he can’t see in the dark, and the others think life is dangerous outside the cave. Is this where we still find ourselves today, 2000 years later?
Like those in the cave, we are taught today to only trust our senses and physical phenomena. But what if our senses are limited, imperfect, subject to mistakes and inclined to cheat others for our gain? These four defects of the material senses are listed in the Vedas, ancient Sanskrit texts that pre-date Plato. The senses give us one perspective but their data is limited.
For example we can’t see X-ray or infra-red light, but we now know that they do exist. We can’t see most of the frequencies actually, but they were always there and we only found many of them recently. What more may still lie outside of our current capacity to observe and measure it? Magic is, after all, only that which we cannot yet scientifically explain.
One source of mystery still includes life after death, the question of consciousness and the realm of thought as a frequency. Thought waves are said to exist in the astral realm, or the Akash as it’s known in the Veda. I’m sure many have had the experience of thinking something that the other person verbalizes a moment later. What is this ability to be on the same thought wave without realizing it? Telepathy has yet to be scientifically understood, but there it is.
Another ancient philosopher was the alleged co-founder of Taoism – Zhuang Zhou (4th century BC) of China. As a follower of Lao Tze, he was once invited by the king of his region to join his court as a top advisor with much opulence. However, he declined saying something like:
“I would rather amuse and enjoy myself in the midst of a filthy ditch than be subject to the rules and restrictions in the court of a sovereign. I have determined never to take office, but prefer the enjoyment of my own free will."
He is apparently the source of the story that he dreamed he was a butterfly, but on waking wasn’t sure if he was himself dreaming of a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was himself. This is exactly how the life inside a simulation might feel.
To the eternal spirit soul, as mentioned in the ancient Veda, living in this temporary vehicle of a body/mind machine, is exactly the same as living inside a simulation. Does that mean life is one big computer game? Perhaps.
In Bhagavad Gita there is a verse in chapter 2 text 22 that says
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि ।
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा-
न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही ॥ २२ ॥
vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya
navāni gṛhṇāti naro ’parāṇi
tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāny
anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī
“As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.”
Translation by Swami A. C. Bhaktivedanta
As in a video game, we take on an avatar or simulation – as in Sim City – and move around the virtual world as if we are that avatar. But if we are killed in any competitive battle against the AI or other role payers, then we lose that life but can come back in another chance at the game, in a new avatar. This is exactly how the Gita describes life on earth.
The same eternal real you us unchanging, yet we take on multiple differing coverings or simulations in which we live out a round in the virtual simulation game world. That is how I understand it, based on the various philosophical allusions mentioned here. The details may be much more intricate of course, but that is how our mind can begin to comprehend the concept, for now.
An earlier analogy, from before the time of computers, describes the body/mind as a chariot and the soul is the driver, using the reigns of the intelligence to control the horses of the senses. For the soul, who is now immersed in the game body or simulation, life is much like Plato’s cave dwellers, where we see only shadows of reality and try to make sense of the bigger picture based on these fragments.
Those who continue to identify with the simulation or with the body which they inhabit, may decry anyone attempting to explain a greater reality outside of this one. But yogis and scholars allude to in nevertheless, based on their research and experience. Just because your research or even your physical senses are unable to identify the alternate reality as such, does not mean that it doesn’t exist.
When scholars from diverse cultures over diverse periods in history, appear to allude to our life as a character in the Matrix movie, then perhaps there is something to the idea after all. What do you think? Leave your insights in the comments below and let’s build a clearer picture for the rest of us cave dwellers back in the simulation.
(image pixabay)
There has to be drama for there to be anything going on at all.
I still see it as most likely and have for a decade that this is all a very convincing roleplay and because of its convincing character and our own voluntary involvement its experiences will count in the long run.
We'll wake up like from a dream and sigh, preparing to jump back in to dream more.
This dream has gotten really stale though, I hope a thousand years of dancing is still in the cards for this round. Let's pray for the best <3
Well said Paradigm, we can dance through our dream, like no one is watching, lol. As long as the band plays on.
Yeah, I am convinced this is the case, that we do live in a sort of simulation. The body and the ego are part of the current avatar, the higher-self is something that connects us to a pre-life condition. Outside of this reality is yet another reality, an endless Fantasia, filled with consciousness. This life is something like an energy dance to a beautiful harmonic music, a magnum opus of thoughts creating matter and us somewhere in the midst, struggling to reconnect to our higher-self. All is energy, all is magic, all are numbers and all has a higher purpose. Life is all about to disconnect from the trauma of the ego and tap into the endless stream of consciousness to masterfully co-create our creatrix, while lifting the veil of perception/deception, one layer at a time.
Well said that sounds very poetic and visionary.
I've never really embraced the idea of reincarnation, although I very much would like to. I can have both a very spiritual and very base view of life - I believe in a true self, a core self, and the illusion is what culture and society and the mind wraps us in. But if I believe in that - where does the true self go when the body dies? This is always the thing that hurts my brain, so I need to trust the HEART'S knowledge more.
And slow down mate - every day writing such gems, I can't keep up and it's all about me!!!!!! (plus I can only give you an OCD nomination once a week, but they all deserve it!).
Many thanks River, so worries, Writing for Lotus or Hive is inspiring, though I will slow down a bit. These topics are what seems most important at the moment.
As for where we go once we leave the body - there are descriptions of heavenly planets, and then beyond that the realm of the eternal pastimes with Vishnu in one form or another. Or in necessary we return for another birth on earth.
Hi julescape,
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Many thanks @curie, I really appreciate the positive feedback.
My understanding is that all we perceive via the five senses is illusory. It's like we're projecting the illusion (of this apparent life in a human body) via the five senses.
Having said that, it's time for me to tighten my reins as the horses are a bit wild at the moment!
Namaste
Image Source (and further explanation)
Interestingly, in the book The School for Gods by Stefano D'Anna, The Dreamer (in the book) says that our digestive organs (stomach, intestines etc.) are not meant for digesting food, but for projecting our dreams. The consumption of food limits this function.
But of course, this is also part of the dream.
Hey there @atma.love many thanks for your insights. I'm always happy to chat a kindred spirit who sees the world in a similar way, and to share ideas. I love the concept of recalling our dreams. Imagine the dream within the dream - it could provide some clues to the bigger picture.
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