VR

 Just as you remain untouched by what happens to your virtual persona in a VR game, you remain unaffected by whatever happens to your body or mind.

When we are alive, we have the possibility of dreaming—of getting lost in those dreams and identifying with the characters within them. Yet, upon waking, we realize we are safe and unchanged, no matter what happened to those dream characters.

In the same way, the Self—the pure sense of “I”—gives us the ability to experience ego, to believe we are someone else. We can have a unique experience this way. But when we become absorbed in this illusion, we encounter a wide range of experiences, both pleasant and painful. Still, regardless of what happens to the body or mind under this illusion, we, the Self, remain untouched and secure.

Waking from a dream brings relief from its false identifications and emotional ups and downs caused because of that. Similarly, realizing the true Self liberates us from the burdens arises because of false identification (ego), leaving us with a deep sense of love and peace.

Explanation

The feeling of “I”—the Self—is present in everyone. In reality, there is only one Self; it is the same essence in all beings. However, the mind interprets this singular Self confined to the boundaries of the body, resulting in the experience of separateness. This misidentification is what is called ego or ignorance.

The mind and body can be likened to a virtual reality (VR) device, allowing us to have unique experiences. Just as wearing a VR headset makes us perceive ourselves as someone else in a different world, taking on a human body makes us feel separate from our true Self and opens up a new world of experiences. At our core, we remain the pure Self, but we identify as individuals—Vijay, Ram, or Rahim. This mistaken identification is what we call ego.

While playing a game in VR, players experience a wide spectrum of emotions—anxiety, rivalry, camaraderie, fear, happiness at achievements, and constant comparison with others. The immersive nature of VR amplifies these feelings, sometimes making them more intense than those of everyday life. However, once the VR headset is removed, players often realize that the emotional turmoil was confined to the game. What seemed urgent or stressful in the virtual world is revealed to be inconsequential in reality, and many feel relief, recognizing they could have played more lightly and joyfully.

In the same way, when we transcend identification with the body and mind—whether through meditation or at life’s end—we often realize that much of the anxiety, attachment, competition, jealousy, and conflict we experienced was unnecessary. With this wisdom, we see that life could have been lived more joyfully and collaboratively.

Just as removing the VR headset brings ease and a return to our true environment, transcending the mind and body brings ease and a return to our true state.

The key is to play the “game” or life with the awareness of your true identity, rather than getting lost in its dramas and false identifications. This awareness naturally brings joy, compassion, and unconditional love for all. With it, we can handle life’s challenges more gracefully and share this understanding—this inner freedom—with others, enriching both ourselves and the world.