Life is a simulation, which is real.
This blog is inspired by a recent dinner discussion regarding whether life is real or whether we are living in a sophisticated simulation. The conversation started with why we have diverse perspectives and views regarding the same subject. It's intriguing to think about how no two people see a sunset, hear music, or feel rain similarly.
An old saying resonates with our discussion: “No two people see the same thing.” It's a testament to the unique combination of observation, emotion, interpretation, and contextual assumptions that shape our perceptions. This variation in perception is a phenomenon, highlighting that much of what we consider 'reality' is a product of our individual imagination.
Consider a simple ceramic vase on a table. Despite its apparent simplicity, it becomes a canvas for many interpretations. A potter friend might scrutinize the glazing procedures and clay types, while the colors and design might move another. An analyst, on the other hand, might estimate its value based on craftsmanship and age.
Moreover, our perception of the same subject changes often. I wondered how we can pretend to grasp our reality objectively if we can't even agree on the nature of one simple object we can all directly perceive.
This knowledge can be disturbing and exciting since it implies that each of us lives in a slightly different version of reality.
Shankara, an esteemed mystic in Southern India, defined reality as “that which never changes.” Following this criterion, nothing in the physical world can be considered to have a true, lasting reality. Everything in this universe is a perpetual "process" of motion, action, and transience.
Even our physical bodies are continually replenishing themselves as millions of cells die and are replaced with new ones. Modern physics presents incredible evidence that further shatters the human concept. Even at the atomic level, the solid materials we consider the building blocks of reality are mostly empty space. Each atom has a tiny nucleus surrounded by a huge space and electrons circulating as distant clouds.
In a way, waking existence is like a lucid dream. We imagine vivid realities in dreams without our senses. Like our waking reality, our mind's interpretations and emotional resonances shape these dreamscapes. This similarity raises intriguing issues about whether our waking world is really dreaming, determined by our perceptions and mental constructs.
So, if my sense of self is an illusion, and the world around me is mostly empty space, what does that say about reality? As some scientists and philosophers propose, could it be that our universe is a giant simulation? Am I just a character in some infinite play, only perceiving the things that have been coded into the simulation?
Mystics point out that the entire cosmos is a projection of consciousness itself, an endlessly creative dream that emerges from fundamental awareness. Only the realm of immovable consciousness qualifies as eternally real.
As bizarre as the theory sounds, it's tempting to dismiss it outright. However, if the world is a performance performed in a place of pure consciousness, it does not sound too different from a complicated simulation. But does it really matter?
I am left wondering how I chose to live my life. If reality is this changeable, I may have more control over my own experience than I previously imagined. I get to choose what kind of story to live in and what kind of character to become. And, while this freedom may be illusory, accepting it makes life feel much more joyful and less fearful.
What do you think – is life real, or do you feel like you're in a game or a dream? Share your viewpoints in the comments sections.