I happened to play a few virtual reality games recently, the
most interesting one was “walking the plank”, and a must see/ play for all. The
person who played before me got so scared with the height and scenery around,
that she insisted on giving back the glasses and not play at all! Therefore, I
was quite a bit apprehensive for what lies in store!
I gathered my courage and wore the glasses and I was
immediately transported to a place with tall buildings around, strange people
walking the streets, it was dark and cloudy and looked forlorn! It felt like time machine – suddenly
you land up alone in a different world altogether. It was scary no doubt, and I
could understand the urgency the girl before me had – to give back the glasses!
Then suddenly I was lifted up about 50 feet above ground, crossing all
buildings until you see yourself on a plank hanging in the air. From out of
nowhere, there was a dragon throwing
fire at me, and I tried to defend myself getting out of the way!
My heart fluttered and I peeked below from the plank, I was
hanging in the air with nothing to support me! One misstep and I fall straight
to the ground 50 feet below breaking my bones and muscles! Still, I reminded
myself that it’s just a game and started walking the plank one step crossing another,
balancing myself on the plank to avoid
that fall!
Five steps into it and I lost my balance off the plank and
was on a free fall, straight to the ground, 50 feet below! The ground was fortunately
cushioned with foam and I did not break a bone!
I just could not believe it, how could I fall, it’s just
virtual! The actual reality became so obscure in front of the virtual reality!
I was fortunately given a free chance to try again… I
decided to prepare, I surveyed the place – and I realized that the walking
ground was the width of the plank and cushioned and you could easily lose
balance if you try to maintain it too much!
I wore my virtual reality glasses again, but this time with
the awareness that irrespective of what the video is showing me, I am actually
standing in the mall with my friends, on solid ground beneath me – that is my
true reality! I took baby steps this time
balancing myself, and it was a child’s play – crossed the plank and won
the game!
This experience gave me an insight into the workings of our
mind, how it can fool us and how different emotions can chain us into believing
which might not be true! We sometimes live in the virtual reality of our fears,
stress, past traumas, and uncertain future,
million thoughts crossing our mind each minute! The mind makes you
believe that is the real you! You have no power!
It is said that at the time when the Buddha was about to
attain enlightenment, Mara, the devil king – sends his forces, temptations,
storms, and tsunamis to scare him, so that he leaves his meditation and thus
his goal of enlightenment, but the Buddha cuts through all of that as a mere
illusion and transcends it and attains Nirvana! Watch <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp4w4R5ruPE>.
I wonder if the
story of Mara talks about this virtual universe of the mind.
However, drawing parallel with virtual reality games, I
understood that when we bring awareness of the present, observe our mind and
the clutches it can create – and remind ourselves of the power within and
reinforce this time and again, we will be able to cut through our fears and utilize
the limitless power within to resolve and overcome any circumstance. It’s
important to have a mental dialogue with yourself…when the chatter box mind is
feeling all negative, it’s important to feed it positive thoughts. In my
personal experience, meditation and classical music help to still the mind and
stop the unnecessary thoughts. They give a glimpse of our inner vast self that
is bigger and greater than all the outer turmoil.
So, what I see, what I feel
on the canvas of mind, is it all a game or a confluence of virtual and the
real?
