Is it all a game?

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?