Narada, neo and neural networks: Awakening from digital maya

In the age of digital media, our daily lives have become a series of broadcasts, each of us running a personal channel of our experiences. From the food we eat, like the almonds we debate eating soaked or dry, or the tips for getting fitter, we are constantly exposed to a stream of social media content. Be it YouTube, Instagram or Whatsapp status, we are broadcasting snippets of our lives. This constant sharing and viewing, reminds of the scene from the 2003 movie “Matrix Reloaded” where the protagonist Neo played by Keanu Reeves is standing in a room full of TV screens. These screens are depicting lives of people doing their mundane stuff. In a similar vein, we have leaped into our own TVs, living out our stories with theatrical flair. We have become both the stars and the audience of our own version of a ‘Big Boss’ reality, actively participating in or observing the spectacle.

The ‘Matrix’ of our digital reality, with its endless streams of content, incidentally echoes the Indian philosophical concept of ‘Maya,’ which states that the material world is an illusion masking the ultimate reality – Brahman. Just as Neo discovers the illusory nature of his perceived reality, Maya tempts us with its drama and distractions, causing us to forget our core selves. We become absorbed in the spectacle, reacting to on-screen horrors as if they were real, a testament to our human condition and our ability to empathize deeply with fiction.

However, our immersion in this digital ‘Maya’ is double-edged. While it reflects our creativity and connectivity, it also lures us deeper into the illusion, weakening our ability to reason and engage introspectively. Our consumption and production of digital content can create a barrier between us and our true nature, as we increasingly identify with the stories and personas we create and observe online.

The story of Narada and Vishnu from the Yoga Vasishtha is a teaching tale about the illusory nature of the world. The sage Narada, known for his devotion, visits Lord Vishnu seeking answers about Maya, or illusion. Vishnu asks Narada to fetch him water from a nearby village. There, Narada falls in love, marries, and lives for many years. When disaster strikes, Narada is reminded of his original task and realizes that many years were only a moment. This revelation by Vishnu illustrates the power of Maya and teaches that life’s experiences are transient, urging seekers to look beyond to the eternal.

As technology progresses, the lines blur even further. Advancements in AI, virtual reality, and quantum computing promise—or threaten—to deepen the illusion, offering us a more intricate and personalized ‘Matrix’. These tools can transport us away from our inner divinity, as VR headsets and other devices provide increasingly convincing alternate realities. We are very likely to be ‘plugged in’ permanently to the network.

In this brave new world, ancient philosophies like Shankaracharya’s Advaita Vedanta may serve as a useful guide. They remind us to discern the real from the virtual and encourage reconnection with our inner selves. They teach us that while we may engage with the multiplicity of experiences that technology offers, we should not lose sight of the consciousness that observes them.

The technique outlined in the Advaita Vedanta text “Drg Drsya Viveka” for distinguishing the seer (consciousness) from the seen (objects of consciousness) can be applied to differentiate between the virtual worlds created by technology and the real world. Just as the text guides us to identify consciousness as the unchanging observer of varying experiences, we can use this insight to discern the real world from the artificial constructs of digital media. The principle teaches us to view virtual realities as objects observed by the consciousness, not as extensions of it. This detachment allows us to interact with digital media without confusing these experiences for the tangible world we inhabit, maintaining a clear distinction between the impermanent virtual and the permanent real. 

Similarly, the Ashtavakra Gita, with its profound emphasis on the nature of reality and the self, can be a guide in distinguishing the tech-driven virtual world from the real world. It teaches that the self is unattached, formless, and ever-present reality, beyond the fleeting images and experiences presented by the senses, much like the virtual representations on digital media. By internalizing the teachings of the Ashtavakra Gita, one can learn to perceive the digital world as just another layer of sensory experience that should not be mistaken for the ultimate reality. This discernment can prevent us from over-identifying with the virtual avatars and worlds we create and interact with, thus helping us to remain grounded in the true reality of our inherent self beyond the digital illusion.

In navigating this new era, where the boundaries of reality will be tested, the wisdom of Advaita Vedanta could be our compass, helping us stay anchored in our core essence amidst the storm of digital content. It is a philosophy that could help us balance our innate thirst for knowledge and connection with the necessity for introspection and spiritual growth. Through it, we may find a way to live harmoniously with technology without losing our essence in the web of ‘Maya’ that it weaves around us.

(Views are personal)