So far in this series on the meaning of life we have said that there is one Universal Intelligence or God energy. You are that God energy and everyone else is that God energy. So whose Virtual Reality ride is this life? Are we minor characters in your Virtual Reality ride, or are you a minor character in our Virtual Reality rides?
The answer to this question is that, in spiritual terms, there is absolutely no ‘you’ and ‘us’. As so many ancient traditions have said, we are all one. Thus it could be said that your life on earth is, in the larger sense, our life. We don’t currently know the details of your ride because we are currently on another ride, but when we go to the spiritual plane we will remember ‘your’ life as one of our own.
Similarly, our life is your life. You might not be aware of taking the particular ride which we are on right now, but that is because you are currently taking another one. Again, when you return to the spiritual plane you will remember ‘our’ lives as your own.
This concept may be hard to grasp at first, but meditate on it and all will become clear. There is no ‘you’ and ‘us’ because there is only one ‘energy and we are all manifestations of that one energy. We just perceive ourselves as being individuals because that is the way the dream is experienced.
It is quite possible that when we – being the one energy – have experienced every possible combination of dreams, we will progress to explore other manifestations of life. Perhaps the human race itself will be replaced with something even more challenging and exciting. If so, we should be looking forward to experiencing a whole vista of new ‘realities’ and so increase our self-knowledge even further.
And so that is one position concerning the meaning of life. We are all aspects of the one Universal Intelligence or God energy. We are all infinite and eternal. We perceive ourselves to be living different lives because we are dreaming ‘dreams’ in which we experience the same ride from the vantage point of different individuals. When our physical body expires, we will find ourselves having completed a particular ‘dream’. And then we will be ready to dream again.
In the previous part of this series on the meaning of life we told the story of Jack and how he experienced life as a kind of virtual reality ride, and the point we want to make today is that maybe you too are experiencing some cosmic kind of Virtual Reality right now. Maybe we are all Virtual Reality dreamers. Of course, our lives seem real enough, but we all feel deep down inside that there is more to it than living on earth for a certain number of years.
Our position on the questions of life before birth and life after death is that this life may not be true reality at all. It could simply be a ‘dream’ that we are experiencing – a dream which we ourselves chose to have in order to learn specific lessons.
The bible says that in the place called heaven, ‘A day is like 1,000 years, and 1,000 years is like a day.’ Could this mean that our 70 year lives here on earth are just dreams which take seconds on the spiritual plane? We think that is certainly possible.
If we view our physical lives from this point of view, we can finally begin to understand and cope more readily with the ‘negative’ aspects of life. If a human being dies in infancy then although this is a very sad event from our earthly perspective, we can take heart from the fact that one game is now over for that particular manifestation of spirit and that a lesson has been learned.
Similarly, if we see other people suffering then we can do our best to help, but understanding that this suffering is all part of the ‘dream’ that they may have chosen for themselves and that in real terms it lasts just a few seconds puts the whole affair into its proper perspective.
Think about your life from this new ‘Virtual Reality’ point of view and note the lessons you have already learned. Every action you have taken since birth has yielded a result. Every decision that you have ever made has altered your path at least a little. And now, right at this moment, you are reading these words. Is this merely a coincidence? Or is reading this an essential part of your own Virtual Reality dream?
We can tell you that out of every one hundred people who read the first part of this series, just a handful will continue reading to this stage. We do not mind this. Every manifestation of spirit must dream their own dream and progress at their own pace. The very fact that you have continued reading to this point in the series signifies that you are working on a similar wavelength to ourselves, and so this final understanding of Virtual Reality as a possible answer to life’s most difficult questions should be coming quite naturally to you.
The idea of reincarnation, and that we must continue having physical lives until our knowledge is complete on a spiritual level, is very similar to our own understanding. The only substantial difference is that we propose that physical lives are ‘dreams’ experienced by our higher selves and are therefore to be enjoyed and welcomed, whereas proponents of reincarnation see physical life as being more of a burden and something to be avoided ‘next time round’ if at all possible.
What happens when we treat life as though it were a ride or a dream? Well, several things.
Firstly, we tend not to take physical problems such as paying the bills, finding a job and fixing a broken computer too seriously. We know that these things are just obstacles which make the Virtual Reality ride or the dream more interesting and useful.
Secondly, we strive to make every second of our dream count. We know that the dream won’t last forever and so we aim to help those around us develop their own potential and insight so that when we leave this plane, they can use some of what we have learned to help them enjoy their own Virtual Reality dream.
Finally, we no longer fear death, because death is simply the end of this particular ride and there are many more rides to be experienced if that is what we wish to do.
Right now you may think of yourself of being an individual, of being separate from other people, of living ‘your own life’. But no matter how strongly you believe in this illusion, that is all it is – an illusion. Even now you are simply energy and that energy exists in all times and in all places. You are even now an infinite and eternal being with no limits. In case you need us to say it just one more time, you are energy. Or, to express the idea in the bluntest and most direct way, you are God.
So what is this life all about? If you are God and we are God and we are all the same God, why do we perceive ourselves as being separate, of being individuals?
Our notion is that this physical life is nothing more than a training ground or ‘dream’. God, being infinitely creative, desires to experience every possible permutation of human life, and so it experiences this through physical life. It experiences existence as a single mother and at the same time as a member of royalty. It experiences abundance and lack. It experiences pain and it experiences ecstasy. It experiences being black, white, yellow, male, female, old, young, able and unable.
If you have battled hard all your life against poverty then this is God experiencing poverty. As God you can turn this poverty into abundance, and so learn more about the way that poverty and abundance work in your particular situation. If you decide not to turn poverty into abundance then that is something you will learn at some point in the future – perhaps in another ‘dream of life’.
We would like to talk more about this ‘dream of life’ belief, and perhaps the best way we can do this is to tell you a short story…
Once upon a time a man called Jack who fell asleep and had a dream. He dreamt that he was walking through the spiritual plane when he came to a small amusement park. In that amusement park there was a man selling tickets for a ride on his new Virtual Reality machine.
“Would you like a go Sir?” the man asked with a smile.
“Is it good?” asked Jack.
“Good? It’s the best! In sixty seconds you will experience a whole other life as though you’re really there.”
“And what’s the point of that?” asked Jack.
“Well, wouldn’t you like to learn more about yourself?” the man replied. “Wouldn’t you like to know how you’d deal with different circumstances? Wouldn’t you like to try life as a completely different person and see how well you could cope?”
Jack nodded. “That sounds good. What programs does your machine offer?”
The man smiled. “More than you could handle in a million years of being in this place. You can be black, white, male, female, poor, rich, sick, healthy, relaxed, uptight, tall, short, thin or fat. You can live in London, Birmingham, Fresno, San Diego, Acapulco….”
“I think I get the idea.” Jack said, knowing full well that this friendly salesman could probably go on forever. “I’ll give it a spin.”
The man smiled again and helped Jack get aboard the machine. A helmet was placed on his head and gloves on his hands to make the Virtual Reality experience as plausible as possible.
“Hold on tight, Sir. You’re Virtual Ride starts now!”
Before he had time to say anything, Jack was catapulted into another world. He was born and experienced life as a baby, learning to walk and talk. Then he went to kindergarten, then school, then college, then university. Then he found himself a great job as a lawyer, met a beautiful colleague and a couple of years later they married. They had children and watched their children grow into adults themselves. Jack took vacations, played golf and grew old. And then he died in the arms of his wife. And just as everything went black….
Jack opened his eyes and found himself on some sort of ride.
“Where am I?” he asked.
The man standing next to him smiled. “The ride is over, Sir. Now tell me, what did those sixty seconds teach you?”
And then Jack remembered. He wasn’t really a lawyer at all. It was just a ride. “Sixty seconds? It felt like 70 years! And I learned a lot,” Jack answered. “But I could do with learning some more. Could I take another ride?”
The man nodded. “Sure you can. Any place in particular?”
Jack shrugged. “Oh, I don’t really mind. But it would be good if it was a life in which I had the opportunity to learn more about the deeper aspects of the universe and about who I really am as a spirit being.”
“No problem,” the man said, and helped Jack put the helmet and gloves back on. “Now hold on tight because this life is going to be a lot more challenging than the last. You’ll encounter difficulties at every turn, but it’s all for teaching purposes so you’ll be fine.”
Jack nodded.
“Okay then. Your Virtual Ride starts now!”
And then Jack woke up.
Now, which one was the ‘real’ Jack in the story? Was it the Jack who was dreaming in bed and finally woke up? Or was it the Jack who was strolling around the spiritual plane taking ‘Virtual Reality’ rides to learn more about himself as a spiritual being?
Think about your own physical life. Have there been times when your life got so crazy and out-of-perspective that it seemed more like a ride or a dream than reality?
Then maybe that’s just what it is…
Since the beginning of time people have searched for the meaning of life. They have asked the questions we have all asked at one time or another: Why are we here? Where did we come from? Does any part of us continue beyond death? And if so, where does that part go when our bodies die?
This search for the meaning of life has led to all manner of teachings and theories about heaven and hell, purgatory and paradise, but still something seems to be missing. In this series we will attempt to offer our own ideas about why we are all here on the earth plane and where we will go when our bodies become obsolete.
Of course, we could never be presumptuous enough to say that our ideas about the meaning of life are any more or less accurate than others that have been put forward. We offer this series simply as one possible explanation for our existence on this planet and in the universe. If you have strongly-held opinions about the matter which are not in agreement with the ideas in this series then you should feel free to maintain them. The universe is a big place and there is room enough for all attitudes, approaches and beliefs.
That said, we do hope that you find this series to be both insightful and valuable as you progress further along the road of your life…
If you are like most people, you probably view the beginning of your existence as the time when you were born on this earth. If you are a little more thoughtful, you might view the beginning of your existence as the moment in which you were conceived by your parents.
Whilst either of these events could be viewed as the beginning of your most recent earthly existence, neither of them are accurate in describing the beginning of your existence as a spiritual being. The fact is that spirit is eternal. It has no beginning and it has no end. Therefore you as a spirit being have no beginning and no end. You have always existed and you always will exist. This is the meaning of the word ‘eternal’.
This view of your existence throws up much more than the question of where you will go when your physical body expires. It also throws up the question of where you came from before your physical body came into existence.
If you study the scriptural texts of any major religion or philosophy, you will find that – in the majority of cases – one point is agreed upon. That point is that, in the beginning – before anything had manifested itself on the physical plane of existence – all that existed was pure potentiality. This potentiality, from which all things were created, is traditionally referred to as God.
Now most people have broken free from traditional views and come to the conclusion that God is not a white-bearded man sitting on a celestial throne and wielding a big cosmic stick. God is simply energy, and can probably be more accurately described as a Universal Intelligence (which may or may not be related to the so-called Dark Matter which many scientists believe to occupy 96% of the known universe). It knows all because it is all. It is everywhere because no place exists without it. It can do all things because it is all things.
Now if all things came out of that one energy which we call Universal Intelligence, then everything which exists in the universe is a part of that Intelligence. On a quantum level everything that exists is energy. In other words, everything you see around you is a manifestation of the same energy. You are energy. Your cat is energy. Your next-door neighbour is energy. All is energy and nothing is not part of the same energy.
So the question of where you were before you were born physically onto this plane is both simple and complicated at the same time. You were everywhere, because you are energy. And where will you go when your physical body dies? You will go everywhere, because you are energy.
In Create a New Self-Image IV we presented Step 2 and Step 3 of our five-step process to recreate your self-image. We will now end the series by presenting Step 4 and Step 5…
Step #4 – Create a New Self Image
Your new self image should be based on the information that you gleaned from your visit to your future self. What inner beliefs enabled your future self to succeed in achieving his or her desire? What had your future self done to succeed? What habits had your future self established?
The answers to these questions should now be adopted as your new self-image. Realise that as of right now, you already are the future self you visited earlier. If you adopt the same beliefs, habits and attitudes, your future will be an exact replica of the one you saw a few moments ago.
Forget past limitations. Forget earlier programming. From this point on you are born again! Your whole life will change, because you have changed at the very core.
Step #5 – You Are The Source
Most people assume that they have to wait for success to come to them. The truth is that success is something which is projected from your own self image. Now that you have a new self-image of success and achievement, you will actively begin to take steps which will ultimately lead to the realisation of your goals and dreams.
Your only task as far as this step of the process is concerned is to meditate on the fact that your future self is being created moment by moment, and that your new self-image will now assist your use of the Law of Attraction in ways you cannot yet imagine. Use it wisely and create good things!
In the last article in this Create a New Self-Image series we presented Step 1 of our five-step process to recreate your self-image. Let us now introduce Step 2 and Step 3…
Step #2 – Future Glimpse
Now watch the globe below you begin to spin faster. Time is passing quickly. As the world turns, imagine that you are looking at the Earth five years from now.
At this point in time, in this alternate universe which you have just created in your mind, you have already succeed in achieving what you currently desire most. You are at the pinnacle of your potential.
Descend slowly towards the earth and visit your future self. Where are you? What are you doing? What do you look like?
Now ask your future self about his or her self-image. What inner beliefs have enabled this future self to succeed in achieving his or her desire? What has your future self done to succeed? What habits has your future self established? What habits has your future self discarded? What limiting beliefs did your future self used to have, but which are now no longer part of his or her self-image?
When you have this information, proceed to…
Step #3 – Erase Your Old Self-Image
Now that you know that your chief desire in life is part of your life purpose, and you have visited your future self, ascend back into space. Do not stop until the world is once again spinning below you.
At this point, realise that all of your current beliefs about who you are and what you are capable or incapable of are based on nothing more than the opinions of other people. Rather than sort through which beliefs are true and which are not, simply decide to ‘erase’ your old self-image. To do this, imagine a blank white sheet on which your new self-image will be created.
In the last two parts of this Create a New Self-Image series we established that the self-image can either hinder manifestation or help it, and that if you recreate your self-image you will begin to recreate your entire life. With all of that said, we are now ready to present the Create a New Self-Image process.
Create A New Self-Image Process
This process is divided into five easy steps, all of which will be covered in the next few parts of this series. All but the last step involves a brief meditation on a specific mental image. Follow each step as directed and you will effectively re-program your self-image. For best results this entire five-step process should be repeated often, preferably on a weekly basis for at least five weeks.
Step #1 – Before Birth
Close your eyes and imagine that you have not yet been born. You are an infinite, eternal spiritual being who is about to choose to live as a human for a finite period of time.
Imagine looking at the earth from a ‘gods-eye-view’. The world spins slowly below you – a rotating globe of blue and green.
From this perspective, think about your human desires. What is it that you want to achieve more than anything in your forthcoming lifetime? Career success? Romantic happiness? Spiritual evolution?
Whatever your overwhelming desire is, realise that this desire is not foolish or beyond your reach. On the contrary, the fulfilment of this desire is most probably your life’s purpose, in which case it is imperative that you succeed in achieving it.
Look at the globe of the earth again, and realise that you are going to live as a human in order to achieve this purpose. You are destined to achieve it. You need to achieve it. And most of all, you are already fully equipped to achieve it.
