The Matrix Got It Wrong!

The 1999 blockbuster “The Matrix” unpacked so many complex philosophical ideas in a way that complete non-philosophers could comprehend and munch on them.

I clearly notice a fundamental shift in my understanding of reality before and after The Matrix.

When I watched it for the first time, I knew I got something, but couldn’t put my finger on it. So, I watched the movie again, and then again, and one more time, and many more times—totalling 88 times (~5 times at the movies, rest on DVD).

The bit that really cut it for me was when Neo said, “There is no spoon.” That was the aha-moment for me. When I really got it, reality went from being solid to being fluid. It really spawned decades of self-inquiry and self-study.

Through Landmark Forum, 10-day Vipassana Retreat, a whole lot of books on existentialism, at-home meditation practice, and TWIM meditation – I would get new insights, but always come back to look at “The Matrix” in awe, because the film seemingly got everything right.

Recently, I discovered Swami Sarvapriyananda’s lectures on Mandukya Upanishad, thanks to a friend’s recommendation. These lectures were transformative. They not only cleared up confusion from my previous practices but also revealed a fundamental flaw in “The “Matrix”.

So what’s this flaw?

Let’s look at the movie’s premise: Machines create a simulation called “The Matrix” and plug humans into it. In each cycle (or yuga), the machines deliberately unplug a few humans. These freed individuals then search for “the One” who can see through the simulation and challenge the machines. But there’s a twist – whenever they find and unplug “the One”, the machines destroy them all and restart the cycle.

Here’s where the Mandukya Upanishad offers a profound counter-perspective: It teaches that Turiya (pure consciousness) is the only reality. This consciousness naturally gives rise to three states: the waking state with its waking world, the dream state with its dream world, and the deep sleep state with its deep sleep world.

This reveals a complete reversal of the movie’s concept. We aren’t beings plugged into some external Matrix. Rather, we are the Matrix itself, and the human experience is what’s plugged into us. This distinction is crucial—without it, we live our spiritual lives backwards.

We’re not beings trying to connect with pure consciousness. Instead, we are pure consciousness itself! The human experience is simply plugged into us, not the other way around.

Do you see it?