Real World
For those who are on a spiritual journey what I call the real world is the psychological state you dwell in when you are aware of the higher reality.
Whenever you discover some higher truth a separate world is created inside your mind. Then the world you dwelt in prior to the discovery is no more real.
Let's take an example. At one point of time people believed that the Earth was flat. That was the highest level of knowledge that prevailed about the shape of the Earth. Even though today we know that this idea was not true, at that point of time there was no reason to believe it was untrue. Thus, flat Earth was the reality then. Later, when someone discovers that the Earth is not flat but is spherical, the new world emerges; the new reality which renders the flat Earth idea no more real.
When the new reality is supported by evidences, there remains no reason for a rational mind to hold on to the old reality. To the one with the knowledge of the new real world, those living in the old world are living in the illusion. Those still believing that the Earth is flat are, thus, living in the illusion.
Game World
Quite often even being aware of the higher reality (meaning, real world) you are constrained to dwell in the illusions for the majority is still ignorant of the real world. This is especially true in case of truth-seekers. For example, you would know that the hunger for wealth and power is a disease, and that the happiness arising out of their possession is but illusory, you would still have to acquire certain amount of wealth and also some power if you want to survive in this world of intelligent creatures.
This world of illusion is what I have called the game world. It only exists for the one who is conscious of the real world. For the one who is unaware of the higher reality the world of illusions itself is the real world!
Real world = Game world – Illusions
Why I call our world the game world?
Being aware of the real world when you live in the illusions purposely it is like playing a game. Hence the phrase game world. Once you are spiritually developed substantially you would see that most of all what happens in this world is illusory. At that time, bringing on the concept of game world makes life convenient. I call our world the game world because it's like a video game world for me to live in!
When you are playing a video game you enter a fantasy world. The events of the fantasy world take control of your feelings and emotions to some extent as long as you are playing the game. Ask a game addict, these fantasy world events can thrash him into depression and can take him to extreme level of happiness depending on his level of psychological involvement in the game. When the fantasy world takes control of your mind to an unusual degree it is alarming. Because after all it's just a game, you know. Not reality. It should not have the power to disturb your equanimity.
Only the one who is conscious of the real world can stay unaffected of the events of the game world. Will you ever commit suicide if you lose in a video game? Most certainly not. Because you are aware of the real world, and know that you have lost only in the fantasy world. Imagine a mental patient who has no sense of real and unreal and who also happens to be a game addict. It's no wonder if losing in a video game motivates him to give up his life. Won't you call this act insane? But his only problem was that he did not know the difference between the real world and the game world. Thus, losing in the game meant absolute failure to him which took away his motive to live.
This is precisely the problem with our world. Most of the people in the world are living in the fantasy world, believing in the things that do not exist. Though for them that's the real world, but to the mind with higher level of consciousness their reality is merely an illusion. For example, for the believers of God the world with God is the real world, whereas for the rational atheists – repeat, "rational" atheists – the world with God is an illusion. So, they will not visit temples or worship God on the first place. But if, say, by force they are made to go to temples and worship God (under pressures like threat of the Church) then that act will be akin to playing a game, because the mind which is aware of the reality can't help telling the real word from the unreal (or game) world.
What is the ultimate reality?
Here's what I have realized with the level of consciousness I have been able to rise to –
As you go higher and higher spiritually you might see the meanings of all the things dissolving. And when you reach there you might see that you exist just like a lone dot on the infinite spread of blank sheet. No story. No meaning. No purpose. Just exist.
This, I believe, is the ultimate reality. Purpose, meaning, and everything else are the creation of human mind, because intelligence can't work without purpose and meaningfulness. This is the curse on us being "thinking beings". Hence the need for spiritual development!
You believe in God, friendships, other relationships, marriage, soulmates etc. All those are but illusions! Not that friendship is not, or marriage doesn't give certain comfort, or relationships are not a good thing. But the way and the extent to which people rely on these things is absurd. They are just purpose-driven social activities, all of them. No more.
How to dwell in the real world?
Since you are living in the world where almost everyone around you is unconscious of the higher realities you have no choice but to live as all others do. It's like, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. But being conscious of the higher reality you will know that you are not Roman, and that Rome is just a game world! Thus, you won't be enslaved by the emotions arising off this game world!
(Or if you want to physically exist in the real world then you might think about abandoning this world and go to live in the Himalayas, or some such secluded place!)
This (fantasy) world does give people happiness, but more than happiness it gives misery. It shows that the level of consciousness people hold about the world is not sufficient for them to live a fulfilled life.
