Universe to metaverse and the selfverse

We have always known a universe that is too vast and difficult to know. More we come to know about it, more we realize that along with every new known part there are so many unknown aspects and pieces associated to it. We used to hear about parallel universe, multiple universe, etc. As if that was not enough... now we have metaverse for new experiences.

A metaverse is a dream in waking state with digital avatar in the virtual space, supported by persistent cyber layers, immersive with physical reality.

What you imagine, mind reacts to it assuming to be real. And who doesn't like to imagine. So, we are going to hear a lot about it till we are convinced that this is good and needed for advancement to get the real life feel from  it. So, let's run. Good business awaiting along the way.

In the case of metaverse, an avatar is your digital version in the virtual world. You will be interacting with avatars of others. This is how you live there. In a metaverse, your avatar will be a 3D character instead of just username and password.

Like Operating System is for software, blockchain along with supporting hardware is expected to be the infrastructure layer of metaverse. Content including the avatars will leave their footprints and tokens on the blockchain.

While you opt for any vendor's metaverse it is important to be aware of the impact it will bring on you and on the environment in the long run. It is being said that metaverse for work will reduce commuting time and the traffic on roads, and that will help the environment but what about the much bigger environmental problems. We are already facing challenges related to global warming and now mining of crypto currencies has also started generating so much heat on the planet.  These must be resolved before we move forward. 

Problems have been identified with mining of cryptocurrencies using currently popular consensus algorithms, Proof of Work (PoW) blockchains. How much will Proof of Stake (PoS) mitigate this problem? More research needs to be done before we move forward. 

Anyone launching metaverse products without first addressing the problems related to high emissions of CO2 and heat caused by crypto tokens should rethink about responsibilities towards the planet.

Otherwise, we will be spending resources to solve the problems later that we are going to be created by current advancements. It is like first making plastic part of your life and then creating business to get rid of it. It is like first creating petrol cars and later inventing electric cars to reduce pollution and deal with scarcity of natural resources. Let us learn from history and not create solutions that will create problems in future. 

Will the businesses listen? Most probably, not. However, individuals may. Just try to remind yourself to keep in touch with self instead of solely getting driven by lofty business goals. Once you connect with self, it becomes easy to think rationally about lives, environment, and the planet. And, you will make better sense out of things.

Can metaverse help in learning? It presents a very good use case for eLearning to bring behavior and personality change by living the desired change in virtual life first. Mind reacts to imagination as if real. But will people be interested to use VR headsets to watch more positive version of themselves while sitting on the chair? And even if they do it, will it work? VR headset visuals give external experience but mental visualizations are inner conviction . Mental visualization exercises are different phenomena that are done internally. Virtual Reality can help improve mental visualizations though. Human basics will still remain to hold true essence of life.

Learning about self is important. And this can also be learned. While getting engrossed in the metaverse, how many times do you notice being aware that you are a living, breathing being. Just do not lose contact with the life throbbing in you while interacting with the XRs (AR, VR, MR) of the Xverse (Universe, Parallel Universe, Metaverse, Multiverse). 

If you are able to do so, i.e. being aware of your-self being a living being, if this is happening with you, you are in a verse working on self. So, a selfverse can be termed as a use case of the metaverse that will cater to self-growth and spiritual pursuits including Self-Realization.

Within a selfverse, one may finally realize that virtual and physical reality are both just imaginations. 

Do remember that you can always be aware of self in whatever verse you may be. While being aware of self, you can do whatever you want such as dealing with the issues related to monopolization and checking for interoperability of different vendors offering metaverse products and services.

Metaverse is being promoted heavily and may be the future. However, as an individual, just do not miss out on being aware of the self. 

Let us make a distinction, "self is our individual self and Self is the Higher Self." self can be defined as the individual being, personality. Self is the real being shining within all of us and everything called by many names such as Consciousness, God, Existence, Truth, etc. 

While we work for self in everyday life, we usually do not consciously work for Self. The definitions of self also keep changing with our imaginations. This verse or that verse in the future, Self always exists in the present now. 

One can be aware or unaware of Self but can never be without it. Self pervades all and it is not concerned with this verse or that verse. As Self is the eternal reality, there will never be any separate Selfverse. 

Our professional success in the metaverse may take us to self-actualization but our life long goal will always remain the Self-Realization. It is up to us how we make use of different verses to support our seeking of Self. When you are with self, the journey to (higher) Self can start. 

This will be a new world full of possibilities if we choose to use these new technologies to aid human pursuit existing from times immemorial about mysteries of life and beyond. Is there anybody working on a selfverse that will work with people to provide content, media, games, avatars and environment for learning, self-growth and spiritual evolution?