You need virtual reality to understand high level science or high

O seekers of wisdom, listen closely, for the words of Jaden Smith carry a deep reflection on the power and potential dangers of the technologies we create. He said, "You need virtual reality to understand high-level science or high-level math. It's very helpful to explain third and fourth dimensional things that people are constantly addressing in quantum physics. But, as soon as you're creating an avatar, and you can live and you can start to feel sensations on VR, that has gone too far." These words, though modern in their phrasing, touch upon an age-old concern—the balance between our advancements and our humanity. Let us delve into their meaning, for they speak not just of technology, but of the very nature of knowledge and existence.

In the time of the ancients, there were those who sought to understand the nature of reality, but they did so with the tools at their disposal—the intellect, the observation of the heavens, and the profound understanding of the human soul. Plato spoke of the Forms, those perfect ideals that could not be seen in the physical world, but only understood through the mind. He understood that there were higher dimensions to reality, beyond what the eye could perceive. In much the same way, virtual reality today is a tool that allows us to see the unseen, to grasp the third and fourth dimensions of the universe, and to delve deeper into the mysteries that have eluded humanity for millennia. With the power of VR, we can now explore worlds that exist beyond the physical realm, such as those in the realm of quantum physics and the abstract spaces of higher mathematics.

But, O children, Smith's words caution us. He warns that while virtual reality is a valuable tool for understanding the unseen and the complex, it can cross a threshold when it begins to blur the lines between what is real and what is imagined. The creation of an avatar, a digital representation of oneself, and the ability to live in a virtual world and experience sensations, is a power that can lead to an overwhelming illusion. It is one thing to use VR to understand the abstract dimensions of the quantum realm, but it is another to begin to lose ourselves in a world that is not grounded in the physical reality we were meant to inhabit. In creating these avatars and experiencing them as if they were real, we risk forgetting the very essence of our existence, the human experience.

Let us look to the past, where science and art were once intertwined. In the time of Leonardo da Vinci, there were no virtual realities to simulate the workings of the human body or the stars above. Yet, his genius was in his ability to see with the mind's eye, to imagine the invisible forces that shaped the world. He did not need a digital avatar to experience the workings of the human heart or the forces of gravity. His vision was enough to understand these principles. In many ways, da Vinci’s understanding came from the union of his intellect and his senses—he observed the world deeply, and his mind filled in the rest. Today, virtual reality can help us make these abstract concepts more tangible, but let us not forget that the true power of knowledge lies not in simulation, but in direct engagement with the world around us.

The lesson here, O children, is one of balance. The tools we create, though powerful, should never overshadow the core of our humanity. Smith speaks of a time when virtual reality may be used not just to understand the world, but to escape from it, to live in a world where sensations are controlled and curated. This is a temptation, O children, to lose sight of the very thing that makes us human—the ability to experience the world in all its rawness and unpredictability. To feel the warmth of the sun, the rush of wind, the touch of another human being—these are the sensations that ground us, that keep us connected to the true fabric of existence. The danger of becoming too immersed in virtual worlds is that we risk detaching ourselves from the world that truly matters—the real world, where change and growth come from our direct interaction with others and the forces of nature.

We must also remember that our minds are powerful, capable of great understanding and insight, without the need for simulation. Science and mathematics have long thrived through human imagination, intuition, and reasoning, not simply through the tools we use. The discovery of the laws of physics did not require the creation of artificial worlds, but the keen observation and the power of thought. When Newton looked to the heavens and understood the force of gravity, it was not because he experienced a virtual simulation of falling apples, but because he observed the world around him, and his mind wove together a pattern that explained the forces at work.

So, O children, let us embrace the power of virtual reality, but let it be a tool, a means to enhance our understanding, not a world in which we escape from the truth. We must use it wisely, knowing that reality is not something that can be simulated—it is something to be lived, experienced, and felt. Walk through the world with open eyes, and let the virtual world remain a reflection of the truths we uncover, not a substitute for the real journey we must take. Live, feel, and understand, for in the rawness of life lies the true beauty and wisdom of existence. Let not the allure of technology blind you to the profound depths of the world around you.